Location Quincy, Massachusetts NRHP Reference # 72000143 Opened 1882 Added to NRHP 18 October 1972 | Built 1881 Designated NHL December 23, 1987 Phone +1 617-376-1301 Architect Henry Hobson Richardson | |
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Architectural style Richardsonian Romanesque Address 40 Washington St, Quincy, MA 02169, USA Hours Open today · 9AM–9PMThursday9AM–9PMFriday9AM–5PMSaturday9AM–5PMSunday1–5PMMonday9AM–9PMTuesday9AM–9PMWednesday9AM–9PMSuggest an edit Similar Thomas Crane Public Lib, United First Parish Church, United States Naval Shi, Hancock Cemetery, Hull Life Saving Museum | ||
Thomas crane public library a peek
The Thomas Crane Public Library (TCPL) is a city library in Quincy, Massachusetts. It is noted for its architecture. It was funded by the Crane family as a memorial to Thomas Crane, a wealthy stone contractor who got his start in the Quincy quarries. The Thomas Crane Library has the second largest municipal collection in Massachusetts after the Boston Public Library.
Contents
- Thomas crane public library a peek
- Quincy unplugged open night mic at the thomas crane public library
- Architecture
- Branches
- Community
- References
In fiscal year 2008, the city of Quincy spent 1.41% ($2,690,878) of its budget on the library—some $29 per person.
Quincy unplugged open night mic at the thomas crane public library
Architecture
The Thomas Crane Public Library was built in four stages: the original building (1882) by architect H. H. Richardson; an additional ell with stack space and stained glass (1908) by William Martin Aiken in Richardson's style; a major expansion (1939) by architects Paul A. and Carroll Coletti, with stone carvings by sculptor Joseph A. Coletti of Quincy; and a recent addition (2001) by Boston architects Childs, Bertman, and Tseckares, which doubled the size of the library. H. H. Richardson considered this library among his most successful civic buildings, and Harper's Weekly called it "the best village library in the United States". The library was ranked 43rd in a national poll conducted in 2007 by the American Institute of Architects of the favorite buildings in the nation.
In addition to its architecture, the original building contains a 30 × 10 inch stained glass window by noted American artist John LaFarge in memory of Thomas Crane, entitled the Old Philosopher. To the left of the elaborate carved fireplace is a second LaFarge window, "Angel at the Tomb", given in memory of Crane's son Benjamin Franklin Crane. The library's grounds were designed by landscaper Frederick Law Olmsted.
The main library was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987, recognizing it as one of Richardson's finest library buildings.
Branches
The Wollaston Branch is listed separately on the National Register of Historic Places. The library had two other branches as of October 2009: the North Quincy Branch on Hancock Street near North Quincy High School, and the Adams Shore branch on Sea Street in Hough's Neck. There had been four other branches until municipal budget cutbacks in 1981; two of these were the Atlantic Branch on Atlantic Street and the Quincy Point branch off of Washington Street.
Community
The library often hosts concerts, lectures and art exhibitions. There are also private rooms available for rent free of charge to the public or to small community organizations. Also, the library hosts Quincy's local Public-access television cable TV channel, QATV.