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The
Ames Free Library first opened its doors in 1883. Under the terms
of the will of Oliver Ames, 2nd, fifty thousand dollars, in trust,
was left for the construction and support of a Library for the benefit
of the inhabitants of the town of Easton. Fifteen thousand dollars of this amount
was designated for a permanent fund, "the income of which shall
be devoted to increasing the library and keeping the building, its
appurtenances, and contents in repair". This fund has been
added to by his descendents through the years and constituted its
sole support until 1972 when some town support was given in order
to qualify the library for state aid. This amount was increased
in 1977 in order to extend the hours.
The main building was designed by Henry Hobson Richardson in
1877. One of the outstanding men in the history of American architecture, Richardson was the
teacher of Louis Sullivan, the father of the modern skyscraper, whose pupil Frank Lloyd Wright remains one of
the foremost architects of this century.
The library is built of Milford granite
with the same Longmeadow trim used on Trinity
Church in Boston. The very low cavernous arch over the doorway is used here by
Richardson for the first time and became one of the most prominent and widely imitated
characteristics of his style. The picturesque carvings and corner gargoyles on the outside
of the building are the design of Stanford White as is much of the interior wood detail
including the unusual barrel-vaulted ceiling in the stack wing. White also designed the
ornately carved mantelpiece of Portland stone in the reading room, which bears a handsome
bronze bas relief of Oliver Ames 2nd, by Augustus St. Gaudens. Renewed interest has been aroused in Richardson's
work and students from all over the country and abroad have come to study and examine this
finely preserved example of his work. A building of great architectural interest, the Ames
Free Library continues to be an educational and vital influence in the community it serves.
Three generations of townspeople have received learning, inspiration and pleasure from this
bequest due to the perseverance and dedication of successive trustees to the high ideals of
its founder.
The children's wing, built in 1931, was the
gift of Mrs. William H. Ames, a former member of the Board of Trustees, in memory of her
husband William Hadwen Ames. This addition was designed by Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge of
Boston, the architectural firm formed by three members of H.H. Richardson's office upon his
death in 1886.
Library Directors - Presidents:
Frederick L. Ames, 1883-1893
Cyrus Lothrop, 1893-1912
Oliver Ames, 1912-1929
Mrs. Louis Adams Frothingham, 1929-1955
David Ames, 1955-1986
William M. Ames, 1986-1989
Edwin C. White, 1990-1993
Donna P. Richman, 1993-1996
Gerard S. Marsan, 1996-1998
Donna P. Richman, 1998 -
Building and Endowment Directors:
Elizabeth M. Ames
William M. Ames
Edwin C. White
Current Library Directors:
William M. Ames
Mrs. Elizabeth M. Ames
Kathleen E. Boyle
Gerard S. Marsan
Alice McCarthy
Kevin Paicos
Donna Richman
Gloria Stafford
James Thomas
Hazel Varella
Edwin White
Executive Director:
Aadeline Miele Holt
(updated 7/10/2008)
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