Maine Charitable Mechanic Association facts for kids
The Maine Charitable Mechanic Association (MCMA) is a special group in Portland, Maine, United States. It's a private non-profit organization, which means it's not run by the government and its goal isn't to make money. The MCMA started way back in 1815. Since 1859, its main home has been Mechanics' Hall at 519 Congress Street in the middle of Portland. This hall is a historic building! The MCMA also has a library that you can visit. It's open Tuesday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
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How the MCMA Started
The MCMA was created in 1815 by skilled workers in the area. These workers, called "mechanics" at the time, wanted to work together. They aimed to share their knowledge, improve their skills, and get better at their jobs. Many similar groups were forming during this period. They helped people move from a farming economy to one based on factories and machines.
The association helped young people learning a trade, known as apprentices. This included those learning to be carpenters, masons, shipbuilders, jewelers, ironworkers, watchmakers, riggers, instrument makers, and glass workers. The MCMA's original plan also said that money would be saved. This money was meant to help "unfortunate mechanics and their families" who were having a tough time.
A Place for Learning: The Library
The MCMA opened its library in 1820. The library moved to different spots around Portland for many years. Then, in 1859, Mechanics' Hall was built. Members of the MCMA built this hall for their own use. Thomas J. Sparrow, Portland's first professional architect, designed the hall. Later, in the late 1800s, a famous local architect named John Calvin Stevens designed the beautiful ballroom inside Mechanics' Hall. Because of its importance, Mechanics' Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
Fun Events and Exhibitions
The association was very popular in the 1800s. It hosted many exciting events, like musical shows and dances. Lectures were also a big hit. Speakers like John Neal talked about interesting topics. These included the human body, how it works (physiology), early science (natural philosophy), and different ways to heat homes.
The MCMA also held several fairs and exhibitions. These events showed off the amazing work of its members. One of the biggest fairs happened in 1854. The association was allowed to use all the empty space in Portland City Hall. They even built a two-story building across the street and filled it with exhibits!
Helping During Tough Times
Mechanics' Hall was sometimes used for important city needs. In 1861, the MCMA offered the hall as a gathering place for soldiers. These soldiers were on their way to fight in the Civil War. After a terrible fire destroyed much of Portland in 1866, Mechanics' Hall even served as the temporary City Hall for a while.
Learning New Skills
In 1875, the MCMA started offering free classes in mechanical drawing. This is a type of drawing used to design machines and buildings. They continued these classes until 1983. John Calvin Stevens, the architect, was one of the teachers!
The MCMA Today
Membership in the Maine Charitable Mechanic Association became smaller in the 1900s and early 2000s. The number of activities they did also decreased. However, the association is now growing again! They have many new members and exciting new programs. Today, the MCMA has about four hundred members.
It still runs its library at Mechanics' Hall. The library offers many lectures, book groups, and other events about art and history. Its collection has over 30,000 books. These include both general interest books and special collections. The MCMA library is one of the few membership libraries still active in the United States. It is also one of the few Mechanics' Institutes left in the Western Hemisphere.
See also
- Mechanics' Institutes
- Subscription library
