Civic Pride in a Lost America: Library Postcards
Public Libraries of Massachusetts
Cities L-M
N cities have a new page (January, 2020)
Lawrence
Mason Brothers & Co. postcard.
Definitive 1892 Romanesque structure, replaced in 1973 and sold in 1974.
Leicester
Oddly designed rusticated stone building with Tuscan columns and Romanesque windows on the upper storey. Still in use for now.
Valentine & Sons' Publishing product, printed in Great Britain.
Lexington (Cary Memorial Library)
1906-2001
Really, was it necessary to demolish this? I understand that even a 2005 addition wasn't big enough, but this was unique, and beautiful.
(L) The card is also dated 1906.
(R) The self-framed card is somewhat newer.
Littleton
'Tis sad when a Flickr photo caption is the reference, but according to that, this was built as a Civil War memorial, and now houses the historical commission.
The Paper & Stat'y Co. Specialty Printers (Ayer, Mass.) produced this card, which was mailed in 1917.
Longmeadow (Storrs Library)
Still in use. There seems to be something odd about its façade.
Silvercraft Dexter Press card, mailed in 1960.
Lowell (Pollard Memorial Library)
Hugh C. Leighton card, manufactured in Portland, Maine.
Founded 1844. This building was built in 1889 and suffered a huge fire in 1915. Its most recent renovation was in 2002.
Information from the library history page taken from The Lowell City Library by Richard P. Howe.
Lynn
(L) Early chrome card, publisher unknown.
(R) H.C. Leighton card, mailed in 1906.
Lynn received Carnegie funds in 1915, but they are not mentioned on the library's web site. I believe the branches that were built from these monies have been sold: in any case, they are no longer libraries.
Sic transit gloria mundi.
Malden
(L) The card has a textured surface, not a linen finish.
It was produced in Germany for the Hugh C. Leighton Company of Portland, Maine.
(R) Photo by Wm. L. Hallworth of Cascade Studio.
Founded in 1879: building still in use.
Manchester-by-the-Sea
Yet again, a library building has GAR roots.
This time, the tri-partite building served the Library, a war memorial, and a GAR meeting hall. According to the Library, when the last GAR member died in 1927, that section went to serve library functions.
(L) Mailed in 1911, the N.E. Paper & Stationery Card is rather hideous.
(R) A more contemporary card, mailed in 1970, also shows the Congregational Church.
Mansfield
Still standing, but replaced. Lovely river rock construction, yet considered Gothic.
Dexter Press card, published by Skinner & Son for Cuneo's of Mansfield.
Marblehead (Abbot Library)
Founded in 1878. This newer building is still in use.
Card published by Sanborn Studio.
Marshfield Hills (Clift Rodger's Free Public Library)
Uncommon clapboard library building which looks to be the definitive firetrap.
This library has the oddest story I've ever read. It was built in 1897, with a stage for benefit plays. Spiritualist meetings could be held free. however. Because of the stage, it became the parish hall for the North Community Church.
The current building is a result of a 1950 swap, and is kept in service by a consignment shop. The library carries mainly fiction today and prides itself on offering no reference service. Most functions are carried out by a volunteer force.
Mattapoisett
Someone considered the war memorial more exciting than the library, but this card nicely shows what city streets lined with elms looked like. Anyone born after 1960 or so missed this.
For those in the Midwest whose city replaced the elms with ash trees (Good Morning, Madison!), you're going to get a feeling for what the devastation of Dutch Elm disease wrought when the ash borer hits your city.
Do you notice the gardener in the orange shirt?
Medford
Pioneer postcard in remarkable condition.
Rotograph postcard.
White border card shows a rather regal building.
Medford, Oregon and Medford, Wisconsin got Carnegie grants, but not Medford, Massachusetts.
All three cards show a background building which resembles a school.
Methuen (Nevins Memorial Library)
Interesting mix of Italianate, Mediterranean, and Romanesque style.
Card has a divided back, and was published by the Metropolitan News Co. of Boston.
Or by W.K. Ephlin.
It appears to be still in use, without any external modification.
Middleborough
Still in use.
Captioned as Public Library, Middleboro, Mass. Melvil Dui would be proud.
Milton
Still in use, with additions apparent via Google Maps.
Bridge-Cheney Co. postcard,
