Walker Memorial Library

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.[1]

Walker Memorial Library
Location800 Main Street, Westbrook, Maine, U.S., United States
TypePublic
Established1894 (1894)
Collection
Size49,000
Access and use
Circulation119,000
Population served17,494
Other information
Budget$457,899
DirectorRebecca Albert
Employees13
Websitehttps://walkerlibrary.org/
Walker Memorial Library
Walker Memorial Library is located in Maine
Walker Memorial Library
Walker Memorial Library is located in the United States
Walker Memorial Library
Coordinates43°40′34″N 70°21′51″W
Built1894
ArchitectFrederick A. Tompson
Architectural styleFrench Chateauesque
NRHP reference No.80000231[1]
Added to NRHPNovember 10, 1980

Architecture and history

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.[2]

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[3] 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.[2] An addition to the 1894 structure was added in 1989 via municipal bond.[3]

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 15, 2006.
  2. "NRHP nomination for Walker Memorial Library". National Park Service. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
  3. "About Us". Walker Memorial Library. Retrieved 2016-03-30.
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