Peabody Institute Library (Peabody, Massachusetts)

The Peabody Institute Library is the public library serving Peabody, Massachusetts. It was established in 1852 by a bequest from philanthropist and Peabody native George Peabody, and now has its main facility at 82 Main Street, with branches at 78 Lynn Street and 603 Lowell Street. The main library is housed in a two-story brick building built in 1853 which is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[2][1] The library is claimed to be the oldest public library in the United States to operate continuously from the same location.[3]

Peabody Institute Library
Peabody Institute Library
Location82 Main St.,
Peabody, Massachusetts
Coordinates42°31′29″N 70°55′28″W
Arealess than one acre
Built1853
Architectural styleItalianate
NRHP reference No.73000311[1]
Added to NRHPJune 4, 1973

Main branch
1899 view of the library

In 1852 the Town of Danvers was celebrating its centennial and separation from the City of Salem. In the spring of 1852, the Danvers Centennial Committee wrote to George Peabody, who was living in London at the time, an invitation to come back to and celebrate with the Danvers residents. George Peabody's response that was sent on May 26, 1852, stated that he would be unable to attend the events.[4]

Yet he made a donation of $20,000 for the creation of a library in Danvers. George Peabody made two stipulations, one that it be free to everyone and the second was that it have a lyceum.

At a Danvers Selectmen meeting that was held in June of 1852 the town voted that the library be named the Peabody Institute after George Peabody. In order to ensure the future generations to know about George Peabody's donation the town voted to have the library's name inscribed on the front of the building to remind everyone of the library's benefactor.[5]

The cornerstone was placed on August 20, 1853 by the Honorable Abbott Lawrence, who was a friend of George Peabody and served as the ambassador to England.

The main Peabody Institute Library is located in Peabody's downtown, on the north side of Main Street. It is a two-story masonry structure, built out of red brick and brownstone trim and set on a high granite foundation. The architect was Richard Bond who was a well known New England architect, and Franklin Merrill, who was from Danvers, and Russell & White of Salem were the contractors for the library.[6] It is covered by a gabled roof, with extended eaves studded with Italianate brackets, and a round louvered opening at the center of the gable. The ground floor level has brownstone quoining, rising to a shallow cornice that extends across the facade even with the portico sheltering the main entrance. The entrance portico has Ionic columns supporting an entablature and balustrade. Flanking it are round-arch windows with bracketed brownstone sills and lintels. The second level has three taller windows with similar surrounds, with interior round-arch windows topped by circular pane.[3] The Library was dedicated on September 29, 1854, and Rufus Choate was one of the speakers. The Library officially opened on October 18, 1854.[7]

The building's construction was funded by a gift of $200,000 from George Peabody, and it was formally dedicated in 1854. The first librarian was Fitch Poole, a noted writer and humorist of the period.[3] Although Fitch Poole was the first librarian he resigned just before the library’s opening. Eugene B. Hinckley served last as the librarian when the library officially opened. Hinckley served as the librarian until May of 1856 and Fitch Poole served as the librarian. Fitch Poole worked as the librarian until his death in 1873.[8]

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. "MACRIS inventory record for Peabody Institute Library". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 2014-01-20.
  3. "NRHP nomination for Peabody Institute Library". National Archive. Retrieved 2017-11-06.
  4. "Peabody Institute Library Collection Finding Aid" (PDF). Peabody Institute Library. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  5. "Timeline of the Peabody Institute Library". Peabody Institute Library. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  6. "Peabody Institute Library Collection Finding Aid" (PDF). Peabody Institue Library. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  7. "Peabody Institute Library Collection Finding Aid" (PDF). Peabody Institute Library. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
  8. "Peabody Institute Library Collection Finding Aid" (PDF). Peabody Institute Library. Retrieved November 3, 2020.
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