Library Building/History
When was the Library built?
The original Library opened in 1884. An addition was constructed in 1959, and the building as it exists today opened to the public in 1989.
What style of architecture is the Lincoln Public LIbrary?
The 1884 Library was built in the Queen Anne architectural style. A contemporary addition was built in 1959, and the final renovation was completed in 1989 in a style that aimed to reflect the original Queen Anne style but using a “bouncy freedom” of interpretation full of whimsy and delight, which can be seen in the Library’s interior detailing and decorative masonry.
Who designed the Library?
William Preston was the original architect of the 1884 building, funded by a generous gift from George Tarbell. Hoover and Hill Associates designed the 1959 addition, and Graham Gund worked on the library’s 1989 renovation. Gund was known for renovating and restoring historic buildings across the Northeast United States and placed particular emphasis on maintaining historic character.
Is the Lincoln Public Library a Carnegie Library?
No.
Why is there an unused entrance?
The door to what is now the Young Adult Room was the original entrance of the building. That room was formerly a vestibule. In 1959 the entrance was changed to accommodate patrons who were by then more likely to arrive by car than on foot.
Who designed the clock tower?
The clock was made by the E. Howard Clock Company and originally cost $347. It was first struck on April 30, 1884.
Interior Details
What is the source for each of the quotes over the wooden arch in the Tarbell Room?
- “While I was musing the fire burned” – Psalms 39:3, King James Bible
- “These hoards of truth you can unlock at will” – Wordsworth, The Excursion, 1814, Book Fourth, Despondency Corrected
Who is the bust above the fireplace?
The bust in the Tarbell Room is a copy of the Minerva Guistiniani, a Roman marble statue of Athena currently located in the Vatican Museums.
What’s the story behind that old bench in the lobby?
The bench is a pew from the 1700s, donated by a local church. The exact church’s name is unknown, there may be more information in the Library Director’s building files.
What is the story behind each square of the quilt in the Tarbell Room?
- Open Space in Lincoln – In 1958, Lincoln established a Conservation Commission and became a leader in the preservation of land. In 2004, there were 2136 acres of Town conservation land within Lincoln’s borders. Quilted by Ebe Emmons.
- Old Town Hall – The “Lincoln Town House” was constructed in 1848 in the Greek Revival style. Used over the years for many town functions. Today, it is home to a branch of the USPS, a community exchange, and a real estate office. Quilted by Tricia Deck.
- The Gropius House, today owned by the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, was built in 1938 in modern International Style. It was designed by Walter Gropius, founder of the Bauhaus in Germany, who emigrated to the U.S. in 1937 and joined the faculty of the Harvard School of Design. Quilted by Rhoda Taschioglou.
- The Hartwell Chimney was the central chimney in the house of Samual and Mary Hartwell, built circa 1690’s. The house was built along Bay Road. (an important route from Boston to Concord), which was the scene in 1775 of bloody skirmishes between the Colonial Minutemen and the British Redcoats. Quilted by Joyce Bossom.
- The Fire and Police Station of 1958 was the first public safety facility in the Town. Prior to 1958, Lincoln had two elected police constables and several call firemen. Fire equipment was stored in stables and barns around Lincoln. Quilted by Eleanor Gallitano.
- The Watering Trough was placed in 1892 at the intersection of five roads near the Lincoln Library. Originally used to water horses, the trough is now used as a planter. It is filled with seasonal plants and tended by the Lincoln Garden Club. Quilted by Stephanie Rolfe.
- The Sandy Pond Boat House was built in 1890 as a private club. Members included wealthy landowners of Lincoln who held dances and parties in the Boat House. Gradually it fell into disrepair, and in 1912 it was torn down. Quilted by Tricia Deck.
- Lincoln’s Production of Pickles In 1869 and 1870, two pickling factories were built near the South Lincoln Train Depot. Lincoln farmers grew cucumbers and delivered them for pickling and eventual sale in the Boston market. Quilted by Blandyna Williams.
- The Train Depot in South Lincoln was built in 1848, three years after the completion of the Boston and Fitchburg Railroad. Quilted by Tricia Deck.
- The new Public Safety Facility became operational in March 1999. Quilted by Dilla Tingley.
- The Smith School Clock Tower is part of the new school addition completed in April 1999. The winning design for the weather vane was submitted by a third grader, with help from his adult neighbor. Quilted by Dilla Tingley.
- Horse-drawn wagons and barges brought children from outlying areas to school in the 1880’s, 1890’s and early twentieth century. Quilted by Blandyna Williams.
- Codman Community Farms completed the construction of a new barn in 1998. CCF was formed in 1973 as a non-profit entity to promote and educate the public in sound farming practices. Quilted by Elizabeth Donaldson.
- The Interpretive Trail at the Lincoln Schools, completed in 1995 is a collaborative effort of several Lincoln organizations: the Garden Club, the Lincoln Land Conservation Trust, the Conservation Commission and the School Science Department. The Trail won a gold medal for Conservation Education from the National Council of State Garden Federations. Quilted by Susan Harding.
- The Old Red Schoolhouse (The South School) was built in 1889-90. There were separate entrances for girls and boys. There were two classrooms on the main floor: one for the primary grades and one for the grammar school grades. The schoolhouse was in use until the 1950s and sold to the Soley Lodge of Masons in April 1963. Quilted by Joan Kessel.
- The Lincoln Seal. Quilted by Dilla Tingley.
Exterior Details
Twisted Tree
The twisted tree is a Northern Catalpa tree, which was likely planted on the grounds sometime in the 1910s. Its distinctive twisting trunk is most likely due to a genetic anomaly possibly triggered by an environmental factor such as sunlight, or a rock standing in the way of its roots.
The name Catalpa came from the Native American name of the tree, “kutulpa.” Herbalists use Catalpas for various medicinal concoctions. “With the help of the Arnold Arboretum, the Lincoln Garden Club is now trying to grow more catalpas with twisting trunks.
Eagle Statue/War Memorial
The Lincoln War Memorial was dedicated on November 1, 1929, listing the names of residents who died in service. The plaque was placed on a boulder topped with a bronze eagle which was designed by sculptor Fortunato Tarquino and made by the T.F. McGann and Sons Company of Boston. The idea of the monument was first put forth by the Lincoln Girl Scouts.
