7/31. Libraries and Boulders

(7/31 Saturday)

Architect Drawing,
Conway Public Library 1900.

  
The sun came up on another nice summer day in New Hampshire; it was somewhat cooler than the day before.  I started the day with a light breakfast and edited the draft of the first Lowell blog entry (7/22/2010). The entry was ready to post, but first I needed to upload photos from my camera to the WWW. 

  

In the afternoon we went to the Conway Public Library, which is outstanding. It is housed in a classic New England brick building recently modernized with a new wing. There is ample reading room, ample book stacks, computer terminals, WiFi,  and a children’s reading room. The library has many original furnishings and  on the walls are paintings by local artists, historical photographs and documents. In the children’s reading room is a wood caving by Rodney Woodard, master craftsman and friend of the Macombers.
  
The Henney History room, dedicated to Conway and Carrol County historical archives and study is in the basement of the library.

  

From the Library web site: The Conway Public Library began as the Conway Village Library Association, which was created in 1895 by the Conway Woman’s Club and other interested citizens. The core of the modern library dates from 1900 when the widow, Lydia, and daughter, Sarah, of Dr. Thomas L. Jenks, presented the town with an imposing library, topped by clock tower and bell. The building was completed before the end of the year 1900, and costs about $45,000.

Front Door and Bell Tower,
The time was correct.

  

The sturdy foundation of the library was quarried from the Washington Boulder on Pine Hill in Conway. Photographs of the construction of the library may be seen on the wall above the fireplace in the main reading room of the library. 

Stereopticon Slide of Washington Boulder.

  
The Washington Boulder was on the path between Conway and North Conway Strip. Composed of Conway Granite, the boulder was a popular afternoon hike from both Conway and North Conway villages. The boulder was demolished at the turn of the century. Part of this granite was used as the foundation at the Conway Public Library in 1900. A stereopticon slide of the Boulder is on display in the Conway Historical Society website.
  

http://www.conwayhistory.org/conway_photos1.html

  

The Washington Boulder and other similar boulders were carried far from their mountain origins to their locations in the valley by glaciers during the last Ice Age. They were easy to quarry for building material and have largely disappeared, but the nearby town of Madison has taken steps to protect its boulder. The Madison Boulder is the largest known glacial erratic in New England and one of the largest in the world. It measures 83 feet in length, 37 feet in width and 23 feet in height and weighs more than 5,000 tons. A17-acre plot of land around the boulder was acquired by the state in 1946 and designated as the Madison Boulder Natural Area. The boulder was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1970.
  

http://www.nhgeology.org/photo.htm

  

It’s surprising what you come across nosing around town as a tourist.

Rodney Woodard Carving,
Children's Reading Room, Conway Public Library.

  
P.S. A web search for 'Rodney Woodard' did not provide any material on this master craftsman whose workshop was in North Conway. Mr. Woodard designed and produced the wooden gavel used at the Bretton Woods Conference in 1944. The conference site is now the Mt. Washington Hotel near the base of the Cog Railway.
  
P.P.S. Jean went to a Kennett High School alumni dinner in the evening - missed the great dinner at Charlie's. Of course we continue to eat well.
  

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