The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1907-11-14
STEVENS MEMORIAL LIBRARY
NORTH ANp0vER, MASS.

NORTH ANDOVER, MASS.
Monday, Nov. 5th, was red letter
day in the history of the town of North
| Andover, for it will mark the public
opening of the beautiful and costly
Stevens Memorial library, given to the
citizens of that town. The library, in
its finished state, with its attractive ex-
terror and the completeness in detail of
its interior, massive and beautiful, with
its costly fixtures and furnishings, and
perfection of heating and sanitary ar
rangements is justly considered one of
the finest public library buildings in the
State.
! 1t is one story structure of red
faced brick, with granite trimmings
and tile roof, well set back from the
street so as to allow room for lawns,
driveways, etc. The interior is finished
in plain but artistic manner and the
furnishings are in keeping with the ap-
pearance of the structure. The COM
manding entrance to the library, over
which stands out the inscription:
STEVENS MEMORIAL
| LIBRARY.
capped with beautiful sculptural de-
| sign, is most attractive feature to the
eye of the visitors.
| Passing through the vestibule, finish
+: ed in oak, with marble floor, one mounts
several stairs, to the main delivery
hall, spacious and beautiful. A large
stained glass skylight over the hall
gives good light for all parts of the
hall.
From this hall open out the Librar-
ian's room, the children's room and the
large circular reading room.
On the right and left of the entrance
to the latter apartment hang two eie-
CANT oil paintings, one of Captain Ma
thaniel Stevens and his wife, Harriet
Hale Stevens, in whose memory the
building was erected. Just to the left
and opposite the painting of Captain
Nathaniel Stevens, is set a large bronze
tablet bearing the inscriptions:
"This building is a memorial to
Captain Nathaniel Stevens.
17S6-1S65.
"And to his wife,
Harriet Hale Stevens.
1794-1SS2.
"Nathaniel Stevens was native
and life long citizen of the North
parish of Andover and one of the
founders of its wooden industry.
"Given to the town of North An
dover by their son, Moses Tyler
Stevens, and his wife, Charlotte
Emeline OSgood Stevens-19O6.
The Librarians room, to the left, is a
comfortable abode, tastefully furnish
ed and most conveniently located, ad-
Joining the stack room. From this room
winding staircase leads to the trus-
tees room the only apartment on the
second floor of the building
The stack room is fitted with all the
very latest fixtures and devices, being
model room of its kind. The room is
divided into four mezzanine stories the
floors of which are of glass. The book
cases, containing about -, 1000 volumes,
are of fireproof metal. A book lift, by
means of which books are carried from
one floor to another is decided limo
walton, while the delivery desk is fitted
for the greatest convenience of those in
charge.
From the main delivery hall, one
enters to the circular reading room,
impressive in beauty, and rich in finish
and furnishings. To the right and left,
just over the marble freplaces, hand
some oil paintings of Hon. Moses
Tyler Stevens and Charlotte Emeline
Osgood Stevens, are. set in frames of
heavy antique oak, in which material
the room is finished.
Fine, large easement windows oppo-
site the entrance furnish an abundance
of light and command most delight
full view. The book cases are of heavy
oak with glass doors, while the maya
zine and paper racks, and other fur
are in keeping with the room
itself. The electrical lighting effect is
perfect, many incandescent lights, set
behind the heavy oak moulding which
encircles the room, shed brilliant rays,
while each table is lighted by an cleo
trical lamp of antique metal. A hand
some carved oak clock, on which an
reads:
Gin Memory of Horace Nathaniel
Stevens, son of Nathaniel and Harriet
Hale Stevens, given by his children"
Entrances to the reference and cata-
logue room and the children's room
lead from tbs circular reading ROOM
The first named room is fitted with
all the latest innovations tor reference.
1t is finished in oak stained ash and is
attractive.
The children's reading room, a little
treasure of art and literature, with its
fitted for the comfort and
great convenience of the young folks,
is rich in impressiveness and the gener-
al appearance of the apartment set
apart for the young folks ELECTS ex-
pressions of delight from all visitors.
The room is finished in oak stained ash
and its furnishings closely resemble
those of the circular reading ROOM
In the basement are the circular lee
ture room, which has seating capacity
Of about 125, the receiving room, cloak
room, janitor's apartments and quar-
ters for heating apparatus.
The building is heated by the double
system, both the direct and indirect
all controlled by the johnson
system.
1t is lighted by electricity with the
exception of a few gas lights to be
used in case of an emergency.
The spacious and beautiful grounds
the building, containing
Al ,0CO square feet, have been beautiful
ly laid out, while the location of the IL
brary commands delightful view of the
surrounding landscape. The lawns are
enclosed by granolithic curbings and
the walks are of inlaid brick. The