Pollard Memorial Library

Samuel Pollard Memorial Library or Pollard Memorial Library is the main branch of the public library in Lowell, Massachusetts.HistoryThe Lowell Public Library was established on May 20, 1844 with between 3,000-3,500 volumes. It was originally named the City School Library. The state of Massachusetts provided $1,200 for the budget and the city provided $2,300. It was set up in the first floor of the Old City Hall, 226 Merrimack St and opened for the first time on February 11, 1845. The library was renamed the City Library of Lowell in 1860. In 1872, the expanding collection was relocated down the street to the Hosford Building at 134 Merrimack St. In 1890-91. The City of Lowell hired local Architect Frederick Stickney to design the new Lowell City Library, also known as Memorial Hall, in honor of the city's men who lost their lives in the American Civil War. The building was in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. The cornerstones of the building, alone with those of City Hall next door, were laid on October 11, 1890 and it took three years to complete the building. The grand opening of Memorial Hall was on June 3, 1893.In 1915 the second floor of the building was destroyed by a fire. The reported loss for the library was $67,627.20 worth of material as well as artifacts and relics. After the building was rebuilt, with Stickney hired to plan the reconstruction, military murals by French artist Paul Philippoteaux were installed on the second floor. In 1981, the library was renamed the Pollard Memorial Library in memory of the late Mayor Samuel S. Pollard. In 2000-2002 the building was remodeled for $10 million to modernize the building.