The Somerset reporter., 1889-01-17
Our Public Library.


A SPLENDID LOCATION AND An IMPOSING,
SUBSTANTIAL BUILDING An ORSAMENT
10 CTR VILLAGE.
Mr.. +. +. Lewis, the well known
Gard ner architect, has submitted his com
plete plans and specifications Of the
Skowhegan Free Public Library building
to the trustees of Bloomfield Academy,
and they have been sub~tan tally accept
ed, contingent upon the town making All
appropriation for the appropriate S"dlefe
Memorial room in the library h 'iaiilI
II the town doc not MAXI such afhfo=
pration, matter Of which there should
he little room for con lecture, the plans oil
the building would have 10 he somewhat
modified and made less expensive The
REPORTER has always been strongly III
favor of this proposed memorial in honor
of our soldiers, and we believe every
patriotic man of Skowhegan will be IN
favor of the project, and show his bellef
by voting reasonable sum of money to
carry the plan into effect. 1t is much
cheaper to commemorate our fallen
heroes by memorial room ana taoie's
than by the erection of monuments ano
must be more satisfactory.
The location of the buildings superior
Elm Street with its magnificent river
view where the eye sweeps at glance the
) miles of the placid Kennebec between
this village and Norridgewock, is prob
ably the finest bit of river scenery in
Maine. 1t is lust far enough from the
business centre to be away from the
turmoil and dust, and not too far for easy
accessibility. 1t is about two minutes
walk from the Island bridge, the post
office, the Maine Central station and the
Court House, and radius of minutes
walk will sweep large part Of the VII
lage.
The structure is to he two story, brick
with red frecstone trimmings, window
stills and steps, and terra Gotta
band running around the building OYER
the windows of the first story. The ex-
IRENE dimensions will be IONIC feet
which includes the main building and u
rear extension The estimated,cost is SD,
600. The Elm Street front presents a
fine elevation, two stories high with an
octagoral tower on the S. L. corner, the
The broad massive steps and the large
double doors admits one to a capacious
vestibnle, thence to the delivery room,
about lSx22 feet, from which the libra
rian's desk and rooms open. In this
room is fine large open fire place in
terra Gotta surmounted by marble bust
of Gov. Coburn
Connected with the delivery room, on
the left of the main entrance, is a large
room twenty by twentv-eight feet which
is to be used as a general reading room,
and If the town makes the appropriation
memorial room with a large memorial
tablet of black marble, extending from
the floor to the ceiling, upon which will
be inscribed the names of the soldiers and
sailors who entered the service from This
town. The room also contains large
terra Gotta fire place of exquisite design,
the over-mantle containing three inches
in which it is proposed to place busts of
Washington, 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
room, where books are kept and can bc
examined which it is not advisable to al
low to be taken from the building. 1t is
octagonal in shape, and is gem, posses
sing as it does fine view up the Ken
nebec river. Between the reference room
ard the delivery room is the librarian 5
room, ~ - by 10 feet, which connects
with each of the former, and is to be
costly furnished. In the rear of this
room and running the remaining length
of the building is the book room, which
is occupied with rows of well-arranged
book cases having a capacity of l5,32S
volumes. The capacity of the book room
is largely increased ny the building of
balcony on three sides of the room, which
in itself is capable of holding s 400 vol
umes thus making total capacity of 23,-
72s volumes. This balcony is approached
by double staircase, and supported by
pillars. This book room is designed to be
trc-proof, and will be separated from
other parts of the building by the iron
doors.
This finishes the division of the main
story, to be finished entirely in antlqne
oak, and which, as can well be seen, will
be roomy and well ventilated by the fire
places, and well lighted by large number
of windows. many of them containing
panes of colored or loaded glass. The
second story is to be reached by stair
way in the Octagon tower. 1t will CON
tain reception room parlor for the ac-
commodation of the Womans Aid society,
organized under the provisions of Coy.
Coburn's will. There are also a cloak
room, smaller reception room, toilet
room and closets complete. The plan
provides for the finishing of this hat in
whitewood The attic is to be rough
finished and lighted by two eyebrow win
dows. The basement contains a packing
room, fuel room, storage cellar and gen,
tleman's toilet.
The exterior decorations of the front
elevation are mainly of terra Gotta. Above
the entrance which is in the form of an
elliptical arch is panel three by nine
feet, containing the inscription, "Free
Public Library, 1889" executed in beau
tiful design. Over the large window in
the memorial hall is a sem-circular panel
fourteen feet in diameter made of
blocks of terra Gotta one foot square.
Military shields, decorations and badges
representing the Grand Army and other
Veterans, organizations and Army Corps
will probably appear on the panel.
1t is the purpose of the trustees to heat
the Building with steam and light it by
electricity and have it modern and con-
venient in all its appointments, not omit
ting that soldi,y and elegance that
because such structure. The roof is to
be of slate and the foundation granite.
The building on this site cannot be other
wise than an elegant one and second to
none of its kind in any village in Maine.
Nur nennle will iakn a liycly inicrnst in il