Freeman Library, 330 Commercial Street
In 1873, the Provincetown
Public Library was given to the town by Nathan
Freeman. Mr. Freeman stipulated
in his deed that the first floor must always be used
for a Library. Over the years, the second and third floors were used by various
charitable organizations. Some of the rental income helped to Support the Library.
Local photographer George C. Nickerson was the first to occupy the third floor.
His work may be seen under the banner of the Provincetown Advocate, and hundreds
of his photographic plates are owned by the Town of Provincetown as part of
the Heritage Museum collection. By 1888, the top floor of the Library became
the meeting place of a temperance society, the Chequocket Lodge No. 76. Architecturally,
the Library's two sloped mansard roof, popularized by 16th century French Architect
Francois Mansard, is one of the few in Provincetown to escape modernization
over the years. In 1976, the building was nominated to the National Historic
Register. The building has
undergone three extensive renovations. The most recent for
handicapped
accessible added an elevator and
accessible rest room.
The Library moved to the Center Street building in April 2005. Today, the
building is occupied by Provincetown
Community Television, PTV.