Bridgton Public Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Dalton Holmes Davis Memorial Library
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Bridgton, Maine |
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| Built | 1913 |
| Architect | Coombs, Harry S. |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| MPS | Maine Public Libraries MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 88003020 |
| Added to NRHP | January 5, 1989 |
The Bridgton Public Library, once known as the Dalton Holmes Davis Memorial Library, is the main public library for the town of Bridgton, Maine. You can find it at 1 Church Street. This library is special because it's in a beautiful building designed in the Classical Revival style by Harry S. Coombs. It was built in 1913 and is so important that it's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
A Look at the Library Building
The Bridgton Public Library is located right in the heart of Bridgton's village. It's a one-story building made of brick with pretty stone details. To get to the main entrance, you walk up a set of stairs. These stairs have low walls on the sides, and on top of these walls are old-fashioned iron lamp posts that still light up!
The front of the building has a main door with a special window above it. This window has a decorative cover. On either side of the door, there are brick columns with narrow windows. The corners of the building have special brickwork, and the roof is sloped. On the sides, you'll see curved windows. The back of the building has a larger section where all the books are kept.
Inside, the library still has its original wooden features and decorations. When you walk in, you'll see the librarian's desk in the middle. There are reading rooms on both sides, perfect for quiet study or enjoying a book.
How the Library Started
Libraries in Bridgton have a long history! The very first ones, dating back to 1819, were "subscription libraries." This meant people had to pay a fee to borrow books.
The group that runs the library today, the Bridgton Library Corporation, was created in 1895. For a while, their collection of books was kept in different shops around town. But then, in 1913, this beautiful building was constructed just for the library!
The library was designed by Harry S. Coombs, an architect from Lewiston, Maine. This was one of four libraries he designed. In fact, the Wilton Free Public Library looks almost exactly like the one in Bridgton!
Supporting the Library
The Bridgton Public Library is managed by a special group that started in 1895. The town also helps support the library.
One fun way the library raises money is through a race called the Four on the Fourth Road Race. Every year on July 4th, people run a four-mile race, and the money raised helps keep the library running and buying new books!
