Public Library, Belfast, Me. 1802

Public Library, Belfast, Me. 1802

Belfast Public Library, 106 High Street, Belfast. Photo before addition. Methodist Church visible beyond on Miller Street. Sign indicating direction to Route 137 on light pole. Paul Hazeltine, who died in 1878, left a bequest of $20,000.00 (upon the death of his wife in 1884) to the City of Belfast for the purpose of constructing a library which would forever be free to the inhabitants of said city. To this purpose the city purchased a lot at the corner of Miller and High streets from Robert Miller, one of Belfast's earliest settlers. The homestead on that property, which was built in 1792 and the oldest in the city was sold for $70.00 and moved to Bridge Street. A committee consisting of Cyrus Hall, Charles Rogers and Albert Mudgett, in accordance with plans drawn up by Julius Munchwitz of New York let a contract in the sum of $8775.00 to James Pottle. Construction was completed in 1887. The building is constructed of both red and gray granite with room heights of nineteen feet. The book room was estimated to have a capacity of 14,000 volumes. The residual money from the bequest with an added bequest from Nancy Green brought the sum to just over $40,000.00. Both bequest allowed only income from this to be expended, leaving the principle intact. An act was passed which created a board of 5 trustees to oversee the spending. Among these was historian Joseph Williamson. Unlike the rest of the political appointees in the city, the first librarian was a woman Elizabeth Pond, It was not until 99 years later that first man filled the position. Between construction and 1901, and average of 20,000 books were loaned out during each year. This was from an inventory of 2843 volumes (in 1888) to 10,377 (in 1901). Ever since its establishment, foresighted members of the community have provided the funds needed to meet the changing needs of the Belfast community: the Gammans Room was added in 1932, the third floor Special Collections in 1977, and the Abbott Auditorium in 1985. NOTE: This image represents the library in its post-1932 layout (When the Gammans Reading Room was added behind the main building shown here). The dome over the main entrance was removed and the present roofline constructed sometime before May 27, 1932 (dated photo showing the new roof). In all likelihood, the roof changed during the period of construction of the Gammans Reading Room.