National Register of Historic Places

Skowhegan Free Public Library

Skowhegan, Somerset County, Maine
Listed
April 13, 1983
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
83000473

About this property

The Skowhegan Free Public Library is the public library of Skowhegan, Maine. It is located at 9 Elm Street, in an architecturally significant Queen Anne brick building designed by Edwin E. Lewis and completed in 1890. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The library is managed by the Bloomfield Academy Trustees. The library is located on the north side of Elm Street, just west of its junction with Madison Avenue (United States Route 201), and overlooking the Kennebec River. The building is a 2-1/2 story brick structure, with asymmetrical massing characteristic of the Queen Anne period. Its main block has a hip roof, with a projecting gable section at the left side of the front (south-facing) facade, and an octagonal tower projecting forward from the right side of the facade, with then entrance between these two elements. An ell extends to the rear of the main block. The gable section has bands of three sash windows on both levels, with a large semicircular terra cotta panel above. The first-floor windows are in segmented-arch openings. The entrance is set in a terra-cotta arch, which was originally open but has since been closed in. The tower at the right has an entablature with terra cotta decoration below its octagonal pyramidal roof. The building's interior is of extremely high quality and preservation. It has ornate millwork, moldings, and stained glass, and includes furniture built to match the building's features. Wooden shelving is built into place between the floor and ceiling. The library was built in part due to the efforts and donations of native son Abner Coburn, who gave land and funding for its construction. The building was designed by Gardiner architect Edwin E. Lewis, and is one of Somerset County's finest non-residential Queen Anne buildings. National Register of Historic Places listings in Somerset County, Maine

Location

Skowhegan, Somerset County, Maine
44.76622, -69.72039

Categories

EDUCATIONARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Somerset County Courthouse
Civil War
0.1 mi
Gould House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Maine Spinning Company Mill
Industrial
0.1 mi
Skowhegan Historic District
Listed
0.2 mi
Skowhegan Fire Station
Industrial
0.2 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Norridgewock (Father Rale Killed)
1724Colonial
4.6 mi
Father Rale's War – Harmon's Norridgewock Expedition 1723
1723Colonial
4.7 mi
Norridgewock Massacre (Father Rale killed)
1724Colonial
5 mi
Norridgewock Fight
1724Colonial
5 mi
Norridgewock Massacre — Father Rale Killed (Aug 23 1724)
1724Colonial
5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Skowhegan Free Public Library listed on the National Register?

Skowhegan Free Public Library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 13, 1983.

What type of historic resource is Skowhegan Free Public Library?

Skowhegan Free Public Library is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Skowhegan Free Public Library?

The period of significance for Skowhegan Free Public Library is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Skowhegan Free Public Library?

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