Simon Fairfield Public Library is a public library in

Douglas Douglas may refer to: People * Douglas (given name) * Douglas (surname) Animals * Douglas (parrot), macaw that starred as the parrot ''Rosalinda'' in Pippi Longstocking *Douglas the camel, a camel in the Confederate Army in the American Civi ...

Massachusetts Massachusetts (Massachusett: ''Muhsachuweesut Massachusett_writing_systems.html" ;"title="nowiki/> məhswatʃəwiːsət.html" ;"title="Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət">Massachusett writing systems">məhswatʃəwiːsət'' En ...

. James M. Fairfield was one of seven sons born to Simon and Phoebe Churchill Fairfield in Douglas, Massachusetts. He spent his boyhood with his close friend George Jepherson on his family's farm in South Douglas. He left Douglas at an early age and went on to accumulate great wealth from real estate in the city of

Lawrence Lawrence may refer to: Education Colleges and universities * Lawrence Technological University, a university in Southfield, Michigan, United States * Lawrence University, a liberal arts university in Appleton, Wisconsin, United States Preparator ...

. His friendship with George and his love of this town remained with him for most of his life. Sometime during 1902 after discussing his wealth and what to do with it he and his friends decided to build a town library in Douglas. After visiting the Uxbridge Free Public Library they decided to give the town a lasting memorial to his parents. This landmark in history became the Simon Fairfield Public Library. At a town meeting in 1903 the voters decided to accept this gift. The acceptance included a provision that the control and government of the library and the real estate be permanently vested in an eight-member board of trustees, three to be elected and five to be appointed. Fairfield appointed the first five to be Charles J. Batchellor, Winfield S. Schuster, Walter B. Fairfield, Aaron F. Jones, and James W. Wixtead. The dedication was held at the Second Congregational Church. Mr. Fairfield was not in attendance. However he continued to support the library financially until his death.

References

''History of the town of Douglas'' by Emerson ''Brief article - History of the Douglas Library'' by Charlotte Coppola

External links

Simon Fairfield Public Library web site
{{authority control Library buildings completed in 1903 Public libraries in Massachusetts Libraries in Worcester County, Massachusetts Buildings and structures in Douglas, Massachusetts