{"nrhp_refnum":"11000289","name":"Wells Memorial Library","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"12230 NY 9N","address_restricted":false,"city":"Upper Jay","county":"Essex County","state":"NY","lat":44.33963524400008,"lon":-73.77324788299995,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"2011-05-18","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Education","Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A small one-and-one-half-story library building at 12230 New York 9N in the hamlet of Upper Jay, Town of Jay, Essex County, New York, built in 1907 with a 2001 addition.","why_significant":"It is nominated under Criterion C as an outstanding, remarkably intact small community library in the Tudor Revival and Arts and Crafts styles. Under Criterion A it is tied to the history of education in Upper Jay, as an example of early public library development funded by philanthropy. It was a gift from Jean Wells Smith and Wallis Craig Smith, the hamlet's leading benefactors.","narrative":"Wells Memorial Library is a small community library on Route 9N at the north end of Upper Jay, in the Adirondack foothills of Essex County. Completed in 1907, the one-and-one-half-story building combines Tudor Revival and Arts and Crafts features: a steep hipped roof with cross gables, stucco and false half-timbering, cedar shingles, and banks of multi-pane windows. Inside, the Reading Room has a coffered ceiling, built-in bookcases, a brick inglenook and original Stickley furniture. A sympathetic addition was built in 2001. The library was a gift from Jean Wells Smith and Wallis Craig Smith, who financed construction and early operations after a library association formed in 1905 and received its state charter in 1906. Beyond lending books, it hosted clubs, fundraisers and community events. It is recognized for its architectural integrity and as a surviving example of early rural public library development supported by private philanthropy. The building continues to serve as a library.","period_of_significance":"1907","architect_builder":null,"architectural_style":"Early 20th Century: Tudor Revival","criteria":["A","C"],"status_note":"Still in use as a library; a 2001 addition and accessibility ramp were added in consultation with the State Historic Preservation Office.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:50:47.959371-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_NY/11000289.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/11000289/162e044bb7-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/11000289/162e044bb7-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY-SA 4.0","author":"Magicpiano","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JayNY_WellsMemorialLibrary.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Magicpiano</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY-SA 4.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:JayNY_WellsMemorialLibrary.jpg"},"district":{"nrhp_refnum":"93001451","name":"New York Central Railroad Adirondack Division Historic District","url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/districts/new-york/new-york-central-railroad-adirondack-division-historic-district-93001451/"},"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75317804","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wells_Memorial_Library","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q23092155"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/new-york/essex-county/wells-memorial-library-11000289/"}