Topsfield Town Library

History Of The Library :

From its earliest days the Topsfield Town Library has been dedicated to supporting the arts in many forms in order to enrich the cultural life of the Town. Plans for the 1935 library incorporated fine arts as a permanent part of the building. The central square shaped lobby with skylight became a viewing room surrounded by murals painted by the architect of the building, Mr. Harold Fields Kellogg.

The space was meant to represent a typical New England town common around which the rest of the settlement could be seen. The series of eleven murals depict the life of the Town from the 1600's to the 1800's. In the first two murals, Topsfield's roots are traced to its sister town of Toppesfield, England and the arrival by ship of the first settlers.

The activities required to found the community occupy the next eight murals. In the last two murals, Topsfield is a well established town. Some of its sons are shown departing to join the battle of Lexington and Concord in 1776. The final scene is of Topsfield Academy opened for the instruction of students. Mr. Kellogg also fashioned from plaster three muses representing branches of knowledge and mounted them above the door leading to the stacks.

The upper floors of the original library had separate exhibit rooms on either side of this atrium. One was used for display of historical materials, the other for fine and decorative arts. In addition to these features of the original building, musical performances were held at the library.

In later years, local artists were encouraged to display their work throughout the building. Through the kindness of Family Bank, Richard Wyman's painting of the Topsfield Common with its buildings joined the historical murals of Topsfield in the lobby. A wide variety of music and art appreciation programs, performances, and writing workshops have been held at the library. These programs are sponsored by the Library, the Friends of the Library and Community Groups.