Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-12-31
A FINE STRUCTURE.
The New Public Library and Memorial
Hall for skowhesan.

Especial to the Kennebec Journal
GARDINER, Dec. 49,
The Journal reporter enjoyed a pleasant
half hours call Saturday afternoon at the
rooms Of Mr.. E. E. Lewis, the architect of
this city, who is now busily engaged on the
working plans of the public library and
memorial hall at Skowhegan, work upon
which will commence early next spring.
The building will be finely located on Elm
street, west of Hotel Coburn, and will be a
two story brick structure with red freest)n
trimmings, wind, silis and steps and q
t-rra Gotta band running around the 0uIiling
over the windows of the first story. The ex-
treme dimensions will be 5Ox10 feet which
includes the main building aud a rear exten-
sion, and the structure will be built at cost
Of about $4,000. The fund for the erec
ton of this building was the gift of the late
Governor Abner Coburn, and the gentlemen
having the matter in charge have accepted the
design of Mr.. Lewis In the conception a1d
execution of the work Mr.. Lewis has seemed
to catch the spirit and uses of the building
and to have embodied tlem in design
which shows him to De master of his art,
and the completed struc ure will be high
credit TO his professional ability and skill
To describe the building more in detail it
may be said that the man entrance situated
Iea ar the centre Of the building 10 approached
by broad flight of steps and ushers one into
a eapacious vestiDule from which the vlal.or
is directly admitted to the delivery room,
which is about Is by 22 feet. and contains
the Librarians desk and a tne open hire
place Of terra Gotta surmounted by marble
t..,. l. ..rt. r.Nf hnl
room and running the remaining length OF
the building ia the book room, hich is occu-
pied with rows of well-arranged book cases
having capacity of ID, 1928 volumes. The
capacity OF the book room is largely in
creased by the building of balcony on three
sides Of the room, which in itself is capable
of holding 540O volumes thus making total
capacity of % 725 volumes. This balcony
is approached by a double staircase is
supported by turned pillars aud is surrOu1de d
by Japanese railing of exquisite design
This book room is designed 10 be fire-pruof,
and wall be separated from other parts OF the
building by IRON doors. Connected with the
lelvery room, the lef; of the
main entrance, is large room
twenty by twenty-eight feet, which will be
used as memorial hall and general reading
room. II conta MS tables and chairs for the
use uf the occupants and also has fin
memorial tablet of black marble, extending
from the II .Or TO the ceiling, upon which
will be inscribed the names of the soldiers
and sailors from Skowhegan who gave their
lives tor the support OF the union. Inc
room also contains An immense terra co Ia
tre place of exquisite design, the over man
tie containing three inches in which will be
placed buss of Arlington, Lincoln and
Grant The hearth will be laid in Low art
tiles. In the rear of the reading room We
enter, through folding doors, the reference
ojm, where books are kept and can be ex
,mined which it is not advisable to allow to
be taken from the building. 1t is octagonal
IN shape, and is perfect paradise for the
student pc .sess sing as it does a fine view up
'he Kennebec river. Between the reference |
room and the delivery room is the librarians
room, IL IL by 10 feet, which connects with |
each of the former, and is costly furnished
and provide also with an open fire place.
This finshes the division of the main story, |
" Inch will be finished entirely in antique
oak and which, as can well be seen, will De |
roomy and well ventilated by the nre places,
and well lighted by d large rumber of win
ored or loaded glass.
octagou tower containing massive ard ar
ti,tic stairway of antique oak leading TO the
second story, which will be especially ar
ranged for the accommodation of the Ladies
Christian Aid Society. and will contain
large reception ROOM pariors, kltch- |
en-, cloak room, fuel room, sewing
room, closets and toilet room. 1t will
BE- finished IN white wood, has one fire ace
in the parlor and will be handsomely fu =
nj ,hed The attic will be rough finish and
Ii lighted by two eyebrow win lows Re urn
ing to the lower floor we pass into the base
ment which contains packing room under
thc book room and connected with it. a
boiler room, coal room, storage cellar and
gen $ toilet The building will b. heated
by steam and lighted by gas. The exterior
of the front elevation are manly
of terra C jtta. \ bove the entrance which is in
the form of an ellptieaI arch lsa panel three
by rine feet, containing the inscription,
Free Pubic Library, 1883, ex' cuted in
b autiful design. Over the large win low in
the memorial hall is a mI-cIrcular panel
fourteen feet in diameter made of blocks of
ur ira Gotta one foot square. The two centre
ones form the Grand Army badge. Over
mis- is he United States shield, under it the
Veteran Reserve Corps badges, and on
both sides are equally divided the twenty
four federal army corps badges This col
lection forms a panel, memorial in character
aud fine in execution. The other elevations
are well arranged and complete bailding
second to none OF its class in Maine in arch
ltectural design. an ornament to the beautl-
full town of Skowhegan, and most fitting
memorial to the liberality of the worthy ex
20, ,ernor, her most distinguish sop, whose
great wealth has gone to the up building and
perpetuaton of SO many noble institutions In
Maine.
TIE PORTLAND FIRE