Flower, Roswell P., Memorial Library
Also known as: Flower Memorial Library
Why it's listed
Built in 1903 on Washington Street in Watertown, this marble-faced brick library was funded by Emma Flower Taylor as a memorial to her father, Roswell P. Flower, a New York governor and Jefferson County native. It was the city's first public library. The design came from an architectural competition won by Orchard, Lansing and Joralemon, with Watertown resident A. F. Lansing supervising. A recessed portico with paired Ionic columns fronts the building, and a central dome rises over a three-story rotunda. Charles R. Lamb designed the interior decoration, carried out by Ella Condie Lamb and Frederick Stymety Lamb, with murals, mosaics, carved texts and dome figures representing History, Romance, Religion and Science. Other artists added murals and friezes of local history. It was conceived as a people's palace with reading, meeting and conversation rooms. A large 1975 addition at the rear leaves the original portion's character intact. The library is recognized as a fine Beaux Arts civic building.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an outstanding example of Beaux Arts Classicism in northern New York, with a sophisticated iconographic program that joins the decorative and fine arts. It was Watertown's first public library and a memorial to native son Roswell P. Flower. It also shows the spread of Beaux Arts style and the philanthropy of the city's upper class around 1900.
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 80002628, listed January 10, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 229 Washington St., Watertown |
|---|---|
| County | Jefferson County |
| Listed | January 10, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002628 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-1999 |
| Architect / builder | Orchard, Lansing & Joralemon; A. F. Lansing, supervising architect |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts Classicism |
| Areas of significance | Art, Education, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the City of Watertown and occupied, in good condition; a $1.2 million rear addition was begun in 1975. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.97314, -75.91035 (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 80002628.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7370120
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.