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Brown Memorial Library
Clinton, Maine (8166531601).jpg
Country United States
Type Public
Established 1900
Location Clinton, Maine
Collection
Size 10,835
Access and use
Circulation 2,683
Population served 3,340
Other information
Budget $51,156
Director Cheryl Dickey-Whitish
Staff 2
Website
Brown Memorial Library
Brown Memorial Library is located in Maine
Brown Memorial Library
Location in Maine
Brown Memorial Library is located in the United States
Brown Memorial Library
Location in the United States
Area 1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built 1899 (1899)
Architect John Calvin Stevens
Architectural style Romanesque
NRHP reference No. 75000099
Added to NRHP April 28, 1975

The Brown Memorial Library is the public library for the town of Clinton, Maine. It's a very special building that was built between 1899 and 1900. You can find it at 53 Railroad Street, right in the middle of town.

This library was a gift to the town from William W. Brown. He wanted to honor his parents. A famous architect named John Calvin Stevens designed the building. Because of its unique design, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

Discovering the Library's Design

The Brown Memorial Library is located in the center of Clinton village. It sits at the corner of Railroad and Winn Streets. The building is made of stone and has one main floor. It also has a basement underneath.

The library has a rectangular shape. A cool, rounded section sticks out from the front right corner. The main entrance is next to this rounded part. It's set inside a large, curved archway.

What Materials Were Used?

The outside of the library uses special materials. It has pink-colored granite walls. Red sandstone is used for the decorative parts. These materials and colors are typical of the Richardsonian Romanesque style. This style was popular for buildings like libraries.

Inside the Library

When you go inside, you'll find different areas. To the right of the entrance is a large reading room. This is where people can sit and read quietly. To the left are the main stacks, which is where most of the books are kept.

At the back of the library, there's a room that used to be for the librarian. Now, it's a special reading room just for kids! There's also a small, fireproof room at the back. This room keeps important town records safe.

The Library's Story

The Brown Memorial Library was a wonderful gift to the town of Clinton. William W. Brown gave the land for the library. He also provided the money to build it. Plus, he gave the first collection of books. He even set aside some money to help keep the library running.

This was the very first public library in Clinton. The building was designed by John Calvin Stevens. He was a well-known architect from Portland, Maine. The library was finished in 1900. It's a great example of the Richardsonian Romanesque style, especially for library buildings in Maine.

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