Simon Fairfield Public Library - Douglas MA
Posted by: 
nomadwillie
N 42° 04.347 W 071° 42.803
19T E 275530 N 4661383
The library is located at 290 Main Street in Douglars
Waymark Code: WM7FEB
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 10/19/2009
Views: 2
James M Fairfield was one of seven sons born to Simon and Phoebe Churchill Fairfield in Douglas Massachusetts. He spend his boyhood in South Douglas on his family farm with his close friend George Jepherson. He left Douglas at an early age and went on to accumulate great wealth from real estate in the city of Lawrence. His friendship with George and his love of this town remained with him for most of his life. Sometime during 1902 after discussing his wealth and what to do with it he and his friends decided to build a town library in Douglas. After visiting the Uxbridge Free Public Library they decided to give the town a lasting memorial to his parents. This landmark in history became the Simon Fairfield Public Library.
At a town meeting in 1903 the voters decided to accept this gift. The acceptance included a provision that the control and government of the library and the real estate be permanently vested in an eight member board of trustees, three to be elected and five to be appointed.Fairfield appointed the first five to be Charles J Batchellor, Winfield S Schuster, Walter B Fairfield, Aaron F Jones, and James W Wixtead.
The dedication was held at the Second Congregational Church and Mr. Fairfield was not in attendance. However he continued to support the library financially until his death.
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