{"nrhp_refnum":"78000452","name":"Old Public Library","other_names":["Lawrence Public Library"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"190 Hampshire St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Lawrence","county":"Essex County","state":"MA","lat":42.70949621200003,"lon":-71.16751480999994,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1978-11-28","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture","Social History"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A public library building at 190 Hampshire Street in the center of Lawrence, Essex County, Massachusetts, built in 1890-1892 and designed by architect George G. Adams. It is a brownstone building with a 75-foot octagonal entrance tower.","why_significant":"The nomination argues the building is a fine example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture and one of the best works of Lawrence architect George G. Adams. It was also an important cultural institution in Lawrence while in use as the city's library, and it was the first permanent home of the free public library established in 1872.","narrative":"Built between 1890 and 1892 at a cost of $50,000, this brownstone library at 190 Hampshire Street in Lawrence gave the city's free public library its first home of its own. The library had existed since 1872. Funds came from Mrs. Nathaniel G. White and her daughter Elizabeth White, and the land came from the former Judge Daniel Appleton White tract. Architect George G. Adams designed it in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, with rough-faced reddish brownstone, light sandstone and granite trim, slate roofs and a 75-foot octagonal entrance tower. The northern section is noted for its monumental rooms, woodwork and carved exterior details. A 1902 wing was demolished in 1969, and a temporary shingled wall closes the southeast end. The building served as the library until a new structure opened in 1973. At the time of listing it stood vacant, with hopes that it would become a cultural center. It is regarded as the best example of its style in Lawrence.","period_of_significance":"1800-1899 (specific dates 1890-92)","architect_builder":"George G. Adams","architectural_style":"Richardsonian Romanesque","criteria":[],"status_note":"Vacant at the time of nomination; the library moved to a new building in 1973 and new uses were being considered. The southeast wing, added in 1902, was demolished in 1969 and replaced with a temporary wood-shingled wall.","vacant_flag":true,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:11:53.319707-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/0/7950/63795000/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_MA/78000452.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/78000452/4c33cb2697-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/78000452/4c33cb2697-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY 2.0","author":"EraserGirl","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Old_Public_Library,_Lawrence,_MA.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">EraserGirl</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY 2.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Old_Public_Library,_Lawrence,_MA.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/63795000","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Public_Library","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7084793"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/massachusetts/essex-county/old-public-library-78000452/"}