Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-06-15
THE LIIHGOW LIBRARY.
A Short History Of its Origin and wor

Through the kindness of L. G. Cornish,
Esq, the JOURNAL presents the following
compact and comprehensive history of the
Lithgow library and reading room which
was prepared by him for deposit in the
sealed box of the corner stone of the new
library
THE predecessor of the Lithgow Library
and Reading Room was the Augusta Library
and Library Association. That association
was organized about 1872, and was COM
posed of the leading men of the city. In
der the bylaws the payment of $50 made
one life member and so citizens availed
themselves of the opportunity. Many
books were bought and many donated,
but the income was not sufficient
to make it permanent institution. Among
the life members was Llewellyn w. Lithgow
and in his will he bequeathed to the city, in
trust, 500, 900 to be known as the Lithgow
Library and Reading Room fund. The in
terest of that amount was to be used in
establishing and maintaining public IL
brary. Since the acceptance of the bequest,
Aug. 5, 1881 the treasurer of the library
has paid over to the city, semi
annually, the interest on the fund.
at 5 per cent amounting to $1,000
per annum, which has been used for the
benefit of the library. Under the residusry
clause in Mr.. Lithgow's will the city re-
ceived about $4,000 more. The trustees
organized Feb. ID, 1882, and the Lithgow
library and reading room was incorporated
by the Legislature Jan. 81. 1888. The to-
tai amount received from Mr.. Lithgow was
therefore 1886, 900, of which $40, 900 is held
in perpetual trust by the city and
the income of $1,000 per year paid over
to the city and the residuary of SIG 900
which was itself paid over to the treasurer.
The trustees have kept that residuary we'll
and safely invested with the intention of
erecting suitable library building as soon
as possible. After the burning of the old
Cushnoc house on the corner of Winthrop
and State streets, in the fall of 1888, the
trustees of the Li,hgow library, pur-
| chased the lot for $500. In Sept, 1892,
that property and the adjoining stables ex-
tending along Pleasant street were des-
troyed by fire and the trustees purchased
tn. adjoining lot for $4,000. The next step
was to provide additional funds in order to
erect a suitable building. On Sept. 16,
icJ<s AAVh. u. w pkSslueAt VI
the board of trustees made the offer to
contribute $1,000, if four more subscriptions
of like amount be obtained and additional
subscriptions to make the whole amount
$40 900 within three months. The amount
was secured, but not deemed adequate. The
Hon. Andrew Carnegie of Pittsburg, Pa,
was appealed to as friend of public librs-
ries. by Ira H. Randall, and Nov. Is.
1892, he promised to give $4,000 if the citi.
Gems would raise like sum, and this made
total of $4,000 which was secured.
In April, 1898. an invitation was
extended to srchitects to submit plans
for building and 60 plans were
received and that Of Neil & Hopkins
of Pittsburg, Pa, was accepted. The board
of trustees originally consisted of FIVE, but
the number was increased to IA, Feb. 1898.
The names of the trustees with the years
of service is as follows: Hon. j. W. Brad
bury has been president of the board since
its organization in 1881 Hon. II. M. Heath,
secretary, 1881 to 1888; Leslie C.
Cornish, secretary, 1888 to the present
time. VIM. R. Smith was treasurer from
1881 to lis death in January. 1894 and r.
E. Goodwin since that time. Miss Julia M.
Clapp has served a. librarian continuously
to the present time.'