Wayland Public Library, Wayland, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts -- (See The Resources for Genealogists)

This was the last library I visited in 2023. I wanted to see it because I read from their website. "The Wayland Library was founded in 1848 as arguably the first free public library in Massachusetts." 

The Wayland Public Library

5 Concord Road

Wayland, Massachusetts 01778

Phone: (508) 358-2311

website: https://waylandlibrary.org/

Whenever I visit a library, I do a quick scan to see if there is a librarian available, if they are busy I walk around and take photos. At one point I always tell them what I am doing and ask about their history/genealogy section.

The interior doesn't look particularly old but I thought the front sitting area with the lovely crown molding looked like it could be original.

Before going to the genealogy section, I took these photos from the second floor.

The following four photos were taken in the History / Genealogy section. The reference librarian told me they don't have much information because the Wayland Historical Society is practically next door. (See map.)

It was high noon and a very bright day, so this isn't a good photo.

Three helpful sites about the library and town.

https://waylandlibrary.org/about/history/wfplhistorymain/

https://waylandlibrary.org/about/history/town-history/

https://waylandlibrary.org/about/history/main-library-history/

Kelley Public Library, Salem, New Hampshire (See The Resources for Genealogists)

 

Kelley Public Library

234 Main St, Salem, NH 03079

Phone: (603) 898-7064

Website: https://www.kelleylibrary.org/

(Note: Parking is on the back.)

On May 23, 2022, I made my first visit to this library and I was pleasantly surprised for two reasons. First, the library was huge and had a lot of large windows providing sunlight and views. Second, it had a well-equipped history/genealogy room.

This Kelly Room has one of the largest collections of genealogy and history books, as you can see by my many photos. I enlarged quite a few so genealogists can read the titles.

Lawrence is in Massachusetts and almost borders Salem, New Hampshire.

The following photos are on the lowest floor. There is an exit to the parking lot.

View to the Library from the back entrance where I parked. I've never had a prettier view while at a library. 

Claypit Cemetery in Lowell, Massachusetts (See the Changes)

 

Claypit Cemetery

810 Varnum Ave, Lowell, MA 01854

I always knew there was a cemetery in this area, but never saw it until October 4, 2020. The parking lot used to be the land for the outdoor Lowell Drive-In. I went there many years from the '60s to many years later, it was a popular theater and we all knew about the cemetery. It is located on the right side of the cream-colored Marshalls store (below). I went back to the cemetery on December 27, 2023, and what a surprise!

The one above and many below photos were taken on October 4, 2020. As you can see, painting for parking has not been done for the new Market Basket or Marshalls. Market Basket which opened on Friday, October 9, 2020.  Below there are two marked parking spaces for the cemetery.

The last time I saw the cemetery was on October 4, 2020, so I decided to walk around it on December 27, 2023. I was quite surprised to see a fence surrounding it.

I was curious, so I walked to the fence and opened the gate.

The first thing I saw were the holes! But where are the cemetery stones? I saw about 12 orange flag markers. I didn't walk around because of the stability of the ground. I never heard or read anything about this in the news, so clearly this was a surprise.

Taken January 19, 2024

Three websites with information about the cemetery. The first is an article from The Lowell Sun newspaper. The last two are from the Findagrave site which provided information about those buried there.

https://www.lowellsun.com/2019/10/08/the-debate-over-clay-pit-cemetery/

https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2222807/memorial-search?page=1#sr-32949082

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/24824297/amanda-coburn