Greenfield Public Library - Greenfield, MA
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neoc1
N 42° 35.274 W 072° 35.943
18T E 697005 N 4717847
The Greenfield Public Library is housed in the Leavitt–Hovey House which is located at 402 Main Street in Greenfield, MA.
Waymark Code: WM12EVW
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 05/12/2020
Views: 1
The Leavitt-Hovey House was designed by noted early American architect Asher Benjamin in 1797 for Judge Jonathan Leavitt. The structure is significant because of its Federal style architecture. The two story building has a hip roof with two interior chimneys. It central portion is five bays wide with a center entrance which features a gabled porch supported by two pairs of Doric columns. The exterior is covered by yellow wooden clapboards. A set of recessed wings flank the central section.
The city of Greenfield acquired the home by eminent domain in 1907 to use the building as the main branch of the Greenfield Public Library. The library opened in 1909.
An historical marker in front of the Leavitt–Hovey House is inscribed:
LEAVITT HOVEY
HOUSE 1797
{Seal of the Town of Greenfield 1753}
ATTRIBUTED TO GREENFIELD RESIDENT
ASHER BENJAMIN WHO HERE IN 1797
PUBLISHED FIRST AMERICAN ARCHITECT-
URAL BOOK. ADAPTING ENGLISH GEORGIAN
ARCHITECTURE TO AMERICAN STYLES
AND CRAFTSMEN BECAME GREENFIELD
PUBLIC LIBRARY IN 1909
SIGN DONATED BY GREENFIELD KIWANIS CLUB
The Leavitt-Hovey House was placed on te national Register of Historic places in 1983.
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