Ashby Free Public Library
812 Main Street
Ashby, Middlesex County, MA 01431
On April 27, 2024, I went through these doors that brought me into the Ashby Library built in 1901. It looks like a small library from the front view, but I could see it had a rather large addition on the side. Not sure about back parking, so I parked on the main street.
View from the library, a church is in front.
Inside really meets with my approval, since I love old stuff, especially card catalogue and stained glass.
Not sure which room this was taken in.
The genealogy room was right in the front and I went in to look around. As luck would have it, there was a genealogist there and we had quite a conversation. One topic led to another. We found out we both worked at the same company in Lowell, MA and she was a good friend of a former employee, as was I. So we changed numbers and when I got home, I made a quick call to my friend to share who I met up in Ashby. Genealogists do love to talk.
There was only one bookcase, so it was easy to photo their genealogy resources.
A new addition was next to photo. If you look at their website with photos the newest beautiful addition has a collection of photos. https://www.google.com/search?q=ashby+ma+library+edwin+chapman&oq=ashby+ma+library+edwin+chapman&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRigATIHCAIQIRigATIHCAMQIRigATIHCAQQIRigAdIBCjE4MDU0ajBqMTWoAgiwAgHxBfeDafRKqE70&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#lpg=cid:CgIgAQ%3D%3D,ik:CAoSFkNJSE0wb2dLRUlDQWdJQ0R0cVN3THc%3D I'm sorry I didn't go into that area. They do have internet and one computer for people to use.
Edwin Chapman
1841-1915
"Originally organized “largely through the efforts of Rev. George S. Shaw,” the library began in a private home before moving in 1902 to its current building—funded by local businessman and Civil War veteran Edwin Chapman.
In the early 2000s, an 8,000 sq. ft. passive solar addition was built as a model project for the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners. This bright two-story space includes a children’s library downstairs and a young adult area, adult library, periodicals, and offices upstairs."
The current population of Ashby, Massachusetts, is approximately 3,211 residents. This figure reflects official census-derived estimates, making it the least populous municipality in Middlesex County.
