Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-07-25
the DEDICATION
CONTINUED from page ~

influence I'M the TOWN cam hardly bt
estimated. and whom every one love.
and respects The older men remember
as an ideal. and as both he has never
disappointed anyone.
T The library stands in one Of the pref
test sections of the town. 1t is OF
Bridge street. between the handsome
| residences of Mr.. Lawrence, the donor
of the building, and Mrs. Newhall. the
donor of the lot. The lot itself is a
| large one. and has been beautifully
graded. Across the street and directly
opposite the library is Monument park
with the soldiers monument and q
handsome fountain. This makes an
| ideal setting for the gem of a build
ing and one that will not be mucl,
changed by the growth of the town.
Monument park is surrounded by some
of the finest residences in the town and
with the library will make about as
pretty corner as can be found any
where in New England.
Then, too the plans for the building
have been most carefully worked out
the best experience obtainable in this
stand the closest examination of the
best experts of the country. The build
ing itself is not only one of beautiful
lines. but it is conveniently arranged
and is very cOmmodiOus. 1t now has
collection of over 5000 volumes which
We're carefully selected and arranged
The book committee consisted Of
Miss Helen Pratt, Mrs. f. p. Kenrick,
Miss Addie Lawrence and Miss Mary
Newhall. These ladies did the work
most thoroughly and carefully. using
all the experience of the best librarians
in the country that they could gather.
Then when the books had been Sc
lected. Miss Josephine Beard of Au-
eusta. was secured to do the catalogu-
ing on the Dewey system. Thus the Ii
brary has been started right and is
now all ready for the browsing and
delving of the book lovers of the town.
The whole finish of the inside of the
building is done in hard wood finished
in natural colors.
The entrance TO the library is domed
and very prettily decorated in the old
ivory effect. The names of some of the
more famous of the New England au-
t!ibl .iit R'tiiltti III gnu iiOuIlti llit
liwer edge of the dome These are
Whittier. Holmes. Thoreau. Emerson.
Hawthorne. Lowell. Bryant. Longfel-
low and Franklin. This entrance to the
building is very effectively arranged
and creates very pleasing impression
at the start. Two stained glass win
dcws facing the entrance have the por-
traits of Mr.. LawrenCes two daugh-
tiers.
On the right as one enters is the
stack room with its 5000 and more
books. These are so compactly arrang-
ed that there does not look to be near
as many as this. The stacks will hold
5000 and they are nearly full The books
as already stated. are arranged accord
ing to the Dewey system and glance
over the titles will delight the soul of
any book lover
Nj. Lawrence in addition to his gift
of the building gave $1,000 for the pur-
chase of books and Mrs. Newhall also
gave $1,000. Then in addition numerous
gifts have been received from residents.
former residents of the town and the
collection gathered by the Book Club.
Thus the library starts with q very
good working collection.
on the left of the entrance is the
reading room. comfortably fitted up. A
fine pastel portrait of MIR. Lawrence
hangs on the south wall OF the read
ing room. 1t is the work of Mrs. Flora
Cross Clark, and was presented to the
library by the Fairfield Book club. In
a little niche that is just the right size
on the west wall hangs a fine oil paint
| ing done by r. +. McFadden. a local
artist. The subject is the Moor of
Venice" from Shakespeare's Othello.
| and the execution is fine. Then there
| is /. splendid globe which was present
ed by Mrs. f.. p. Kenrick. The globe is
IS inches in diameter and stands on n
| bronze pedestal 43 inches high. The
globe is modern in every respect and
will be a very valuable affair in the IL
brary The room is furnished with
heavy and substantial furniture with
easy reading chairs and all the neces-
sites of a modern reading room.
| In a recess just off the stack room
there is very cosey little office for
the librarian. This is fitted up for
work and is a snug den" The people
of the town and former residents have
taken q great interest in the library
and the gifts of books and little neces-
| stiles have beeen pouring in since the
building was erected 50 that it is finely
furnished for work.
| The hour for the dedication exercises
was set at , O'Clock in the afternoon
all stores in town closing from 3 to 6
O'Clock. Hundreds of yards of red.
white and blue bunting We're used in
decorating Main street and some of the
buildings in the vicinity of the library.
Great streamerS We're draped from the
first floor balcony of the Gerald to the
Odd Fellows block across the way. All
the stores had decorations more or less
elaborate. More great StreamerS were
put up from the front of the Opera
House across the street to the trees
Many yards We're used on the res
licences of A. B. Page. Mrs. Newhall.
4. H. Totman and others in the vicin-
ity. 1t was easy enough to find the Ii
brary for the way was decorated with
yards and yards of bunting.
| Special electrics We're run from Wa
terville to accommodate those who
wished to attend the exercises and the
hacks and private carriages We're busy
carrying people to and fro. 1t was a
great holiday for the town and every
one entered into the spirit of the affair