Harwich Port Library Celebrates Its Centennial

 HARWICH – The Harwich Port Library is celebrating its centennial on Wednesday, Aug. 27 with music, cake and cupcakes. The doors to the library in its present location on Bank Street, opened on July 4, 1925.

The celebration will be tied to the last of this summer’s Port Summer Nights music strolls, said Harwich Port Library President Kathleen Teahan. The music will be provided by Joe Marino, a solo guitarist, in the yard of the library at 49 Bank St. from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will be no parking in the library lot that evening.

“We are excited to assist in their celebration of 100 years by adding one of our popular musicians Joe Marino on the last night of Port Summer Nights,” said Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Cyndi Williams. “We encourage residents and visitors to come out and join in the library's 100th anniversary celebration. It is an exciting anniversary and we should honor and celebrate the success and this special time for the Harwich Port Library.” 

The library dates back to 1920 when 500 books were donated by summer resident Ann Van Buren. In 1922, W. Sears Nickerson held a meeting to organize the library. In 1923 the nonprofit Harwich Port Library Association was formed, by which time the number of books had grown to 15,000.

There were a couple of major donations to the building fund, and with a lot on lower Bank Street donated by summer resident Mrs. Paul Gray of Detroit, the community came together to build the library.

“Throughout its history the Harwich Port Library has been deeply embedded in the civic and cultural life of Harwich Port,” said Teahan. “And it is still here and still thriving because of what it means to the community. I think there is comfort in the seeming permanence of a friendly and humble village library passed down from generation to generation, that still functions and fulfills the same needs we had 100 years ago, for community, connection and curiosity. It has a timeless feel.”    

The library has been holding centennial events throughout the summer, including the kickoff celebration in June with a book signing by Larry Tye, author of “The Jazzman.” Tye was joined by the Art Ensemble of Cape Cod with Wayne Naus. A Literary Luncheon with Marjan Kamali and Martha Hall Kelly was held at the Old Yarmouth Inn in July, and summer reading programs and storytelling events continued through this month. 

“The Harwich Port Library: still turning pages and making memories after 100 years,” said Teahan.