Holyoke Public Library Then and Now

Sorry so quiet lately, but I think I have major senioritis and have been trying to spend as much time offline as possible.  But, I have a bunch of new vintage library postcards to share, starting with Holyoke, MA!

Holyoke is one of the larger cities in western Massachusetts, located on the Connecticut River near Springfield, with about 40,000 residents.  It was the first planned industrialized city in the country and was once a huge paper manufacturer.

The Holyoke Public Library was founded in 1870 by the Holyoke Library Corporation as a private organization, at a time when the population was only 10,000 people.  After receiving a donation and 1200 books, it opened in an old schoolroom, with Sarah Ely serving as its first librarian.  As a private library, it charged $1 a year to check out books until 1886.  In 1876, it moved to a room in City Hall.  It was moved to its current location in 1902 in what was a 25,000 square foot building on Maple Street and is one of the few neoclassical style buildings in the city.  In 1912, a natural history museum opened in the library and stayed until the 1950s.  From the 1940s to 1950s, the system opened three branch libraries, but they appear to have closed.

The library then, circa early 1900s

And now, in 2013 after a renovation

The library underwent a huge renovation in 2013, which added a teen room, computer lab and classroom, study rooms, a community room, and reading areas.  The remodel also added an additional 15,000 square feet to the building, and moved its entrance to what was originally the back.  What do you think about the new addition?  The design couldn’t be more different.

The library has 11 librarians and library assistants, and a History Room archivist, among other staff.  The History Room has information on Holyoke and genealogy resources.  It also offers digital collections.  The library has free streaming movies and music and career resources for patrons. And it has the common children’s, teen, adult, and reference services, online catalog, and events. The only thing that really struck me about the website is the very first thing on the home page is a large message asking for donations with a PayPal button.  I’m all about supporting libraries, but it seems like the services should be listed first and asking for donations toward the end.

When I wrap up classes in December, I think I’ll contact the History Room to see if they can help research a few Irish ancestors who lived in Holyoke back in the mid 1850s.  What a wonderful resource!

Sources

Holyoke, Mass Holyoke Public Library page

Holyoke Public Library official site

City of Holyoke History

Library grand re-opening article

2013 Images

Bath Maine Public Library Then and Now

I just got a great new vintage postcard to share for the Then and Now series.  The Patten Free Library in Bath, Maine struck me as having a beautiful and unusual design, sort of reminiscent of a castle.

Bath is a small city situated on the gorgeous Maine coast.  I haven’t had the chance to visit, but I’ve known about it since high school and have seen pictures since my friend got sent went to a boarding school there.

Then, ca. 1910

And now, in 2011

Source

And 2015

Source

It was surprisingly challenging to find current pictures of this library, so sorry about the smaller image sizes.  The library’s website seems to be down, at least for now, but fortunately, I found plenty of info about the library on other sites.

Established in 1847, Bath’s original library was held in rented and donated spaces until a man named Galen C. Moses donated $10,000 ($256,000 in today’s money) to build a library.  It was designed by George Harding, an architect who created several buildings now on the National Register of Historic Places.  Harding used a Richardsonian Romanesque style, popular in the era.  The Patten Free Library was opened to the public in January 1891.  Children’s services were first offered in 1911 in the second floor tower room.

Additions were made in 1961 and 1998, which you can see in the “now” images to the left of the original tower building.  The first addition added a children’s room, lobby, reference room, and auditorium.  The 1998 addition expanded the children’s and young adult rooms, and added a Sagdahoc History and Genealogy room.  At the same time, the original building was restored.

Today, it has a collection of over 55,000 items and a circulation of over 156,000 items, as well as 24 staff members.  Their Facebook page seems to be pretty active, with posts about events and programs.

References:

A page about the Patten Free Library

Another page about the Patten Free Library

Wikipedia’s Patten Free Library page

Patten Free Library’s Facebook page

Official Patten Free Library website (cached version)

George M. Harding

Hawaii State Library Then and Now

Today’s Then and Now’s featured library is the Hawaii State Library in Honolulu.  I’ve been featuring some beautiful libraries in New England over the past year, but wanted to share something totally different this time.  Hawaii is close my my heart, as is New England, because my mother is from Hawaii and most of that side of the family still lives there throughout the state.  I’d been on the lookout for vintage library cards for anywhere there for a long time and finally got lucky.

As you know, Honolulu is the state capital and a very popular place to visit.  The State Library is downtown, next to the Iolani Palace and the State Legislature.

Then, circa 1930s

And now

The library looks pretty similar today to the 1930s.  The palm trees right in front are gone, with other trees in front of the side windows and on the vintage card it looks like a walkway used to go up the center of the lawn, but otherwise it looks the same.

The library started humbly in 1879 and only men could check out the 5,000 books.  Supported by Andrew Carnegie, the current library was built in 1913.  Other funding and books were donated by King David Kalakaua and his wife, Queen Kapiolani; Queen Emma; and Princess Pauahi. The library has four floors and the outside has 20-foot columns and 18-foot arches (http://www.aloha-hawaii.com/oahu/hawaii-state-library/).

Today, it is the main library of the Hawaii State Public Library System and has a collection of over 500,000 books and more in “supporting materials”.  In 2012, it lent over 414,000 items, served nearly 350,000 patrons in-house, answered nearly 70,000 reference questions, and held just over 100 programs with about 3,900 attendees.

It has many of the typical departments, such a children’s section and an art, music, and recreation section with books, sheet music, pictures, and more. There is also a federal documents section providing free access to federal records, and a Hawaii and Pacific section with information specific to Hawaii, the South Pacific, New Zealand, and Australia, with items on Hawaiian legends, school yearbooks, and more.

The library is open Monday through Saturday.  I was somewhat surprised to see that the website includes Hawaiian words to describe its services (like how one section is on the mauka side, meaning toward the mountains), but also really like that pieces of the Hawaiian language permeate the entire culture, even on websites for state services.

I’ve been to Hawaii many times, but never visited the library and I will definitely try to the next time I go!

Currently reading: Supernatural Enhancements by Edgar Cantero

Image Source

Kimball, VT public library

I’ve been a bad blogger lately.  I’m writing so many blog posts for my two classes that I’m neglecting this.  So, it’s time for another Then and Now installment!  You may know that I like collecting postcards, so I started to collect vintage library postcards, with a focus on places related to my family.  Today’s library is the Kimball Public Library in Randolph, Vermont.  I actually have no ties to Randolph, although I do have family history in many nearby towns.  I just thought the library was pretty and I found two postcards, both with messages, which I like.

Randolph is a town of about 4,800 residents, located in the White River Valley region.  The downtown is a National Historic District.  It’s the largest town in the area and was originally settled in the late 1770s.

Then, in 1906

And, in 1907

And now, in 2013

Source

The 1906 postcard was mailed on August 21, 1906 to Lira E. Morse, Springfield Mass, 17 Princeton Street (that’s the order written on the card).  The message reads Sunday so warm.  Jessie and I didn’t go to church.  All well, Sarah.

The 1907 card was mailed October 15, 1907 to Miss Sarah Haven (?), 102 Congress St, Milford, Mass.  It reads Dear Friend, I was glad to hear a word from you.  Shall always hold you with Dear Abbie as dear friends.  Have just sent 18 views of Randolph to a friend in Peoria, Ill.  Sun ? friend.  She sent for {illegible rest of sentence} – 12 cts for 15.  -Mary Holbrook.

As you can see, the cute awnings over the windows are gone and there’s handrails down the stairs, but otherwise it looks the same.

Randolph’s original library was created in 1894 over a drug store with 134 books sent by the state, and other donations of books over the years created a sizable collection.  The Kimball Library was built in 1903 and named after Colonel Robert J. Kimball, a New York financier who donated $10,000 to build a proper library.

Today, the library is open daily and serves the towns of Randolph and Braintree.  They have computer and internet access, on an unspecific number of computers.  I think it’s cute that they have a “conscience box” instead of charging fees for overdue items.  One interesting aspect of their website is they have a Donate Now button.

They have five staff, which sounds like it may be pretty good for a small town, and I just realized that one of them is Jessamyn West, of librarian.net.  How funny.  I’ve followed her blog for a while and knew she was in rural Vermont, but didn’t know she worked in Randolph.  They also have five trustees.

Library services include access to electronic databases, an online course program, wi-fi, passes to local museums, and a subscription to a genealogy database.  Programs include book discussions, a book-to-film series, and a knitting group.  They also offer children’s programs like scavenger hunts, a Magic gaming group, and storytime.

All in all, a nice little library!

Currently reading: The Hard Way by Lee Child

Turners Falls, MA public library

It’s been a long time since I did a Then and Now post!  This time, I have the Carnegie Library in Turners Falls, Massachusetts to share with you – my first Then and Now post for Massachusetts.

Turners Falls is a village in the town of Montague and is in western Massachusetts.  I don’t really have a lot of family ties to Turners Falls, although one ancestor did get married there.  However, the village is right across the Connecticut River from where an entire line of my family is from.

Then, in 1914

And now

Source

The message on the card reads, “Just a few lines to let you know that we are in the best of health and hope to find you the same.  I didn’t have time to writer sooner because we had so much company so I thought I would take the pleasure to write.  Love from Anna and Phyllis” and sent to Miss Marie Fichter in Buffalo, NY on September 30, 1914.

Today, the Turners Falls library is still in use, and is the main branch of the Montague Public Library System, which consists of three branches.  Built in 1906, the library was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and restored in 1985.

The library is open daily and is the only branch with wifi.  They have interesting events and programs, including a monthly genealogy club meeting, activities for homeschooled children, and lots of programs for kids.  Their library director of over 30 years recently retired.  Their website is a little redundant, with pages for schedules, calendars, and programs, which all have mostly the same information.  I couldn’t find any information on their collection, circulation or other services, but it looks like a pretty library with a vibrant children’s program.

All of the town’s newspapers are also available online thanks to a grant they received to digitize the newspaper collection.  On a personal note, I just did a search for one of my family’s names and found a bunch of hits.  What a wonderful resource!

Currently reading: Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier

St. Johnsbury, VT Athenaeum

It’s time for another installment in the Then and Now column!  Today I have the Athenaeum Public Library in St. Johnsbury, VT to share with you.  I had the chance to visit this beautiful library last summer on a road trip.  St. Johnsbury has about 7,500 residents today and is one of the larger towns in the area.  It’s pretty close to the Canadian border, so many immigrants from Quebec settled there.

I have family ties to the town through my great great grandfather’s sister, Zepherine Couture, who eventually settled there with her husband, Onesime Boutin, after the family moved from Quebec.  Most of the rest of the family continued on to Hartford, VT.  Zepherine and my great great great grandmother, Philomene Veillet, are buried at the Mount Calvary cemetery in town, which was the only Catholic cemetery around at the time.

Then, in 1909

And now (in 2013)

All images are my own.

The card was mailed February 13, 1909 and reads “Many happy returns of the day.”  From L.M.R. to Mr. Hugh Clogston, Pompanoosuc, VT.  A birthday card, perhaps?

Well, the overhead wires are definitely new, but otherwise it looks pretty similar to 100 years ago.  The Athenaeum opened in 1871 as a free art gallery and public library with a collection of 9,000 books through funding from Horace Fairbanks.  The building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1996.

Today, it is open six days each week and has eight computers available for patron use.  The library loans out Kindles that sound like they are pre-loaded with books.  It also has an archives related to the town history.  The art gallery has about 100 paintings, double the number from when the library opened.  Most are by American artists, but there are also some copies of famous European paintings.

Unfortunately, the Athenaeum laid off all of its library staff back in 2012, which is ridiculous and sad.  More heartening, however, were the community protests of the layoffs and a few staff were later rehired.

The library and gallery were quite beautiful.  Perhaps the most fun part of the visit for me was my conversation with the very friendly docent/staff person in the art gallery.  As it turns out, he had lived in San Francisco back in the 90s and we had a great talk about the city.  What a small world!  The Athenaeum is definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area.

Currently reading: The Storied Life of A J. Finkry by Gabrielle Zevin

If you enjoyed reading this post, I would be grateful if you “like” it and/or share it!

Claremont, NH Public Library

Hello!

First, can I just say – how on earth is it June already?  This year is flying by!

My newest vintage library postcard to share with you is for the Fiske Free Library in Claremont, NH. Claremont is a city of about 13,000 people.  Several of my family members ended up here from other parts of New Hampshire and Vermont, including my great-great-great grandmother, Bridget Higgins Ruane.  I don’t know too much about Claremont because I haven’t been there,  but I’d like to visit the next time I’m back east.

Then (unknown date, early 1900s?)

And now

Source (Current City Views album)

The postcard that I found was actually never mailed and doesn’t have a publication date on it, so not sure exactly how old it is.

The library doesn’t have its own website, but does have a small section on the City of Claremont’s website.  There is very little info on the library on the city’s website, but there is an online catalog available to search.  Librarytechnology.org states that the Fiske has over 51,000 items in its collection and circulates nearly 110,000 items per year.

According to the city’s website, the Fiske Free Library was established in 1873 at a local high school by Samuel P. Fiske with 2,000 books from his personal library.  In 1903, Andrew Carnegie contributed additional funding for a new library.  The library was added onto in 1922 and fully renovated in 1966.

Currently reading: Citadel by Kate Mosse.  If you’re paying attention, you might notice that I said I was reading this a couple of months ago.  I tried for about a week, couldn’t get into it, then set down the 700-page tome because of too much classwork.  But, now I’m back at it and enjoying it, although it took me much longer to get into than the previous two books in the trilogy.

White River Junction, VT public library

For this Then and Now post, I have a postcard of the Gates Memorial Library in White River Junction, Vermont.  White River Junction is a village of Hartford, Vermont.  It was the first and largest train center in New England north of Boston.  About 2,200 people live in White River Junction today.

Throughout the mid-1800s and early 1900s, several of my Quebecois ancestors pass through or settle in White River Junction or the surrounding villages of Hartford, like Quechee.  I visited last summer and it has a nice downtown area, which is now listed as a National Historic District.  I didn’t get to explore too much, but I had a pretty good meal at Elixir, which is in an old freight house, if you’re ever in the area!

Then, in 1916

And now

Image source

The postcard was mailed April 11, 1916 to a Mrs. William M. Stone in Francestown, NH.  The card reads, “Dear Grace, Just a line to let you know you are not forgotten, neither is the good time we had with you that summer.  Well how is it with me truely your own (?).  Hope all are well.  Will write you soon and let you know what we are about.  We are setting 156 hours (?) in a day or two.  Lots of love to you and yours.  -Cousin Bertha”

Okay, so I know that some of that message doesn’t make any sense.  Usually I’m pretty good at reading old handwriting, but I don’t know if I just really misunderstood a couple of parts in the message, or if the author had an interesting way of writing.  I’m certain I transcribed everything correctly except for the couple of spots with question marks, but on the whole, it’s a bit of a confusing note.  But, I’m also battling a cold and not thinking clearly!

I had a very hard time finding information on this library, and it turns out that it’s because the building is now a health clinic!  I had to do a bit of digging, but on the town of Hartford’s website, I found a historic district walking tour brochure that mentioned the library.  The library was the village’s first formal library.  Prior to this, there were library rooms in a schoolhouse, a factory, and the railroad freight depot!  It was named after George W. Gates, a prominent figure in White River Junction.  The library unfortunately closed in 2000 due to funding issues.  White River Junction doesn’t have any library now, but nearby towns and villages do.

The building now houses the Good Neighbor Health Clinic, which offers free medical and dental care to those in need.  Although the building no longer houses a library, I’m pleased that it still holds an organization that serves the community.

I am on the lookout for more vintage library postcards (that are a reasonable price).  I’m still trying to focus on libraries in places related to my family somehow to help narrow down the search.  But, I will probably start to pick up other postcards that feature pretty library buildings from other places as well.  I’m also trying to find postcards of libraries from Hawaii, where my mom is from, but so far am only finding the same one over and over.  It’s not that interesting a postcard to me, but I may give in and get it anyway.

Woodstock, VT public library

The next library in the Then and Now category is the Norman Williams Public Library in Woodstock, Vermont.  I had the pleasure of visiting this library in person last summer.  Not only were the staff really friendly (at least the one woman I spoke to), but it was beautiful inside.

As I mentioned in the first post for this new series, I am collecting vintage postcards of libraries in towns where I have some sort of family connection, partly due to my love of genealogy.   Woodstock, Vermont is a great little town of about 3,000 people that is a very popular ski area.  The branch of my family tree that I know the least about ended up in Woodstock around 1850.

Then – in 1907

And now – in 2013

The reading room

A community puzzle

Honor system coffee bar

I adore how there is a puzzle that anyone can work on and a honor system coffee bar in the reading room.  A public library could never do this where I live.

The postcard was sent to Miss E.B. Harris in Cambridge, MA on January 17, 1907 and says (I think) “This is certainly a slick little place here and I bet it is an ideal spot in summer.  Shall be in Randolph tonight, Montpelier Sunday at the Pavilion and Monday St. Johnsbury at the Avenue.  Mrs H.”  Someone was going on a grand winter tour of Vermont!

According to its website, the library was built in 1883-1884 and is made of pink sandstone.  In 1999-2000, the library underwent a renovation, which added a mezzanine and tripled the space to 15,000 square feet.  Its collection is around 70,000 items and the library has one of the highest circulation rates per capita in Vermont.  Special services include free or reduced admissions to several area museums and state parks and other sites, a continuing education program, plus a Vermont History Room with genealogy info.  (I quickly flipped through a card catalog filled with vital records information.  If only I had had more time!) Their card catalog is online and they offer wi-fi.

All images are my own.  It was a cloudy, rainy day, so please forgive the photo quality!

Now reading:  Just finished Burial Rites this afternoon, and will soon start Inferno by Dan Brown.

Lancaster, NH public library

I’m a collector.  I have a lot of different collections, but one of the few that I’m still adding to is my postcards.  I’ve been collecting postcards for about three years now and I think it’s a fun, cheap way to see the world.  I’ve learned about new places and found more than a few that I’d like to visit one day.

Although I don’t usually look for vintage postcards, I thought it would be fun to start a mini collection on libraries, and compare them to how they look now.  Since I also love genealogy, I thought I would start with the ones that I have some sort of personal connection to.

First up is the Weeks Memorial Library in Lancaster, NH.  My great-great-great grandfather, Dominique Couture, lived right down the road from here in Northumberland, and was supposedly buried in Lancaster, although I haven’t been able to track that down yet.  (Coincidentally, he also passed away in 1911, the year this card was sent.)

Then – in 1911

And now

Source

The postcard was mailed August 10, 1911 to a Mr. E.E. Call in Swampscott, MA, and simply says, “All O.K. here from S.P. Congdon”.

According to its website, the existing library was finished in 1908, and an addition that tripled its size was completed in 1999.  It looks identical to 100 years ago except for the signage and the larger trees, so the expansion must be in the back of the building.  It has seven staff members, a collection of over 62,000 items, and a genealogy collection.  I’d love to access their genealogy resources, but it looks as though you can only use them in person.