Posts by Beaman Library
Lydia Maria Child (1802-1880)
The town of West Boylston owes a great debt to Lydia Maria Child (1802-1880). Though she did not live in West Boylston for long, her husband David Lee Child (1794-1874) was born in town. Lydia donated his entire book collection to found the first West Boylston public library upon his death. Lydia was born in…
Read MoreThe Sesquicentennial Celebration
In 1958, West Boylston celebrated its Sesquicentennial (150th) Anniversary! Here are some photos from the festivities. In the fall of 1957, West Boylston Junior and Senior High School students entered their new high school. For the two previous years, they had attended Wachusett Regional High School during the construction of their brand new school in…
Read MoreLove Your Library!
Your Library is a treasure trove of shared resources. There is so much to be found here, including new books for adults to satisfy any interest and for any age, large print selections, the latest popular DVDs and TV series to entertain you on a long winter’s night, children’s books to cherish and encourage a…
Read MoreGet news about new purchases in your inbox!
Do you like to be on top of the newest items? Stay up-to-date with best-sellers, books featured on the air or award winning titles with BookSizzle, a new service offered by Beaman Library. Click on the lists below to see what’s new. There is a link to the CWMARS catalog from the list so you…
Read MoreWest Boylston before the Reservoir
Here are some more cool pictures of West Boylston before the reservoir. First, a man drives a horse-drawn cart up a dirt road. The description attached to the photo is “Driving Up From the Valley.” The valley housed many of West Boylston’s businesses, mills, and houses; now, of course, it is the Wachusett Reservoir. Though…
Read MoreJohn Temple (1762-1841)
John Temple was a prominent farmer and charismatic public figure who served as Chairman of the West Boylston Board of Selectmen for six successive years and aided the town in other areas with his energetic public presence. In 1793, he married Persis (Beaman) Bigelow, daughter of Maj. Ezra Beaman; she was the widow of Dr.…
Read MoreBeaman Library named to the National Register of HIstoric Places
The Beaman Memorial Library is officially listed in the National Register of Historic Places! Here’s some information about the history of West Boylston’s library and the construction of the Beaman Memorial Library: West Boylston’s library was founded in 1878 with a donation of $100, left by noted lawyer and abolitionist, David Lee Child, in his…
Read MoreEzra Beaman, West Boylston’s Town Father 1736-1811
Why is this Library called the *Beaman* Memorial Library? The Beaman Memorial Library is named after EZRA BEAMAN, known as the “Town Father” for his critical role in West Boylston’s foundation… Ezra Beaman’s family stretched back far into Massachusetts’ past; his ancestor Gamaliel Beaman came to the new colony from England in 1635. He originally…
Read MoreEzra Beaman, Jr., son of the Town Father 1770-1863
Ezra Beaman, Jr. was born in December 1770, the youngest son of Ezra Beaman and Persis Keyes Beaman. He lived to be 92 years old, managing the Beaman Tavern until he died in 1863. Ezra Jr. was an eccentric man known to townspeople as “Uncle Ezra.” He even had his own expression: “Faith, I vow,…
Read MoreThe Beaman Oak, Symbol of West Boylston
The Beaman Oak is a symbol of West Boylston featured on our town seal. Its origins date back to pre-Revolutionary War times, when West Boylston was part of the larger town of Shrewsbury. The Beaman Oak was a tree on town founder Ezra Beaman’s property beside his family’s cemetery. According to legend, Ezra filled the…
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