Designed by W.H. & Henry McLean of Boston

Classical Revival Style

568 Main Street, Athol MA  01331

Library web site:  http://www.athollibrary.org

A Brief History of the Building

1900s:  New Haven resident and Athol native Wilson H. Lee opened negotiations with Andrew Carnegie to fund a new library building in Athol.  Carnegie offered the town $15,000, but it was turned down.

1914:  Local businessman Laroy S. Starrett leased a plot of land for a new library to be built upon.

1916:  Wilson H. Lee tried again.  Andrew Carnegie offered $22,000 to the town to build the library, and it was accepted..

1918:  The new library was turned over to the town on August 16.

1953:  The ground floor children's room was created from space occupied by the local Red Cross chapter since the library opened.

1965:  A two-story addition was built onto the back of the library.

1969: Air-conditioning was added.

1978: The ground-level storage room was renovated and turned into a multi-purpose activity room.

1980s: The building became handicapped accessible with the addition of ramps, a handicapped rest room, and an elevator.

2015: A large addition was added to the back of the building making it the only LEED Platinum certified Carnegie library expansion. Read more.

2005 & 2009 photos

2015 photo