Hunt Memorial Library

United States historic place
Hunt Memorial Library
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property
42°45′55″N 71°28′3″W / 42.76528°N 71.46750°W / 42.76528; -71.46750
Area0.5 acres (0.20 ha)
Built1903 (1903)
Built byNashua Building Co.
ArchitectCram & Associates
Architectural styleLate Gothic Revival
Part ofNashville Historic District (ID84000574)
NRHP reference No.71000049[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJune 28, 1971
Designated CPDecember 13, 1984

The Hunt Memorial Library, also known as the John M. Hunt Memorial Building, is a historic former library building at 6 Main Street in downtown Nashua, New Hampshire. Built in 1903, it is a significant early work of the renowned Gothic Revival architect Ralph Adams Cram, then in partnership with Goodhue and Ferguson. The Nashua Public Library moved to a new building in 1971. The building is owned by the city and is available for rent for functions.[2] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.[1]

Description and history

The Hunt Memorial Building is located at the northern end of downtown Nashua, at the southeast corner of Main and Lowell Streets. It is a multi-level structure built of brick laid in Flemish bond, with limestone trim. Its three-story square tower is an imposing presence at the upper end of Main Street, with a staircase turret projecting from one corner. The tower has buttressed corners and large Gothic-arched windows, and houses a four-face clock in its upper level. It is topped by a crenellated parapet. The main entrance is located at the base of the tower, in a Gothic-arched opening with heavy oaken double doors with book-leaf panels.[3]

The building was constructed in 1903, and is an early work of architect Ralph Adams Cram, then early in a distinguished career. Cram was a native of New Hampshire, and was during his career a major proponent of renewed interest in Gothic Revival architecture. The Hunt Building includes good examples of the architectural vocabulary Cram developed for this role.[3] It was used as a library until 1971.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. ^ "The Hunt Building". Nashualibrary.org. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
  3. ^ a b "NRHP nomination for Hunt Memorial Library". National Park Service. Retrieved October 28, 2014.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hunt Memorial Library (Nashua, New Hampshire).
  • v
  • t
  • e
Landmarks
  • Franklin Pierce Homestead
  • MacDowell Colony
Hillsborough County map
DistrictsBuildings
Commercial
Education
Government
Industrial
Religious
Residential/
Agriculture
SitesStructuresFootnotes
† This entry has been removed from the registry.
Authority control databases Edit this at Wikidata
International
  • VIAF
National
  • United States