Falmouth Public Library Historical Restoration Phase I and II
Location: 300 Main Street, Falmouth MA 02540
Applicant: Falmouth Public Library Board of Trustees
Allocation: $101,660 and $98,955
Year/Article: April 2007, A40 and April 2008, A10
The historic 1901 Memorial Library Building at 300 Main Street is the centerpiece of the current Falmouth Public Library. It lies in the Falmouth Center Historic District and is listed on the State Register of Historic Places. In 2007 the building needed significant rehabilitation and restoration of historically significant components. Voters had approved a $6.5 million debt exclusion to fund the work and the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners also awarded the Town a grant of $2.7 million to support the renovation. In 2006 the Falmouth Public Library Board of Trustees formed a nonprofit organization, the Falmouth Library Foundation, to raise an additional $1.5 million for furnishing and equipment and to establish an ongoing endowment to support the library’s mission.
In 2007 and 2008 the Board of Trustees applied to and received from the CPFund grants of $101,660 and $98,955 respectively to support the historical preservation components of the work. The earlier grant covered the costs of restoration of the exterior vestibule. The second grant paid for restoration and replacement of interior woodwork in the 1901 building, restoration of an existing millwork cabinet, the installation of interior storm windows for the existing 1901 windows, and copper gutters and downspouts.