Forbes Library - Northampton, MA
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neoc1
N 42° 19.027 W 072° 38.147
18T E 694828 N 4687693
The Richardsonian Romanesque style Forbes Library is located at 20 West Street in Northampton, MA.
Waymark Code: WM14V7C
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 08/26/2021
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The Forbes Library was funded by a bequest by Judge Charles Edward Forbes. Architect William C. Brocklesby was commissioned to design a fire proof library. Construction of the three-story Richardsonian Romanesque style building began in 1893 and was dedicated in October of 1894. The Richardsonian Romanesque style is characterized by the use of contrasting light colored granite blocks with dark brownstone trim. The massive asymmetric library building is 125' wide, 95' long on the east side and 160' long on the west side. MACRIS: (
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The library features a complex cross gable, fireproof, slate covered roof. The north facing façade has a protruding portico entrance with three arched openings. A protruding section with a gable roof is located on the northwest corner. The lower level has sets of rectangular windows outlined with brownstone flanking the entrance. The upper levels have Palladian style windows on the north side and a set of two windows with rounded arches on the south side.
The east side has a semicircular protruding pavilion and a set of three rectangular windows on the lower level and a set of five windows with rounded tops on the upper level. The west side is the longest side of the building. It features three protruding sections each with rectangular windows on the lover level and windows with rounded tops on the upper level. These sections are separated by a bay with double windows.
The Forbes Library is the home to the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Library and Museum.
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