Civic Pride in a Lost America: Library Postcards
Public Libraries of New Hampshire
Cities P-Z
Pelham
Somewhere along the way, this little Romanesque building was replaced. It now serves as the Hayes-Genoter History and Genealogy On-Line Library.
I'd hate to be the one who answers the telephone there.
Another card printed in Germany for Harry H. Atwood.
Peterborough
A Unitarian minister helped found this Library in 1833. The building shown was built in 1890 by engineer George S. Morison, and expanded in 1957.
Mrs. F.K. Longley published this postcard.
Pittsfield (Josiah Carpenter Library)
Still in use, with several additions.
From the front, this isn't especially well-designed for housing books. It is attractive.
It's a Merrimack Picture Post Card. Huzzah.
Plymouth (Daniel Webster Library)
This all began with the Young Ladies Library Association, who used the relocated 1774 courthouse to house the library functions.
Long-term board member Charlotte Pease left money to the Library in 1982: in 1991, Pease Public Library opened, and by 2011, needed an addition.
A collector of county courthouse postcards, Ruth O. Bozarth, annotated this Fairbanks Card Company postcard for her purposes.
Portsmouth
Replaced in 1999.
(L) Only the building is hand-colored on this early postcard.
(R) Photo postcard from the 1930s or 1940s.
Rindge (Ingalls Memorial Library)
(L) Newish Eastern Illuminating card.
(R) Monochrome card for W.R. Hale.
Sugar Hill (Richardson Memorial Library)
Incorporated in 1962. Wha?
The Library is in the Carolina Crapo Building today, which looks even older than this modest building.
Published for J.V. Hartman.
South Lyndeborough (J.A. Tarbell Library)
Another tiny library, which has had an addition.
Fairbanks Card Company card, with the town name misspelled.
Tilton (Tilton & Northfield NH Public Library, aka. Hall Memorial Library)
Serves both communities: believed to still occupy this Romanesque/Gothic building.
(L) Atkinson News card, mailed in 1913.
(R) Robbins Bros. card, mailed in 1910.
Wakefield
Replaced by a library building which appears to be from the 1920s.
Photo postcard shows a two storey clapboard building behind mature trees.
Walpole (Bridge Memorial Library)
Combined with North Walpole Branch Library to comprise Walpole Town Library. The building is still in use.
Eastern Illustrating Company photo postcard, with the annotation:
This is the Bridge Memorial Library. The Bridges are a very wealthy St. Louis family who have a beautiful place here. They also gave the Episcopal Church.
I have a similar real photo postcard annotated:
Boulders from glacial drift of Connecticut Valley.
Warner (Pillsbury Free Library)
Stunningly beautiful library building donated by the flour magnate George Alfred Pillsbury. His 1890 offer was snapped right up by the town, (they had an empty lot from a hotel fire) and by 1892, the library was dedicated.
(L)Unattributed photo postcard.
(R) The German postcard was mailed in 1909. Its message obscures the name of the quality publisher.
West Swanzey (Stratton Free Library)
Sometimes postcards are annotated accurately. This photo postcard was produced by H.B. Rood Photo, of Poultney, VT.
The Library was built in 1885 to Stratton's specifications, which included an art gallery. An addition was needed in 2002.
Winchester (Conant Library)
(L) Early postcard, unattributed. The stamp was cancelled with a cut cork, or similar, in 1905.
(R) Tanner Souvenir card, written in Dutch, and mailed to Amsterdam.
(L) Eastern Illustrating Co. photo postcard, mailed in 1927.
(R) Frank W. Swallow card, self-framed with birchbark.
Built in 1890, if I read the date correctly on the Library's renovation tour (no longer online). It's really a beautiful Romanesque building, with Aesthetic movement touches. It was renovated in 2014.
Windham (Nesmith Library)
The Library was originally housed in the town hall (also shown), but in 1899 the fieldstone building was built by George W. Armstrong. Even an addition couldn't help the building provide 21st century service, and it was replaced (but saved) in 1997.
Frank W. Swallow postcard. I believe it's one of two postcards I own which show both buildings which housed the Library.
Woodsville (Witcher Library)
1893 building, visible via Google Street View. The tiny building's landscaping was a little bit overgrown, and the library has no web site of which I'm aware.
Hugh C. Leighton card, never mailed.