Buttrick, Francis, Library
Also known as: Waltham Public Library
Why it's listed
Waltham's main public library at 741 Main Street is a brick and sandstone building completed in 1915 and dedicated that December. Boston architects Loring and Leland designed it in the neo-Georgian manner. The principal block has a semicircular portico with composite capitals of acanthus and papyrus leaves, a main entry under a broken pediment and flaming urn, round-headed windows with Gothick tracery, palladian windows and a roof balustrade. The Children's Room and Fiction Room occupy the wings. A 1933 rear addition, the Sears Memorial Gallery, housed paintings by Charles H. Woodbury. The library grew from collections donated to the town in 1865 by the Rumford Institute and others. The present building was paid for by a 1894 bequest from Francis Buttrick, a carpenter who became the city's largest real estate owner. It replaced the old Central House tavern, demolished in 1914. It is considered the city's finest public building of its style and an important local cultural institution.
Significance in brief: The library has played a major part in the educational, cultural and social life of Waltham since 1865. The 1915 building is an elegant example of Georgian Revival design and the most outstanding public building of its style in the city. It was funded by a bequest from the real estate owner and philanthropist Francis Buttrick.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 89001547, listed September 28, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 741 Main St., Waltham |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | September 28, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001547 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Loring and Leland (Loring & Leland); 1933 addition by Charles G. Loring |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival (neo-Georgian) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and still in use as the library; a rear addition was built in 1933. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.37645, -71.23933 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 89001547.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5480388
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.