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Cumberland & North Yarmouth

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Cumberland's Prince Memorial Library : Evolution of a Community Institution

Site of library before construction
Site of library before construction
Prince Memorial Library

Annie L. and Carroll D. Prince Bequest
The death of Carroll D. Prince on September 5, 1920, and of his wife, Annie Lincoln Prince, on October 10, 1920, resulted in a bequest of $35,000 for the construction of a public library in Carroll's birthplace of Cumberland. The Prince Memorial Library was incorporated on November 7, 1921. In February 1922, Maud Merrill Thomes, a native of Cumberland and the wife of Dr. John B. Thomes of Pittsfield, MA, granted the corporation a plot of land on Main Street to be used for a public library. The land was the site of the home of Benjamin Sweetser prior to its destruction in a 1906 fire.

Prince Memorial Library, Cumberland, ca. 1923
Prince Memorial Library, Cumberland, ca. 1923
Prince Memorial Library

January 7, 1923 Opening
Architect George Chase Emery of Waltham, MA, was chosen to design the library. The Maine Sunday Telegram reported the building would be "of the simple colonial style, with Hallowell granite trimmings and roof of slate. The approach to the library will be between two venerable elm trees that have stood there since the early Colonial days." Contractor F. A. Rummery of Portland built the library for $15,578, and an additional $2,179 was spent on furnishings. Prince Memorial Library opened to the public on January 7, 1923, with Mrs. Cecil Wilson Adams in attendance as librarian and more than 600 books from the earlier Cumberland Library on the shelves.

Library with Merrill Addition
Library with Merrill Addition
Prince Memorial Library

Merrill Addition (1959)
In 1959, contractor Clifford L. Weeks of Portland constructed a 40-by-20-foot addition to the library, a gift of Paul E. Merrill in memory of his parents, Wallace L. and Harriet C. Merrill. Harriet Merrill was chairman of Prince Memorial Library's book committee from 1922 until her death in 1957, and twice served as interim librarian. The original building was renovated, a new heating plant was added and the library grounds were landscaped at the same time the addition was constructed.

1986 construction
1986 construction
Prince Memorial Library

Cumberland Wing (1987)
In 1985, a consultant's report recommended expanding the library, and Cumberland voters and the Cumberland Town Council authorized a $700,000 bond issue. Terrien Architects of Portland designed the 8,100-square-foot addition, and contractor Arthur C. Dudley of Standish received the construction bid. Groundbreaking occurred on October 10, 1986, and the new Cumberland Wing was dedicated on October 1, 1987. The Children's Room was moved out of the basement of the original building into the new wing, as were all books and other materials. The original building was renovated and renamed the Prince Room, and is now used as a community meeting space.

1995 construction
1995 construction
Prince Memorial Library

Young Adult Room (1996)
The Prince Memorial Library Young Adult Challenge was launched on January 18, 1995, when an anonymous resident of Cumberland, later identified as Bruce Poliquin, pledged $35,000, provided equal amounts could be raised from the Town of Cumberland and the residents of Cumberland and North Yarmouth. The Town of Cumberland matched the $35,000, and private contributions amounted to an additional $45,745. The 728-square-foot Young Adult Room was dedicated on April 3, 1996, in memory of Jane Carpenter Poliquin. All funds remaining from the Young Adult Challenge were used to purchase furnishings and materials for the new space.

Sources:
Beautiful in all its details: the architecture of Maine's public library buildings, 1878-1942 by Kirk F. Mohney
Maine Public Library Profile 2008 http://www.state.me.us/msl/libs/statistics/fy2008/profile.htm

Text by Thomas C. Bennett


The Libraries of Maine

Presque Isle Free Library

Presque Isle Free Library

The Maine State Library was established in 1837, and initially functioned as a law library. By 1900, it was circulating collections of books to towns throughout the state.

Portland Public Library

Portland Public Library

Maine enacted legislation in 1854 allowing taxation for the purpose of creating and supporting free public libraries.

Caribou Public Library

Caribou Public Library

Philanthropist Andrew Carnegie helped build more than 1,700 public libraries in the US between 1881 and 1919, including 18 in Maine. By 1920, there were 113 public libraries in Maine, many of which replaced existing social libraries.

Bangor Public Library

Bangor Public Library

In July 1931 the Business and Professional Women's Clubs of Maine presented the Maine State Library with its first bookmobile, a Dodge truck designed to carry 600 volumes.

Skowhegan Free Public Library

Skowhegan Free Public Library

The State of Maine currently recognizes 272 public libraries in the state.

Lovell Public Library

Lovell Public Library

In 2008, Maine's public libraries held 6,245,088 volumes in their collections, and were supported with nearly $30 million in municipal appropriations.





Cumberland & North Yarmouth
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