“On his death in 1877, Oliver Ames II left $50,000 in trust for a library. The will specified that it was to be a private institution, not owned by the town, but held in trust for the public. The commission entered Richardson’s office in September 1877 and the building at 53 Main Street, was completed in 1879. The final cost of the building, furnishings, books and investments in a permanent fund was probably over $80,000.” (Source: Jeffrey Karl Ochsner. H. H. Richardson, Complete Architectural Works, p. 183)