"Richardson's design for the Ames Library is basically rectangular in plan with the major rooms, the stack wing, hall, and reading room, arranged longitudinally. A broad gable projects forward from the north end of the longitudinal mass. This gable is marked by the arched entry to the outside porch on the first floor and by a row of five arched windows separated by pairs of short columns supporting the arches on the second. The stack wing windows form a horizontal band, each group of three separated by four short columns. Construction is of warm, light-brown Milford granite laid in random ashlar with dark reddish brown Longmeadow brownstone trim. The roof is red-orange tile over wood barrel-vaulted stack wing ceiling. The fireplace in the reading room is largely the work of Stanford White. The original stone and present bronze medallions of Oliver Ames II were designed by Augustus Saint-Gaudens."

—Jeffrey Karl Ochsner. H.H. Richardson, Complete Architectural Works. p183.

Details

Address:53 Main StreetNorth Easton, Massachusetts

"The commission, according to Van Rensselaer, entered Richardson's office September 1877. The building was under construction in 1878 and completed in 1879; but it was not opened until 1883, possibly because of cost overruns. The final cost of the building, furnishings, books, and investments in a permanent fund was probably over $80,000.

In 1931 the children's wing in red brick was added to the rear, an addition that eliminated the original lavatory and document room."

— Jeffrey Karl Ochsner. H.H. Richardson, Complete Architectural Works. p183.