National Register of Historic Places

Gale Memorial Library

Laconia, Belknap County, New Hampshire
Listed
September 11, 1985
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
85002185

About this property

The Gale Memorial Library is the public library of Laconia, New Hampshire. It is located at 695 Main Street in a Richardsonian Romanesque building, whose 1901–03 construction was funded by a bequest from Napoleon Bonaparte Gale, a local banker. The building was designed by Boston architect Charles Brigham, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Gale Memorial Library is located on the north side of downtown Laconia, occupying a generous landscaped parcel at the northeast corner of Main and Church streets. The original building is a roughly cruciform two-story masonry structure, built out of red New Brunswick granite with white Maine granite trim. It is covered by a tall hip roof, and has a rounded apse at the southern end. The front facade, facing Main Street, has a square tower at the right which has a rounded stair projection at one corner, each separately roofed by pyramidal and conical roofs respectively. The entrance is set next to the tower, projecting under an arched shelter. To its left is a projecting hip-roof section, fronted by a bowed single-story projection with parapet. Laconia's public library was authorized by the town in 1878 and opened in 1879 in a downtown commercial space. After several moves, it moved into this building in 1903. It was built through a bequest from Napoleon Bonaparte Gale, whose will included provisions giving the city $25,000 for public amenities, including $10,000 for the library. It also included provisions for using more of the estate for the library, should costs require it. In all, $60,000 was spent on the library grounds and building. It was designed by Charles Brigham of Boston, and is one of the most impressive examples of Romanesque architecture in the state. The 1957 addition, which added a children's room, auditorium, and workroom, was designed by Prescott & Erickson. Executed in brick and with simpler styling, it is sited to leave major views of the original building intact. National Register of Historic Places listings in Belknap County, New Hampshire

Location

695 Main St.
Laconia, Belknap County, New Hampshire
43.52986, -71.47080

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Busiel, John W., House
Industrial
0 mi
Federal Building
Early Republic
0.1 mi
Evangelical Baptist Church
Industrial
0.1 mi
Laconia Passenger Station
Industrial
0.1 mi
Colonial Theatre Complex
Industrial
0.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Gale Memorial Library listed on the National Register?

Gale Memorial Library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 11, 1985.

What type of historic resource is Gale Memorial Library?

Gale Memorial Library is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Gale Memorial Library?

The period of significance for Gale Memorial Library is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Gale Memorial Library?

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