The venerable “old” library, erected in 1887–89 and designed in the classical Romanesque Revival of the period by then local and prominent architect William Channing Whitney (at no fee to the town), was a revered building located by, built by, designed by, funded by, and donated by so many late 19th-century, dedicated Harvard residents.
At that time the projected annual operating budget of the library was $200, and the projected cost of building the “new library” was close to $10,000. After much discussion, the town voted to appropriate $3,500, and resident Augustus Jonathan Sawyer pledged $6,000. As construction progressed, costs increased (oh, how things have not changed in more than 128 years!) and Warren Hapgood donated an additional $2,500 to complete the building. Hapgood subsequently established a trust in the amount of $20,000 for a future expansion of both the building and its collections. The levels of these donations were very substantial at the time and in today’s dollars would amount to hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars.
At the library’s June 22, 1887 dedication, Hapgood noted that the building would be prominently located on the town Common where one would behold for many generations to come one of the prettiest libraries in the country. “The building will stand, we trust, as the emblem of your highest hopes, your noblest aspirations,” he said.
Today, 128 years later, we have a remarkable opportunity to meet the “noblest aspirations” of those earlier Harvard citizens by transforming this venerable building into a revitalized civic center, a place for interactive intellectual and educational pursuits for all. The dedicated group envisioning this civic center is the Harvard Cultural Collaborative (HCC), composed of a truly dedicated and remarkably organized group of residents who have embraced the advice of many professional Harvard residents, including those in real estate, insurance, legal, planning, and banking/financial. It is apparent that the HCC’s position on entering into mutually acceptable lease negotiations with the town is the most viable option.
As one who embraces the dignity of historic buildings and desirous of their being an integral part of our cherished historic town, I would urge the selectmen to enter into lease negotiations for this historic town property with the Harvard Cultural Collaborative. This exceptional building’s exterior as well as its interiors belongs to all Harvard citizens—past, present, and future.
Oh no! A Dollar Day sale just won’t do!
Jared Wollaston
Elm Street
