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By Bill Van Tassel
LIVERMORE — At one time, the century-old Livermore Public Library on Church Street was the Brettun’s Mills little red school house. Now painted white and situated not far from Brettun’s Pond, next to the Universalist Church, the library celebrated its 100th anniversary July 24.
Librarians, past and present, attended as well as many patrons and Maine District 18 Sen. Lisa Keim, who noted on her Facebook page, “Congratulations on a successful event — there is obvious support for this little gem!”
From its origins as a book club in the Livermore village to its current setting and standing, the library proper started in 1916 when someone donated a box of books. That spring, a small group formed an association and got to work visiting residents, asking them to support the cause by donating 50 cents each to become charter members. At this time, the library was housing its books in the vestry of the Universalist Church.
Simultaneously, the Brettun’s Schoolhouse was not being used because a new school had been built in town. Involved in the establishment of a good library from the start, former teacher Florence Agnes Nelson, who lived on Church Street, and the association took half of the $100 they had received from the new members’ donation to buy the schoolhouse.
The group then enlisted the help of another local, Byron Strickland, to offer his team of oxen, 10 in number, to move the schoolhouse to its new site on Church Street. The lot there was donated by Lucien Young and was a fit site at that time for surrounding residents.
In no time a fireplace and chimney were put in, and the pillars on the façade — from the Free Will Baptist Church at no charge — were placed on a new porch. Many other items were donated, including tables, chairs, a flag, a fire set, a hedge, leaded glass windows and, of course, books. By the end of 1917, the library was ready to go. It needed only a librarian.
As the first librarian, Nelson brought experience in books, teaching and traveling the world. She served in that role for 30 years and was responsible for building the library’s initial book collection. In an article by Eloise M. Jordan from the Lewiston Journal Magazine Section in December of 1947, Nelson said, “… we have received books from almost every state in the union. Gifts have continued to pour in through these many years. We have been left several sizable legacies of money while friends have made similar donations.”
Florence Denny, who also lived nearby, took over as librarian when Nelson retired in 1947. At first a summer resident, Denny moved permanently to Maine, having decided with her husband it was a “beautiful section of Maine” to settle. Succeeding Denny were Mary Wilson, Marcia Hamblin, Mary Booth, Penny Brown and current librarian Amanda Barton.
At one time the Livermore Public Library served the school children of North Livermore, North Turner, and other primary and grammar school of Livermore. Today’s library has six computers with appropriate software, wireless access and Internet access for patron use with no fees. It has received contributions from Stephen and Tabitha King and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, remaining a private corporation supported by the community and staffed by volunteers.
Many of the historical facts in this article can be credited to Sun Journal magazine reporter Eloise M. Jordan.
PHOTO: The tag on this bell says “The last time we were called to order with this bell was August 19, 1950.” It is one of the Livermore Library’s artifacts. (Bill Van Tassel photo)
