Uxbridge Free Public Library

The Uxbridge Free Public Library is a public library in Uxbridge, Massachusetts.

Uxbridge Free Public Library
Uxbridge Free Public Library Sign

The first library in the town of Uxbridge was the Uxbridge Social and Instructive Library (1775–1812), managed by George Southwick at his store in the Quaker City section of South Uxbridge. The sixth was the Uxbridge Agricultural Society (1859–1864). Most of these small libraries were subscription libraries that required dues and assessments.

None of these were free to the public so in 1873 voters of the town passed 4 articles and six trustees were elected in 1874. They met April 18, 1874 to organize themselves and the Uxbridge Free Public Library. It opened in the FW Barnes jewellery store on South Main Street on January 20, 1875. After five crowded years they moved into the Town Hall. Fourteen years later it again outgrew itself. On June 20, 1894 in the Town Hall came the Proceedings and Dedication of the Thayer Memorial building. Edward Carrington Thayer, a local business man and banker, built it in memory of his parents, Joseph and Chloe Taft Thayer, and as a gift to the town of Uxbridge. It became home to the Uxbridge Free Public Library.

Edward Carrington Thayer

The building was designed by Fuller & Delano of Worcester as architects and the building contract to Urgel Jacques of Worcester. Thayer spent $28,000 for the building, $4,000 for the land and $1,500. for furnishings, for a total of $33,500. It is still home to the Uxbridge Free Public Library.

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Coordinates: 42°04′39″N 71°37′48″W / 42.07742°N 71.62994°W / 42.07742; -71.62994

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