Westerly Public Library
44 Broad Street
Westerly, Rhode Island 02981
Library website
44 Broad Street
Westerly, Rhode Island 02981
Library website
- Established: 1892 to commemorate the soldiers and sailors who fought in the Civil War. Land and $25,000 seed money donated by Stephen Wilcox.
- Opened: August 15, 1894
- Original collection: 5,000 volumes
- Current holdings: over 170,000 items
- Addition built: 1992
- The library originally housed a bowling alley, art gallery, gymnasium, museum, and meeting space for members of the Grand Army of the Republic.
This was a dash-in visit while we were on another mission, so I didn’t make it to the second floor, but we couldn’t drive by this beautiful library without stopping.
 |
| It’s one of those libraries that you have to stop and check out. |
 |
| New addition on the right. |
 |
| Original front entrance. |
 |
|
| New front entrance. |
 |
| Foyer through the original front door. |
 |
| This gorgeous staircase stopped me in my tracks. |
 |
| I couldn’t stop looking at it. |
 |
| Detail of the room to the left of the original front door. Magazines, newspapers, large print room. |
 |
| Another view of the room to the left, windows overlook Broad St. |
 |
| In the new addition. |
 |
| Facing the back of the library. |
 |
| Back, right-hand side of the new addition, windows look out onto Wilcox Park. |
 |
| Walk around the building to . . . |
 |
| Wilcox Park, “A Victorian Strolling Park.”
I would have loved to have taken more pictures, especially in the original section of the library, but there were many patrons about and in an effort to respect people’s privacy, I try not to take or post pictures where people are identifiable. |