National Register of Historic Places

Walker Memorial Library

Westbrook, Cumberland County, Maine
Listed
November 10, 1980
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
80000231

About this property

The Walker Memorial Library is the public library of Westbrook, Maine, United States. It is located at 800 Main Street, in an architecturally distinguished French Chateauesque building designed by Frederick A. Tompson and built in 1894. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The library is located in downtown Westbrook, between William Clark Drive and Main Street (State Route 258). It is a three-story brick building, built in an elaborate style resembling a French chateau. It has a hip roof whose ridge lines and dormers are adorned with finials. The main entrance, facing north toward Main Street, is recessed behind a round arch set between two round turrets with conical roofs. The exterior is accented by decorative use of yellow brick, and panels of terra cotta. The interior features extensive use of oak beams and filigreed woodwork. Westbrook's first public library began in 1802 as a social lending library, one of the first such institutions in what is now Maine. This organization became dormant in 1866, but was revived in 1883. In 1891 the town was bequested funds for a library building in the will of Joseph Walker, a Westbrook native who made his fortune in the lumber industry. The main building was designed by Portland architect Frederick Tompson, then one of Maine's leading architects. An addition to the 1894 structure was added in 1989 via municipal bond. National Register of Historic Places listings in Cumberland County, Maine

Location

800 Main St.
Westbrook, Cumberland County, Maine
43.67621, -70.36357

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

Westbrook High School
Industrial
0.1 mi
Vallee Family House
Industrial
0.3 mi
St. Hyacinth School and Convent
Industrial
0.3 mi
Cumberland Mills Historic District
Listed
0.8 mi
Harris, Nathan, House
Industrial
0.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Walker Memorial Library listed on the National Register?

Walker Memorial Library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 10, 1980.

What type of historic resource is Walker Memorial Library?

Walker Memorial Library is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Walker Memorial Library?

The period of significance for Walker Memorial Library is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Walker Memorial Library?

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