Woburn Public Library, previously known as the Winn Memorial Library (1876–79) is a National Historic Landmark in Woburn, Massachusetts. Designed by architect H. H. Richardson, the Romanesque Revival building was a bequest of the Winn family.[3] It houses the Woburn Public Library, an institution that was established in 1856.[4] The library is also home to the Dr. Thomas J. Glennon Archives. The Glennon Archives holds many important records dating back to Woburn's early history in the 1600s. The Archives maintains more than two hundred separate manuscript collections relating to Woburn's history, several special collections of books including a rare book collection, tens of thousands of photographs, published genealogies, broadsides, maps, ephemera, and museum objects. Many of the Archives' museum objects can be viewed in the Historical Artifacts Room, located in the Octagon Room of the Richardson Building.
In 2019, the library completed a $33 million renovation project, adding an additional 30,500 square feet to complement the historic Richardson Building. The new addition includes an innovative Maker Space, a Teen Room, a Program Room, a climate-controlled Archives and Reading Room, and a spacious Children's Department which is complemented by a craft room and play area. The library was subsequently honored with a 2023 AIA/ALA Award for Library Design.[5]
The library is properly called the "Woburn Public Library." The Winn family paid to construct the building and provide an endowment for the library but specifically requested that it not be named for them. Nevertheless, Richardson signed his plans "Winn Library," and it remains known in architectural circles as "Winn Memorial Library." The inscription in the entrance porch reads: "This building was erected in memory of Jonathan Bowers Winn from funds bequeathed by his son, for the use, benefit and improvement of the people of Woburn."
It was built between 1876 and 1879 and was the first in a series of libraries designed by Richardson. In it he established a characteristic basilical plan for such buildings: an off-axis entrance marked by a staircase tower; a vestibule opening into a high-ceilinged reception area; reading room(s) adjacent to the stacks; and an optional art gallery. The building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987 in recognition of its architectural significance.[2][6]
The library's main (south) facade presents a long, two-story stack wing to the west (left), slit windows on the first story with a strip of clerestory windows separated by columns above, all below a peaked roof. The gable-ended crossing (center) features a trio of arched double windows on the first story, a line of seven arched single windows above, and an attached High Victorian tower. On the opposite side of the tower is the arch of the entrance porch. The easternmost section is an attached two-and-a-half-story octagonal wing that houses the library's museum. The building's polychromatic exterior is constructed of brownstone trimmed with lighter stone, sometimes laid in bands, and set in alternating colors over the main arches and the entrance porch. This is all beneath a red tile roof trimmed with bronze cresting, with crocketed ribs on the roofs of the tower and museum.
The interior features a reception room/picture gallery with the museum to the right and a trio of reading rooms to the left. Beyond the reading rooms are the two-story stacks that feature a tall 6-arch arcade on each side, topped by a wooden barrel-vaulted ceiling. There are curved staircases at the four corners of the stacks, in addition to the main stair in the tower.
^ ab"Winn Memorial Library". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved September 5, 2009.
^"Library History - Woburn Public Library". Woburn Public Library. from the original on February 19, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
^"Library History". Woburn Public Library. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
^"Woburn Public Library - AIA". www.aia.org. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
^Carolyn Pitts (1987). National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Winn Memorial Library / Woburn Public Library/(pdf). National Park Service. and Accompanying 5 photos, exterior and interior, from 1976 and 1889(32 KB)
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Winn Memorial Library.
Further readingedit
Annual report of the Woburn Public Library. 1890-1894
William R. Cutter. "A Model Village Library." New England Magazine v.1, no.6, February 1890, pp. 617–25.
Carolyn Pitts, "NHL Architecture Theme", in CRM Bulletin, Cultural Resources Management, A National Park Service Technical Bulletin, Volume 10: No. 6, December 1987.
Margaret Henderson Floyd, Architecture After Richardson: Regionalism Before Modernism, University of Chicago Press, 1994, page 192. ISBN0-226-25410-0.
External linksedit
Winn Memorial Library from Great Buildings.
Winn Memorial Library from ArchiPlanet.
May 03, 2024
winn, memorial, library, woburn, public, library, previously, known, 1876, national, historic, landmark, woburn, massachusetts, designed, architect, richardson, romanesque, revival, building, bequest, winn, family, houses, woburn, public, library, institution,. Woburn Public Library previously known as the Winn Memorial Library 1876 79 is a National Historic Landmark in Woburn Massachusetts Designed by architect H H Richardson the Romanesque Revival building was a bequest of the Winn family 3 It houses the Woburn Public Library an institution that was established in 1856 4 The library is also home to the Dr Thomas J Glennon Archives The Glennon Archives holds many important records dating back to Woburn s early history in the 1600s The Archives maintains more than two hundred separate manuscript collections relating to Woburn s history several special collections of books including a rare book collection tens of thousands of photographs published genealogies broadsides maps ephemera and museum objects Many of the Archives museum objects can be viewed in the Historical Artifacts Room located in the Octagon Room of the Richardson Building Woburn Public LibraryU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S National Historic LandmarkShow map of MassachusettsShow map of the United StatesLocation45 Pleasant Street Woburn MassachusettsCoordinates42 28 44 N 71 9 18 W 42 47889 N 71 15500 W 42 47889 71 15500Area1 7 acres 0 69 ha Built1879ArchitectH H Richardson Norcross BrothersArchitectural styleRomanesqueNRHP reference No 76000290Significant datesAdded to NRHPNovember 13 1976 1 Designated NHLDecember 23 1987 2 In 2019 the library completed a 33 million renovation project adding an additional 30 500 square feet to complement the historic Richardson Building The new addition includes an innovative Maker Space a Teen Room a Program Room a climate controlled Archives and Reading Room and a spacious Children s Department which is complemented by a craft room and play area The library was subsequently honored with a 2023 AIA ALA Award for Library Design 5 Contents 1 Architecture 2 See also 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksArchitecture edit nbsp First floor plan 1877 The library is properly called the Woburn Public Library The Winn family paid to construct the building and provide an endowment for the library but specifically requested that it not be named for them Nevertheless Richardson signed his plans Winn Library and it remains known in architectural circles as Winn Memorial Library The inscription in the entrance porch reads This building was erected in memory of Jonathan Bowers Winn from funds bequeathed by his son for the use benefit and improvement of the people of Woburn It was built between 1876 and 1879 and was the first in a series of libraries designed by Richardson In it he established a characteristic basilical plan for such buildings an off axis entrance marked by a staircase tower a vestibule opening into a high ceilinged reception area reading room s adjacent to the stacks and an optional art gallery The building was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987 in recognition of its architectural significance 2 6 The library s main south facade presents a long two story stack wing to the west left slit windows on the first story with a strip of clerestory windows separated by columns above all below a peaked roof The gable ended crossing center features a trio of arched double windows on the first story a line of seven arched single windows above and an attached High Victorian tower On the opposite side of the tower is the arch of the entrance porch The easternmost section is an attached two and a half story octagonal wing that houses the library s museum The building s polychromatic exterior is constructed of brownstone trimmed with lighter stone sometimes laid in bands and set in alternating colors over the main arches and the entrance porch This is all beneath a red tile roof trimmed with bronze cresting with crocketed ribs on the roofs of the tower and museum The interior features a reception room picture gallery with the museum to the right and a trio of reading rooms to the left Beyond the reading rooms are the two story stacks that feature a tall 6 arch arcade on each side topped by a wooden barrel vaulted ceiling There are curved staircases at the four corners of the stacks in addition to the main stair in the tower A statue of native son and notable scientist Sir Benjamin Thompson Count Rumford stands on the main lawn before the library nbsp Gable and tower nbsp Museum exterior nbsp Entrance porch nbsp Memorial plaque nbsp Entrance nbsp Reception room picture gallery ca 1890 nbsp Museum natural history room ca 1890 nbsp Reading rooms ca 1890 nbsp Book stacks ca 1890 nbsp Book stacks ca 1890 See also editNational Register of Historic Places listings in Middlesex County Massachusetts List of National Historic Landmarks in Massachusetts William Richard Cutter Benjamin ChampneyReferences edit National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service January 23 2007 a b Winn Memorial Library National Historic Landmark summary listing National Park Service Retrieved September 5 2009 Library History Woburn Public Library Woburn Public Library Archived from the original on February 19 2023 Retrieved March 16 2023 Library History Woburn Public Library Retrieved April 10 2022 Woburn Public Library AIA www aia org Retrieved November 22 2023 Carolyn Pitts 1987 National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Winn Memorial Library Woburn Public Library pdf National Park Service and Accompanying 5 photos exterior and interior from 1976 and 1889 32 KB nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Winn Memorial Library Further reading editAnnual report of the Woburn Public Library 1890 1894 William R Cutter A Model Village Library New England Magazine v 1 no 6 February 1890 pp 617 25 Carolyn Pitts NHL Architecture Theme in CRM Bulletin Cultural Resources Management A National Park Service Technical Bulletin Volume 10 No 6 December 1987 Margaret Henderson Floyd Architecture After Richardson Regionalism Before Modernism University of Chicago Press 1994 page 192 ISBN 0 226 25410 0 External links editWinn Memorial Library from Great Buildings Winn Memorial Library from ArchiPlanet Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Winn Memorial Library amp oldid 1187297472, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
