Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-10-25
HalloWell Local News
NOTABLE LITERARY AND SOCIAL
OBSERVANCE IN HONOR MISS PACE
LIBRARIAN FOR half CENTURY

The hubbard library, scene Of so
many notable gatherings in the past
( was filed Tuesday evening with
| Hallowcll citizens who came to do
+! honor to Miss Annie +. Page, who
this year completes her 50th year of
! service as librarian When she as
| sumed the duties OF the position in
! January, 1873, it was the HallOwell
f! Social library to which she came.
! There was a well chosen nucleus of
books, but no separate library build
! ing. Five years afterward, with Miss
! Page az one of its secretaries, the
| Library Building association was
! formed.
| In 1850. through the efforts of the
| nllblic spirited women of this asso-
| citation and the hearty cooperation
of the citizens, the first building was
! erected, the foundation of the present
! structure. At its dedication Il poem
| by Mrs. Emma Huntington Mason
was ono of the features. In 1898 the
building was enlarged through 4 gift
from Gen Thomas III. Hubbard and
was rcdedicated and named the Hub
bard Free Library. On tho occasion
OF this dedication there was not
able address by Prof Charles +,
Richardson and a poem by Martha
Baker Dunn. Four years later, an
| other wing, the Gift Of Mrs. Eliza
Lowell. was added and was the oc-
casion Of another inspiring meeting
at which Judge Baker gave the ad-
dress and Ellen Hamlin Butler wrote
tho poem.
! Such another gathering was that of
last evening.
| The library had been most beauti-
! fully decorated for the occasion. bas-
| llcts of green. mingled with autumn
! leaves and red berries, barberry and
| hitterswcet We're on each Of the
| tables ana on the librarians desk
| In the receiving line were Judge SAT-
| ford Miss Annie e. Page, Miss
| Sophia Gilman. Mrs. Helen Brown
| Robinson, Miss Abby l.. F.vcleth and
Mrs. Dana. Skillin. The guests were
| representative of the best among
Hallowell citizens in all the walks
| of life, those whose intelligent inter
est make worth while things possible
! for the town. Those of the trustees
not in the receiving line were hosts
and hOSteSSeS to care for the guests.
t Among those from out of town. but
whose interests are whit Hallowell
wcro Nh and Mrs. William Vaughan,
/ Miss Mary Allen and Miss Hattie
| Hall
I .tfteT the formal reception q pro-
gram yorthy Of the traditions Of the
f! the trustees presided. In few APP
K propriate Introductory remarks. he
I referred gracefully to Miss Pages
+! long and unselfish service, and then
I introduced each Of the speakers with
/ Following Judge Stafford Miss
Judge Stafford Miss Sophia Bond Gil
man read a brief and witty verse by
. Frances Fletcher Parker, formerly Of
I IIalloWell entitled "To q Page" It's
/ play upon words and its tribute to
\ Miss Page won attention and APP
! plause. Then followed paper
\ Fairly DAYS Of the Library" by Har-
Y ret Baker Dudley Of Augusta. daus}l-
/ ter of the late Judge Baker 1t was
/ most fitting that she should be chos-
/ en- for This the central feature of the
/ program. Her father had been the
| first secretary of the Library asso-
citation and its first librarian and her
sister had written the poem for the
dedication of the early building.
! MIS-. Dudley's "reminiscences were
! interesting and delightful. marked by
anrcdotc and humor, and worthy of
being printed in detail. One interest
! ing fact brought out was that the
4 library began with $50 volumes and
now has about 10000. Miss Sophia
=. Gilman was Miss Pages first as
sstant in the work and contributed
much to its success. She was sue
4 cecdcd by Miss Abby T.. E,veeth. who
! has boon assistant for % years. In
Miss Pages absence. Miss Harriet
Jones is assistant to Miss Eveieth.
Mrs. Dudley was followed by Miss
\ Hattie Hall of Augusta. who read an
original poem in praie of books. clos
ing with Il pretty tribute to Miss
Eagc.
Judge Fred Emery Beane spoke
wost effectively. urging the formation
I Of the habit of good reading in
/ young people and showing the good
| effect Of such habit upon their after
! life. Judge Stafford referred to the
work of Mr.. James Leigh and Cen
! Hubbard William Warren Vaughan
paid pleasing tribute to Miss Pages
work, then Miss Rose Adele Gilpat-
! rick read an exquisite poem Of her
| own authorship, in praise of the lib
rary as source of inspiration, and Of
Miss Page as its priestess. At the
close. shc presented Miss Page on he
half of the trustees with beautiful
bunc! Of roses. Miss Page. though
much affected, replied appropriately
to the gift.
After the formal program. light re-
! freshmcnts of fruit punch and fancy
cakes were served by the lady mem
hers of the trustees. Miss Gilpatrick,
Miss Elizabeth McClench, Miss Eliza
1 beth Otis. Mrs. Ben Tenney, Miss
Clara Stinson and Miss Abby Eve
| leth The occasion was d notable one
from the social as well as the literary
standpoint. fit,in~ observance of
significant occasion.
4