Stewart Free Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Stewart Free Library
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Photo c. 1920
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | ME 11/43, Corinna, Maine |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1895 |
| Architect | Grimshaw, William Harrison |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000190 |
| Added to NRHP | July 30, 1974 |
The Stewart Free Library is a special old building in Corinna, Maine. It's located where Nokomis Road and St. Albans Road meet. This building was constructed between 1895 and 1898. It's a very grand brick building with a Victorian style. It was quite fancy for a small town like Corinna back then! Today, it's home to the town's library and also holds some town offices. Because of its history and unique design, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. This list helps protect important places in the United States.
Contents
What Does the Library Look Like?
The Stewart Free Library stands on the west side of Corinna's town center. It's next to a small grassy area where two roads meet. This building is quite big, standing 2 and a half stories tall. It's made of brick with nice granite stone details.
Key Features of the Building
- Tall Tower: A four-story tower rises right from the middle of the front of the building.
- Symmetrical Design: The building looks the same on both sides of the tower.
- Roof and Chimneys: It has a sloped roof with decorative window sections on either side of the tower. Two tall chimneys are at the back.
- Main Entrance: You enter through a round arch at the bottom of the tower. Above the entrance are two narrow windows.
- Windows: On either side of the tower, there are groups of three windows. The first-floor windows have rounded granite tops, while the second-floor windows have rectangular tops.
A Gift to the Community
The Stewart Free Library was a wonderful gift to the people of Corinna. It was given by a man named Levi M. Stewart. He grew up in Corinna but made a lot of money in business in Minnesota.
Who Designed and Built It?
- Architect: Levi Stewart hired an architect named William Harrison Grimshaw from Minneapolis to design the building.
- Construction: A company from Bangor, Maine built the library. It took three years, from 1895 to 1898, to finish.
- Reputation: When it was completed, many people thought it was one of the most beautiful public buildings in all of Maine!
Stewart's Generous Donations
Levi Stewart didn't just pay for the building. He also:
- Donated 3,000 books to start the library's collection.
- Left his own collection of law and literature books to the library after he passed away.
- Set up a special fund to help pay for the library's upkeep and maintenance.
The building was also a way for Levi Stewart to remember his parents. It stands as a lasting memorial to them and a valuable resource for the community.
