In August 2018, my niece and I travelled to Massaschusetts to do some research and one of our stops along the way was the Beaman Memorial Library. Now I knew about this library through it's Facebook Page and although I wasn't sure what the connection was to my lineage, it was worth a stop just for the photo opportunity. Turns out we found out a lot more than we bargained for.
Ezra Beaman, for whom the library is named, was born on October 4, 1736 in Lancaster, MA. He married (1) Persis Keyes and (2) Mary Boylston. While living in Boylston, a new meeting house was petitioned and there was an argument as to its location. Several families travelled quite a distance to church meetings and wanted something closer to their homes. So Ezra funded the construction of a new meeting house at the western edge of Boylston. The location was so successful that a petition was made to the General Court to create a new precinct to encompass the meeting house, which was finally granted in 1808, and thus West Boylston was born.
West Boylston's library was founded in 1878, but didn't have a permanent home until 1911 when George Calvin Rice, a great - grandson of Ezra Beaman, donated $20,000 towards the construction of a permanent building.
When Rachel and I showed up at the Beaman Memorial Library initially we checked in and were advised that the local historian would be available later that evening. So we returned, and had the great pleasure of a guided tour, including showing us Ezra's bible, some furniture and gave us lots of information about the town.
Ezra Beaman's Bible
www.beamanlibrary.org
www.westboylston-ma.gov
Ezra Beaman's bible
The author out front of the Library Aug 2018
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