The Old Harvard Public Library on the Common now Fivesparks

Through a series of bequests and donations, the town amassed a large collection of books, but for many decades it had no permanent place to house them. In 1880, when a fire devastated two buildings on the east side of the Common, including the old Wetherbee Inn, the empty site became available. The estates of Mr. Augustus Sawyer and his wife, in addition to an appropriation from the town, provided money to purchase the land and erect a permanent home for the books.

When Warren Hapgood, a retired  Boston merchant originally from Harvard, learned that the town had insufficient funds to build the library, he donated money so that it could be completed according to the architect’s plans. The Harvard Public Library was finished in 1886.

The building, in romanesque revival style typical of rural libraries of the time, was designed by a Harvard native, William Channing Whitney, who donated his services. Inside the building, the front room on the south side was the Harvard Post Office until 1970; the postmaster also served as the library custodian.

The library was dedicated with great fanfare in 1887. In 1902, Warren Hapgood, one of the original donors, gave additional money to add a room along the south side of the building for meetings and exhibits.The addition, named the Hapgood Memorial, was dedicated in 1904. It later became the children’s room

As the library grew and needed more space, the post office moved out of the building in 1956, and later, in 1982, a major renovation took place. The library building served the town well until 1995, when a study committee determined that a new site was necessary to meet the needs of a growing population.

In an impressive town and private collaboration, a new library was constructed in 2005-2006, incorporating the old Bromfield School and extending out the back, with a view to the pond. April 7, 2007, marked the official closing of the old library and the dedication of the new Harvard Public Library.

This article is based on the book by Carlene Phillips, “A Common History: The Story of Harvard’s Identity.” The book provides more information about the library and all the buildings on the Common. With many illustrations from the archives of the Historical Society, it is an excellent guide to the development of the town.  Available through our gift shop on this website (go to Donate page) or at the Harvard General Store.