Abbott Memorial Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Abbott Memorial Library
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Early 20th century postcard view of town center with library on the left
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1 Church St., Dexter, Maine |
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| Built | 1894 |
| Architect | J. Williams Beal |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000190 |
| Added to NRHP | November 20, 1978 |
The Abbott Memorial Library is a public library in Dexter, Maine. It's a beautiful old building located at 1 Church Street. This special building was finished in 1894. It was a gift from George Amos Abbott, who owned a local mill. The library's design looks like old European palaces. Because of its unique style, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This means it's an important historical place.
Discovering the Library's Design and Past
The Abbott Memorial Library stands in the middle of Dexter's main town area. It is on a block surrounded by Church, Hall, Pleasant, and Main Street Hill. The land around the library slopes gently. It has a nice green lawn in front, with benches where you can sit. There's also a small garden behind the building. This garden has memorials for people from Dexter who served in the military.
What Does the Library Look Like?
The library building is made of brick. It has a strong stone base and a roof made of slate tiles. The front of the building faces west toward Church Street. It has five sections, with the main entrance sticking out in the middle. This entrance has a pointed roof section above it. This roof section has fancy decorations and a round design in the center.
The main door is under a tall, rounded arch. This arch is supported by columns with decorative tops. Around the arch, you can see flower designs. The top edge of the building is decorated with draped fabric shapes. It also has the names of famous European writers carved into it. A part of the building at the back was added later.
Who Built This Amazing Library?
The library was built in 1894. It was designed by an architect named J. Williams Beal. This building is very fancy for a small town in rural Maine. It was a special gift from George Amos Abbott. He owned a company that made woolen fabrics in Dexter. Mr. Abbott paid for both the land and the building. The total cost was $32,000, which was a lot of money back then!
