At the 1878 town meeting, Laconia’s
voters raised $1500 to establish a public library. This
library opened in 1879 in a rented room in The Folsom
Block. Ten years later it moved to the Laconia National
Bank Building; then to the basement of the Unitarian church
until the present building was ready.
Napoleon Bonaparte Gale, a local banker,
died in 1894. He was kind-hearted, generous, enterprising
and greatly respected. He left the bulk of his fortune
to the City of Laconia for a park and a public library
building. Land was purchased and the building was under
construction from 1901-1903. It was dedicated in June
1903. The Gale Memorial Building houses the Laconia Public
Library and is listed on the National Register of Historic
Places.
The main library building is a fine example
of Romanesque Revival style – a style that emphasizes
weight and mass through rock-faced masonry, heavy arches,
and broad roofs. This style was inspired by H. H. Richardson
designed by Boston architect Charles Bingham and built
by E. Noyes Whitcomb and Co. of Boston, using Deer Island
granite, New Brunswick granite, oak paneling, and stained
glass windows.
In 1956-1957 a two story wing was added on to house the
Children’s Room, a workspace area, and the Martha
Prescott Auditorium.
The Gale Memorial
Library is located on N. Main St. in downtown Laconia.
http://www.laconialibrary.org
