Sawyer Free Library

I live to be at the library. It has all the books I love in one place. I’m younger so I go to teens section, but I am a book addict and I just wanna be there everyday

Quilts
fountains
and
fires
The very first idea of a library for the city of Gloucester probably started back in 1830 when the intellectuals of the area got together to form a lycem to discuss and debate the important issues of the day. Some famous fellows like Ralph Emerson, Henry Thoreau and Oliver Wendell Holmes were part of that lycem.
By 1850 or so it was obvious that a library would be a nice thing to have so a collection of books was put together. The books didn’t have a permanent home and were just moved where ever there was space.
This work well until about 1871 when a fire destroyed most of the books along with a good portion of the town. Fortunately a generous individual named Samuel Sawyer came forward and gave money to replace the books. Sawyer liked the idea of a library so much that in 1884 he bought a cool old house to permanently house the books. Of course this became the library and it was appropriately named the Sawyer Library.
Over the decades the city of Gloucester grew and the need for a larger library was apparent. So around 1976 extensive renovations and additions were started and the old library greatly increased in size and efficiency. Additional changes continuously take place to keep the library modern and useful.
It’s pretty obvious where the additions are but the library is lovely and has a nice courtyard and fountain out in front. The massive and elegant town hall looms right across the street.
The inside of the library is very pleasant and has many library quilts hanging off the walls and lots of cool places to study or do research. Of course a library in a town like Gloucester has to have a great genealogy room.
A lovely, unique and historic library that continues to be a place where people can explore, study or just have fun. The idea that started back in 1830 is still alive inside it’s walls.