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.

Scramlin --- What a Difference Time Makes -- Using Google Photos

I used Google to search my surname Scramlin images on April 26, 2004. As you can see, from the above print, only seven images appeared. Fortunately, there were two tombstone photos, but they didn't help with my research.

Fast forward to December 17, 2023, now there are too many to number. For images, there are photos of people, farms, houses, a few maps, business pictures, and my blog.  https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=591685144&rlz=1C1ONGR_enUS1002US1002&sxsrf=AM9HkKmUTkX7VeON2SEY1Z7botiZ4kQSfg:1702831922020&q=scramlin&tbm=isch&source=lnms&sa=X&sqi=2&ved=2ahUKEwj-xcue95aDAxWWGFkFHTlTDjAQ0pQJegQIDRAB&biw=1024&bih=454&dpr=1.5  

I think I was far more excited about 20 years ago doing online research than now.
 

John Houghton and Mary Farrar of Lancaster, Massachusetts -- Tombstone Tuesday

Here Lies Buried

y^e Body of 

John Houghton,

Esquir, As You

Are So Ware We. 

As We Are So

you Will be. 

Who Died February y^e 

3d Anno Domini

1736/7 and

in y^e 87^th

Year of his Age.

John Houghton and his wife, Mary Farrar were my 8th great-grandparents.

They were buried in the Old Common Burial Ground, Lancaster, Massachusetts. 

Here Lies Buried

y^e Body of 

Mrs. Mary Houghton y^e

Wife of John

Houghton Esq'r.

Who Died Apriel

y^e 7^th Ano DM, 1724,

& In y^e 76 Year of Her Age.

Photos were taken in April 2012. During a second trip, I noticed a new large stone with the cemetery name.

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)