Wright Memorial Library
Also known as: Wright Building; Duxbury Free Library
Why it's listed
Wright Memorial Library, at 147 St. George Street in Duxbury, is a single-story brick library on a .69-acre lawn site owned by the Town of Duxbury. The original building, designed by Boston architect Joseph Everett Chandler and dedicated in 1909, is a symmetrical Italian Renaissance Revival design with Colonial Revival elements. It has a central copper-covered dome, a pedimented portico with four Ionic columns, Flemish bond brick walls, limestone quoins and a coffered interior rotunda. A flat-roofed Modern addition from 1967-69 sits at the rear, linked through the original rear pavilion and matched to it in height, width and materials. The library was funded by Georgianna Wright and dedicated to deceased members of her family. Its design reflects the classical styles and temple-front entrances common in American town libraries of the period, and its history reflects the role women played in creating them. The building is now listed as vacant, though described as in generally good condition with historic integrity.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the library as a well-preserved example of early 20th-century library design, with a classical temple-front portico and copper dome that follow national library trends. It also ties the building to Georgianna Wright, who funded it as a memorial to deceased family members, and to women's roles in founding town libraries. The Modern addition is described as respectful of the original building.
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 07000680, listed July 11, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 147 St. George St., Duxbury |
|---|---|
| County | Plymouth County |
| Listed | July 11, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000680 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Joseph Everett Chandler (Boston architect) |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Italian Renaissance Revival with Colonial Revival elements; Modern Movement (addition) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Section 6 lists the current function as vacant/not in use; the building is described as generally in good condition and little altered apart from the addition. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.04885, -70.67956 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 07000680.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8038227
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.