Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library
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The library in 2003
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | State Route 27, Boothbay Harbor, Maine |
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| Built | 1842 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival temple |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000077 |
| Added to NRHP | April 18, 1977 |
The Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library is a public library in Boothbay Harbor, Maine. This town is located in Lincoln County, Maine. The library is found at 4 Oak Street. It is inside a very old and important building. This building was first built as a home in 1842.
Because of its special design and history, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. This list helps protect important places in the United States. The building also serves as a special memorial. It honors the soldiers from Boothbay Harbor who served in the First World War.
Contents
A Look at the Library Building
The library building is made of wood. It has several parts and a sloped roof. The outside walls are covered with overlapping wooden boards called clapboard siding.
Greek Revival Style
The most striking part of the building is its front. It looks like an ancient Greek temple! It has four tall, round columns. These columns support a wide, flat beam called an entablature. Above that is a triangular roof section called a pediment. In the middle of this triangle, there's a fan-shaped opening.
The corners of the building, behind the columns, have flat, decorative columns called pilasters. The main entrance is in the center. It has windows on either side and is topped with another decorative beam.
Building's Early Days
The library building was first built as a private home in 1842. It's not completely clear who it was built for. Some say it was for William Maxwell Reed. Others believe it was for Cyrus McKown, a well-known local businessman. He might have sold it to Chapman Reed in 1873.
From Home to Public Library
The town of Boothbay Harbor started its first free public library in 1906. At first, the library was in rented rooms.
Becoming the Library Building
In 1923, the town decided to buy the old Reed house. They wanted to turn it into a permanent home for the library. A famous architect from Boston named Stanley Parker helped redesign the building. He made it suitable for a library.
Later, in 1966, the building was made even bigger. Stanley Parker's son, Stanley Jr., designed this expansion. This helped the library have more space for books and visitors.
