Boscawen’s historic library building for sale for $350,000

The 1913 Boscawen Library is for sale.

The 1913 Boscawen Library is for sale. KATIE PHELPS—Courtesy

The 1913 Boscawen Library is for sale.

The 1913 Boscawen Library is for sale. KATIE PHELPS—Courtesy

The 1913 Boscawen Library is for sale.

The 1913 Boscawen Library is for sale. KATIE PHELPS—Courtesy

The 1913 Boscawen Library is for sale.

The 1913 Boscawen Library is for sale. KATIE PHELPS—Courtesy

The 1913 Boscawen Library is for sale.

The 1913 Boscawen Library is for sale. KATIE PHELPS—Courtesy

The 1913 Boscawen Library is for sale.

The 1913 Boscawen Library is for sale. KATIE PHELPS—Courtesy

By JEREMY MARGOLIS

Monitor staff

Published: 11-18-2024 2:48 PM

For $350,000, Boscawen’s historic library building could be yours.

Designed in 1913 by famous New England architect Guy Lowell, the building is listed on the New Hampshire Preservation Alliance’s “Seven to Save” collection of historic properties and on the National Register of Historic Places.

Though the building has been largely unoccupied since the town library moved to the municipal building in 2003, it is in good shape and boasts cathedral ceilings, original lighting fixtures and white oak wood paneling.

“The library was built as a solid masonry building with thick sidewalls supported by cut granite foundation walls and footings,” the town’s sale listing states. “The poured concrete floors are supported by heavy I-beams and finished with an elegant terrazzo.”

After exploring how to re-purpose the 3,182-square-foot building to fit Boscawen’s needs, town leaders ultimately determined the costs of bringing it into ADA compliance were prohibitive.

“It just required a lot of funding to bring it up to the form we could use as a municipal building and we just couldn’t do that,” Town Administrator Katie Phelps said.

The building could be converted into office space or into a residential property, Phelps said. New owners must commit to maintaining the exterior facade of the structure.

The town is accepting offers on the building until December 10. More information can be found at https://www.boscawennh.gov/home/news/1913-library-offered-sale.

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Jeremy Margolis can be contacted at jmargolis@cmonitor.com.