About Our Library
The History of the Library in Central Falls, Rhode Island
“Book-loaning” among friends was the first form of exchange. Ornam Patt, in his reminiscences, recalls “book trading” in mill buildings on Mill Street as far back as the 1830’s. The Mois and Jenks shop and that of Benedict and Woods had books for their help and it was in the latter that a Central Falls Library first established itself in 1847. The next mention of any book collection one reserved for members of the fire department and their families. The first published catalog is dated 1874 at the time the fire department turned over its collection for the formation of a free public library. In 1882 the state permitted the Fire District to form a community free library association open to all local citizens. Joseph W. Freeman was the first librarian when it was established in the old fire house on Cross Street.
When Stephen L. Adams, a public spirited citizen and a member of the school committee, Passed away he left a bequest to provide for the erection and maintenance of a library building. The building was designed by the Boston architectural firm of McLean and Wright. Work was started in 1908 on the Greek Revival design and completed in 1910.
The library first opened its doors to the public on May 2, 1910.
The Adams Board of Trustees owns and maintaines the building and a city appointed Board attended to the purchase and loan of books, the personnel and other operational phases of the Central Falls Free Public Library. The city board also controls the bequest of General Lysander Flagg. Lysander Flagg was a Quartermaster in the 10th Rhode Island Volunteers during the Civil War. He would later become a General in the Militia.
The lower level of the library was once used by the Sullivan Ballou Post No. 3, Grand Army of the Republic as a meeting place. Monthly meetings took place and a banquet was held every Memorial Day. The room was also used by the James Stanton Post No. 5, American Legion as a meeting place for World War I Veterans until their building was erected in the 1930’s.
In 1973, with money from the Lysander Flagg Trust, the lower level room was refurbished into a Children’s Room.
In 1984, The Adams Board built a rear addition to the library, adding a Auditorium, named in honor of Rose L. McCormick who was librarian from 1937 to 1974. It also added an elevator for the handicapped.
In 1990, Ken Burns PBS Civil War documentary first aired. At the end of the first segment, parts of Major Sullivan Ballou’s love letter to his wife, Sarah, was read. It was later discovered that the material from the Ballou Post was given to the Stanton Post for safekeeping and that material was returned to the library. In the Memorial Volume of the Post dated 1894 is a copy of Sullivan Ballou’s letter. The library has photocopied the letter along with photos of Sullivan and Sarah to use for fundraising.
On July 1, 2011, due to financial reasons, The Governor appointed Receiver to the City closed the Central Falls Free Public Library.
On August 1, 2011, the Adams Board of Trustees, Chairman Jerauld Adams, Librarian Thomas Shannahan and Restoration Expert Kenneth Bergeron opened the library with Volunteers. The library is now known as the Adams Memorial Library.