Stevens Memorial Library, Ashburnham, Massachusetts (See Resources for Genealogists)

 

20 Memorial Drive, Ashburnham, MA 01430

Phone: 978-827-4115

Website:https://ashburnhamlibrary.org/

I was glad I made the decision to visit the Ashburnham Library on March 30, 2024, a nice sunny, windy cold day. It took about an hour from home and I had to pass through Fitchburg, a major city I've never been in. Ashburnham is a small town with a population of about 6,000 and I found it to be extremely hilly with a lot of woods. Because I was so excited to see the converted school, now the library, I missed taking some pictures. That means a return trip. (I returned on April 27th.)

The front doors I entered into, and faced the front counter and office area.

These steps take you to the 2nd floor as well as the elevator.

The librarian, Holden, took me upstairs to unlock the The Preservation Room for me. This is where their History and Genealogy books and maps are kept under lock and key. He mentioned that they were working on putting material online. If you have ancestors from Ashburnham, you must see their collection here.

The cabinets and map draws are on both sides of the room. The clock is a Silas Hoadley Clock, circa 1800-1810. It was difficult to take a picture of the holdings because of the reflection. However, what I saw were books I've seen in other libraries.

This cabinet was open because somebody was doing research. With permission, I took pictures and am very glad to see what they have. Binders included:

Businesses

Cemeteries

Churches

Fire Department

Funeral Records

House Places

Local History

History

Houses and Places

Below is the length of the room, from the above windows. By the door is a very large lift for a wheelchair or for somebody who can't walk the stairs. Visitors have to pass through a community room.

Below are five photos of the first floor. I love the original woodwork and wooden blinds.

The children's area is on the lowest floor. I took this shot to show the hooks for children to hang their belongings. I've never seen this at a library.

The back of the library has a large playground and the name of the school, Dolly Whitney Adams School. This rather confused me, until I drove around to the front and saw the library name.

From Wikipedia, "

• Bette Davis, a legendary actress of film, television, and theater. She lived in Ashburnham while attending Cushing Academy, graduating in 1927." I'm sharing this because, Bette was born in Lowell, MA, the city I live in.

Ashburnham is bordered by Rindge, New Hampshire, and New Ipswich, New Hampshire to the north.

Scituate Public Library (See the Resources for Genealogists)

5 Branch St, Scituate, MA 02066
(781) 545-8727

Website: https://www.scituatema.gov/town-library

This six-year-old library replaced an older one on the same site. I visited this Library and the town of Scituate on March 16, 2024. The town was decked out with a lot of Irish flags and I learned this town of 29,000 is known as the most Irish town in America. The library is open every day, including Sunday, but it would have been closed on March 17 because of their parade and other Irish celebrations. Since I had never been to this town, we took a long ride, from one end to the other, and enjoyed seeing quite a few beaches.

I could hardly get the entire library in one shot. Usually, I begin photographing what I see as I enter, usually the counter for checking out and returning books. Because I was really interested in the genealogy section, I am showing that first. Information about their collection of local history and genealogy collection is below.

Map desk

I would love to do research in this room and take breaks out on the patio.

The photos below show the main desk, seating areas, the stairs taking you down to other areas as well as the children's room. The library is huge and airy. It almost feels like you brought the beach in with you.

Reference librarian area above.

We took a ride along the Scituate Beachs about a week after a major storm that did a lot of damage to homes.

Sand from the beach completely covered this road and others.

Local History & Genealogy Collection

The collection in the Local History Room consists of print, microfilm, and online sources. Materials in the Local History Room may only be used in the Library. Whenever possible duplicate titles are added to the Library's general circulating collection and are available for checkout. 

Print Collection

Our print collection consists of, but is not limited to:

• Cemetery Records
• Family Histories
• Military Information
• Histories of Massachusetts Counties, Cities and Towns
• Vertical File Materials
• Scituate Town Reports 1873 – present
• School Yearbooks 1924 – present
• New England Historical Register 1965 – present
• Local Authors

For more information about Scituate's history, visit the Scituate Historical Society or the Scituate Town Archives. 

Microfilm Collection

Scituate Herald: (incomplete holdings)
September 13, 1929 - December 1939 (gap September 1938 - August 1939)
January 1940 - October 1942 (gap April 18, 1941 - February 5, 1942)
January 1942 - December 1943 (incomplete)
January 1944 - February 16, 1967

South Shore Weekly Mirror: October 13, 1955 -  December 1955

South Shore Mirror: January 1957 - December 1979*
*note: January 1975 - December 1975 titled South of Boston Mirror

South of Boston Mirror: May 22, 1974 - December 1, 1974

Scituate Mariner: January 1979 - December 2018  

Scituate Mirror: January 1980 - December 1981

Digital Scituate - Digitized resources to view online:

• Chimes - Scituate High School Yearbooks beginning with 1924.
• Town Reports - Scituate's annual reports, searchable online. The years spanning 1848-1874 are contained in one digitized volume. 
• Newspapers 
  • Scituate Mariner (1979-2018)
  • Scituate Herald (1929-1967)
  • South Shore Weekly Mirror (1975-1977)
  • South Shore Mirror (1957-1979)   
  • South of Boston Mirror (1974-1975)
  • Scituate Mirror (1974-1981)
  • Mirror (1975-1977)

The Peabody Institute, Peabody, Essex Co., Massachusetts -- (See The Resources for Genealogists)

This beautiful building was built in 1853 and because of my small connection to it, I was anxious to visit it on May 20, 2023. This is the 12th library I wrote about this month.

The Peabody Institute, Peabody

82 Main St, Peabody, MA 01960

Phone: (978) 531-0100

https://peabodylibrary.org/

I saw this photo on the wall as I entered. The library opened in 1853.

The reference desk is above and multiple displays on the main floor are shown below.

Because it was a perfect weather day, I had to take three below photos of the library.

While walking around I could see where the old building met the new building.

I love roaming around. Nobody ever sees me.

I was happy to see a sign for Level 3 and the listing of the Fitch Poole Room. Fitch was my 2nd great-uncle. He was the son of Fitch Poole and Elizabeth Cutler. A photo of Fitch and his wife's burial sites are below.                

While on the third floor, I just saw lots of shelves of books. Then I went toward the window and saw an office below, between the old and new buildings. I later learned that was where the archivist works. She was at lunch and only sees by appointment. I hope another time, I can meet with her, especially since I hope to move to Peabody.

From one window I was able to see my car below.

 

From: New England Historical Geographical Record. vol. 28: 486 (Oct. 1874).

“Poole, Fitch, Esq., librarian of the Peabody Institute, Peabody (late South Danvers), Mass., at his residence in that place, Aug. 19, 1873, aged 70. He was b. at Danvers, June 13, 1803, and was a son of Fitch and Elizabeth (Cutler) Poole, and a descendant of the Pooles of Reading, being the seventh generation from John Poole, of that town, one of its earliest settlers, through previously Cambridge and Lynn; through Jonathan,2 Jonathan,3 Zechariah,4 William,5 and Fitch,6 his father, above named. His immediate ancestors on both sides were distinguished for literary tastes, and his maternal grandfather, the Hon. Manasseh Cutler, LL.D. (Yale, 1765), was the author of several scientific treatises which gained for him the notice and friendship of the eminent men of his time. The tastes of Mr. Poole led him to cultivate literature even amidst the distractions of business, to which early in life he was devoted. He was educated at Bradford Academy, in the class with the Hon. Daniel P. King. On the establishment of the Institute and library in his native town by George Peabody, of London, he accepted the congenial post of librarian which he held to the day of his death, and his valuable aid in historical research has been often acknowledged by writers whom he assisted by his accurate judgment and untiring zeal. He possessed a delicate sense of humor, a keen love of scholarship, a lively imagination, and an accurate knowledge of books, all of which gave to his pen a racy power and an admirable mastery over the subjects which from time to time he presented to the public. Among his principal contributions to the press, were: ‘The Lawrence Conant Letters,’ ‘Lament of the Bats,’ ‘Legend of Gallows Hill,’ ‘Old Bell Tavern,’ ‘The Haunted Steeple,’ ‘Olden Times,’ ‘Old Meeting-Houses,’ ‘Deacon Jone’s Brewery,’ ‘Devil’s Dish full,’ ‘Deacon Simpkin’s Butchery,’ ‘Giles Corey’s Dream,’ ‘The Librarian’s Epitaph,’ ‘Political John Gilpins,’ ‘Death and von Vulcan,’ ‘Polk’s Bridge of Sighs,’ ‘Polk’s Trial for Murder,’ and a hundred other quaint and humorous pieces suggested by ancient traditions, historical researchers and passing events.

He repeatedly declined a nomination to the state senate, and other county offices tendering him by his fellow citizens, and rarely accepted public trusts, though he served two terms as representative to the legislature, was for many years trustee of the public schools, and Postmaster of the town.”

C. H. P. (Charles Henry Poole)*

(Charles Henry Poole (my gg-grandfather) was a brother to Fitch.

The local History Resource Center for the Peabody Institute Library in Peabody MA has these records from 1854-2018, see link below. 

http://Peabody Institute Library Records, 1854-2018www.noblenet.org/images/pea/Peabody%20Institute%20Library%20Papers%20Finding%20Aid.pdf

Fitch Poole Jr. and his wife Mary Ann Poor are buried in Harmony Grove Cemetery, Salem, MA.