Southworth Library (Dartmouth, Massachusetts)
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The Southworth Library was a library located in the village of Padanaram, a coastal village located in Dartmouth, Massachusetts.[1] The building was opened in 1889, and is currently known as the Dartmouth Cultural Center.[1][2]
History
Origin
In 1878, the pastor of the Congregational Church of South Dartmouth - Reverend Salter F Calhoun, formed a group with the aim of creating a public library.[3] The initial library was only available to Padanaram residents, and only contained eight books.[1] The original collection was located at the home of Edward Manchester, but as it progressed in size it was moved to Potter's Store.[3] The last location before it was moved to its final position was a small building across the street from Potter's Store. The location there's rent was paid for by Dr. Andrew B. Cushman, in return for use of the library as an office.[1]
Construction
In March 1888 the land that the library would be built upon was sold by Captain George O. Baker to the library association for $200 USD. Funds for the library were procured from John Haywood Southworth, who in addition to donating funds needed for creating the building, also donated 2,500 books - all in the memory of his father.[1][2] The building was designed by architect R. H. Slack, who fashioned the building with a reference room in the shape of a half circle, an additional room with the fiction collection, and a downstairs section for children's literature. The building was two stories, 1,999 square feet, and cost $4,785 USD to build. Southworth library was dedicated in February 1890 by Reverend Martin S. Howard.[1]
Public usage
At the time the library was dedicated a library card cost 50 cents, with late fees being 1 cent per day. The library was supplied with running water and modern plumbing in 1921. In 1927, the library was acquired by the town of Dartmouth. In the same year the libraries collection consisted of 17,921 books. During the Great Depression the library gathered unemployed boys. In 1958 the library no longer had enough room to fit their collection of books, and by 1967 the town agreed to spend $515,000 on building a new library.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Shelford, Chloe (September 3, 2018). "The storied history of the Old Southworth Library". Dartmouth Week Today. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
- ^ a b Medeiros, Peggi. "Dartmouth cultural center is right destiny for Southworth Library". New Bedford Standard-Times. Retrieved 2022-06-15.
- ^ a b Haskell, Elsie. "History of the Dartmouth Public Libraries".