Clapp, Lucius, Memorial
Also known as: Stoughton Public Library
Why it's listed
Built in 1903 and dedicated in 1904, this red brick building at 6 Park Street served as Stoughton's public library for more than six decades. Architect Walter Atherton, a Stoughton native trained at MIT and the École des Beaux-Arts, designed it in the Georgian Revival style, with Indiana limestone trim, a granite foundation, a hipped slate roof, a modillioned cornice, round-headed windows and a pedimented entrance portico with paired Tuscan columns. The interior retains its original layout, with oak wainscoting, a vaulted lobby and reading rooms. Lucius Clapp donated $25,000 to cover the construction cost after earlier efforts to secure Carnegie funding failed. When a new library opened in 1969, the older building was renamed the Lucius Clapp Memorial. The Stoughton Historical Society now uses it as a museum and research center, and the Old Stoughton Musical Society also keeps its collection there. The site was earlier home to the town's first schoolhouse and a tavern.
Significance in brief: The building is significant under Criterion A for representing community development in Stoughton, since it was built with a gift from benefactor Lucius Clapp to meet a need for larger library space. It is significant under Criterion C as a well-preserved example of Georgian Revival civic architecture popular in early twentieth-century suburban communities. The lot also has archaeological potential as the reported site of the town's first schoolhouse (1768) and a tavern.
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 92000998, listed August 18, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 6 Park St., Stoughton |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | August 18, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000998 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1903 - 1942 |
| Architect / builder | Atherton, Walter |
| Architectural style | Late 19th & 20th Century Revivals: Colonial Revival - Georgian Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Since 1969 it no longer serves as the town library. The Stoughton Historical Society leases it as a museum and research center, and the Old Stoughton Musical Society keeps its rare music book collection there and rehearses in the building. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 42.12421, -71.10086 (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 92000998.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6697499
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.