John B. Curtis Free Public Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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John B. Curtis Free Public Library
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | 435 Main Road, Bradford, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1915 |
| Architect | John Calvin Stevens, John Howard Stevens |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| MPS | Maine Public Libraries MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 97000310 |
| Added to NRHP | April 14, 1997 |
The John B. Curtis Free Public Library is a public library in Bradford, Maine. It's a special building that was finished in 1915. It was designed by famous architects John Calvin Stevens and his son, John Howard Stevens. This beautiful building is known for its Classical Revival style. Because of its unique design and history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.
About the Library Building
The John B. Curtis Free Public Library is in the middle of Bradford, a small town in Maine. It sits at a main crossroads, making it easy to find. The library is a single-story building made of brick. It has a strong foundation of rough-cut granite stones.
What Does It Look Like?
The front of the library faces west. It has three main sections with windows on either side of the main door. The windows have special "keystones" at the top, which are decorative stones. To enter, you walk up wide granite steps. The doorway itself is fancy, with tall, column-like decorations called "Ionic pilasters" on each side. Above the door, there's a wide decorative band and a half-round window that looks like a fan.
At the back of the building, there's a small section that sticks out, called an "ell." Inside, you first enter a small lobby area, called a "vestibule." From there, you go into the main big room of the library. There's a beautiful archway between the vestibule and the main room. This archway matches the design around the fireplace on the opposite wall.
Who Built It?
The library was built between 1914 and 1915. The money for the building came from a gift left by John Bacon Curtis. He grew up in Bradford and became very wealthy. He made his fortune by inventing machines that helped shape and package spruce gum.
The library's design was a team effort between John Calvin Stevens and his son, John Howard Stevens. They were architects from Portland. This library is one of the best examples of the Classical Revival style that the elder Stevens designed.
