East Blue Hill Library

The East Blue Hill Library is a public library at 9 Curtis Cove Road, in the village of East Blue Hill, Maine. It is located in an architecturally distinctive yet diminutive Craftsman building, designed by John W. Merrow and built in 1919–20, that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The library is open four days a week.

East Blue Hill Library
East Blue Hill Library is located in Maine
East Blue Hill Library
East Blue Hill Library is located in the United States
East Blue Hill Library
Location9 Curtis Cove Rd., East Blue Hill, Maine
Coordinates44°25′1″N 68°31′21″W / 44.41694°N 68.52250°W / 44.41694; -68.52250
Arealess than one acre
Built1920 (1920)
ArchitectJohn W. Merrow
Architectural styleBungalow/craftsman
NRHP reference No.90000577[1]
Added to NRHPApril 5, 1990

Architecture and history

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The early history of library services in East Blue Hill is obscure, starting (according to local lore) with an organization of "Willing Workers" that amassed a small collection of books. The campaign to build the present building was begun in 1914 with the acquisition of land, with major fundraising undertaken in 1917. The building, completed in 1920, is based on a design sketched by John W. Merrow,[2] a New York City theatrical architect.

The building is a small single-story square wood-frame structure, with a hip roof, granite foundation, weatherboard siding, and a stone chimney at one side. The main entrance (on the north facade) is sheltered by a porch, which has shingled posts and an elaborate framework supporting an eyelid-shaped roof. To the right of the porch is a bank of three six-over-one sash windows. The building's interior is roughly divided into three functional areas: at the entrance is a vestibule area, with a fireplaced reading room to the right, and a room of stacks behind. The stack room consists of floor-to-ceiling wooden shelving. All of the interior trim is painted except for the doors.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "National Register Information System – (#90000577)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ a b "NRHP nomination for East Blue Hill Library". National Park Service. Retrieved 2015-01-28.
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