Frederic C. Adams Heritage Center

                                                                                                    Summer Street, Kingston Massachusetts 02364          

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Frederic C. Adams

Frederic C. Adams, born in 1821, ran the family stockyard and slaughterhouse with his brother, George, on Summer Street not far from where the Library now stands. Frederic C. Adams married his older brother Horatio's widow, Eveline Holmes Adams, in 1847. Adams represented the Town in the Massachusetts General Court in 1861, and was commissioned as an enrolling officer at the time of drafting during the Civil War. Frederic C. Adams was "fearless and outspoken on every matter, and was also an active businessman and a most worthy citizen." Adams died in 1874, leaving $5,000:

               "16th: After the death of my wife, I give and bequeath to the
                inhabitants of the Town of Kingston five thousand dollars to
                be paid by my executors to the treasurer of said Town on
                demand by him in pursuance to a vote of said Town passed
                within five years after the death of my said wife, the sum to
                be invested and managed...in the following manner, viz...One
                fifth part for procuring and increasing a library for the use of
                the inhabitants of said Town."


 
Frederic C. Adams
This $5,000 was accepted by vote of Town Meeting in March, 1895.

The residue of Adam's estate was to be distributed, after the death of his heirs, "for the purpose of building a Hall for a Public Library and for the purchase of Books, Statuary or Pictures as the School Committee may deem best" (many believed that the School Committee was so empowered due to Adams' desire to establish a library that would be helpful to the school children of Kingston). When Eveline died, in 1896, all other beneficiaries had predeceased her, and thus the Town became entitled to the seed money for the library fund. The building committee urged that the Library be called the 'Frederic C. Adams Public Library,' and although no vote was apparently taken on the matter, the name was shown inscribed on the building plans for the following year.

The actual property on which the Library was erected was donated to the Town in October, 1896 by Mrs. George T. Adams and Horatio Adams, Frederic's sister-in-law and nephew. The parcel of land on Summer Street was conveyed "to be used as a site for the erection of a building as provided for in the will of the late Frederic C. Adams to be used for the purposes of a public library, for the use of inhabitants of the said town of Kingston." The Library grounds were expanded in March, 1897, by a grant of contiguous property owned by Theodore B. Cunningham, and in early 1918 by a grant of property acquired by will by Cunningham's daughter, Lillie H. C. Marshall, conveyed to the Town "as a memorial gift, in the name and memory of the grantor's father," again on the express condition that the land be used exclusively for the Library. Mrs. Marshall also deeded contiguous property to Betsey Sampson Beal, which land was transferred to the Town at the time of Mrs. Marshall's conveyance.

Throughout its period of significance, the Frederic C. Adams Public Library and its namesake Frederic C. Adams played an important role in the life of the community. Adams' will specified that in addition to the construction of the Library, funds from his estate were to be expended for "an annual course of Lectures on such subjects as the (School) Committee may deem calculated to promote the material interests of the community, such as Physiology, Agriculture &c." These "Adams Lectures" were given three to four times a year, at the local community center or in the schools. The will also provided for the annual award of monetary gifts to five students of each sex in the high school, "to be given for earnest and meritorious efforts and not for mere proficiency on part of the pupils." These awards became known as the "Adams Prizes" and were announced at graduation. The Library provided gallery space for local artists to display their works, enabling public exposure that would not otherwise be available due to the artists' lack of financial resources.

Because the will of Frederic C. Adams had specified that the funds bequeathed to the Town be used to build and supply a Library, when the Library collection moved to the new building (in 1994), the Trustees and Town Officials felt obligated to seek court approval with respect to the disposition of the historic building and Adams Library Fund. In 1996, the Town filed a complaint against the Attorney General of Massachusetts, seeking that the Superior Court apply the doctrine of cy pres and modify Adams bequest. In April 1998, the court issued its order, finding that the Town would be authorized to reuse the building other than as a public library, for uses such as a heritage center or local exhibition hall and related uses; the Town could also use the building for general town office or meeting space, but only for up to four years. The administration of the building would be under the authority of the Kingston Board of Selectmen, and the building would have to retain some form of "memorial" to Frederic C. Adams. The Adams Fund itself would be administered by the Kingston Library Trustees and used exclusively for library purposes. If the Frederic C. Adams Public Library building should be sold, the proceed of the sale would similarly be applied for the support of the Kingston Public Library.

As a result of the court finding, the Town is proceeding with its plans to establish a heritage center in the Frederic C. Adams Public Library building. The Frederic C. Adams Heritage Center Development Committee was established by the Selectmen in the fall of 1999. The Committee is made up of representatives from the Historical Commission, Master Plan Committee, Cultural Council, the Kingston Public Library, two Citizens at large and the Town Planner. In their first year, the Committee has been awarded a grant from the Massachusetts Historical Commission Preservation Projects Fund.

 
© All rights reserved. Town of Kingston, Frederic C. Adams Heritage Center Committee. For more information please write to the Friends of Kingston Heritage, Post Office Box 129, Kingston Massachusetts 02364.