Weaver Memorial Library
In 1871 Mrs. Rhoda Bassett, with her friend Mrs. Susan M. Weaver interested a group of friends to form the Ladies Social Union, to establish a library in the village of Watchemoket. By 1876 their fund raising activities produced enough money to start a circulating library with 1,000 books (E.P. Post 10/30/1969)
The Library was successful but mobile, moving five times until 1938. It found a permanent home in the present building on Grove Avenue thanks to the generous bequest of Mrs. Susan Weaver. In 1963 the Children’s Room was opened. A major addition in 1991, and the renovations in 2009 and 2010 have resulted in the popular resource center the library is today.
Riverside Branch
- A library in Riverside was established in 1881 at St Mark’s Church.
- The Riverside Free Public Library Association was incorporated in 1884.
- In 1894 a library building was constructed on Lincoln Avenue.
- Riverside Library branch was later located on Pawtucket Avenue in the city’s Recreation Center building at 100 Bullocks Point Ave.
- In 2005 construction was completed on a new building at 475 Bullocks Point Ave.
Fuller Creative Learning Center
- Opened 1926 at 19 Hawthorne Ave. in the home of Arthur Fuller in memory of his wife Anne Ide Fuller
- Also known as Anne Fuller Brightridge Library when located on Brightridge Ave.
- 1970 Relocated to Dover Avenue building as the Anne Ide Fuller Branch
- 2012 Fuller Branch was CLOSED due to budget cuts. In 2016 the building was reopened as the Fuller Creative Learning Center
Rumford Branch 1905-2012 (CLOSED)
- The Pawtucket Avenue library building was constructed in 1905. It was located at 1392 Pawtucket Avenue in Rumford, RI.
- The building now a private residence. Check out the 2014 transformation.
Source
Our Heritage: A History of East Providence see p. 77, 126-127, p. 146