Windsor Town Library

Site: V09-34
Municipality: Windsor, VT
Location: 43 State Street
Site Type: Library

Windsor Town Library, State Street, 1904, Georgian Revival style. When the Windsor Library Association was formed on December 12, 1882, its circulating collection of books had no permanent home and instead, was stored on the shelves of local offices. By November 1897, the library was moved to the Emerson-Harlow House (#31), where it remained until around 1904, when Benjamin Blood generously donated the present library to the town.

The library is a well-preserved example of the Georgian Revival style (c.1900-c.1935), which, along with the Colonial Revival style of architecture, was in full swing by this time. The turn-of-the-century revival styles evolved out of sentimental yearnings for a familiar American past - a reaction against the Industrial Revolution and massive foreign immigration into American cities. This style, along with modern technological advancements, was presented during the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, which celebrated the 400th Anniversary of Columbus' arrival in America. The revivalist's interpretation of 18th century architectural styles typically took the form of symmetrically arranged, exaggerated classical details. For example, note the dramatically pedimented entryway, corner quoins, and dentils along the eaves.
(Source 49)

Windsor Library, 43 State Street.
1-1/2story, brick, gableroofed, Georgian Revival style library with entablatured and pedimented granite entrance portico supported by Doric columns; exaggerated cut granite silled and linteled windows, quoins dentilated cornice, and raking, corniced parapets with one interior chimney stack centered on ridge on gable end (east and west) elevations. Erected in circa 1905.
(Source 127)

4. Windsor Library. Date built: ca. 1905.
DESCRIPTION: A one-story, brick, Georgian Revival style library with an interior chimney on each gable end elevation. Granite entrance portico in Greek Doric Order on front elevation; overscaled dentilated cornice; granite sills, lintels and "quoins."
(Source 130)