Rumford Public Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Rumford Public Library
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Rumford Ave., Rumford, Maine |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1903 |
| Architect | John Calvin Stevens |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| MPS | Maine Public Libraries MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 88003023 |
| Added to NRHP | January 5, 1989 |
The Rumford Public Library is a special building in Rumford, Maine. It's where the town's public library is located. A famous architect from Maine, John Calvin Stevens, designed this building. It was built in 1903 with money given by Andrew Carnegie, a very wealthy businessman. Because of its unique design, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. This means it's an important historical place.
Contents
Building Design and Style
The original part of the Rumford Public Library is a brick building. It has a red color and a roof that slopes down on two sides. The building's style is called Romanesque. This style is easy to see in the front entrance area.
Main Entrance Features
The entrance sticks out from the main building. It has a large, round arch where you walk in. Above this arch, there's a stone panel with the building's name. Three windows are placed above that. A small, round stone piece is near the top of the roof. A stone line separates the main floor from the lower basement area. The basement is also made of brick.
Modern Additions to the Library
In 1969, a new section was added to the back of the original building. This addition helped the library have more space.
Inside the Library
When you enter the library, you first come into a small entry room. Then, you'll find the main desk in the middle. Reading rooms are on both sides of this desk. The newer part of the building holds the book stacks. These are the shelves where all the books are kept. The reading areas have dark wood around the windows. They also have wood panels on the lower part of the walls. In the north reading room, there's a fireplace with a fancy mantel.
History of the Library
The first library in the Rumford area was a private collection. It had about 1,000 books. A person named A. Z. Cates started it. People wanted a public library for everyone.
Funding and Construction
A big step toward a public library happened in 1903. The Carnegie Foundation gave $10,000 to help build it. This was a lot of money back then! A local business owner, Hugh J. Chisholm, also helped. He gave shelves and books for the new library.
Architectural Design
The library building was designed by John Calvin Stevens. He was an architect from Portland, Maine. He designed many public library buildings across Maine. His work made the Rumford Public Library a special and important building.
