Built 1901-03 Designated CP January 20, 1995 Architectural style Beaux-Arts architecture Architect William R. Miller | NRHP Reference # 73000104 Area 4,000 m² Added to NRHP 2 November 1973 | |
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Location Academy and High Streets, Farmington, Maine Part of Farmington Historic District (#94001551) Similar Ski Museum of Maine, Titcomb Mountain, Gerald Hotel, Saint Mary's Regional, Jordan School | ||
The Cutler Memorial Library building houses the public library of Farmington, Maine. It is located at 117 Academy Street (corner of High Street), between the downtown area and the campus of the University of Maine at Farmington. Its building, dedicated to the memory of Nathan Cutler, was built in 1901-03 as the town's first dedicated library building, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
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Architecture
The library building is a small Beaux Arts stone structure, designed by Auburn architect William R. Miller and built in 1901-03. The exterior is made of granite quarried in North Jay, Maine. It is a basically L-shaped building, with its long sides facing Academy and High Streets, joined at the corner by a low circular tower with a low-pitch conical roof and spire. The original entrance, facing Academy Street, has a recessed wooden door flanked by Doric columns, with Ionic pilasters at the outside of the recessed area. The interior of the library has retained much of its original woodwork, including particularly elegant arches, pilasters, and molding in the tower section. A new lobby area was added to the building in 2000, designed by Richard Burt.
History
The first library association was established in Farmington in 1865 as a subscription service for its shareholders. This organization failed in 1880, and in 1890 the Farmington Public Library Association was formed, renting space in the local Masonic hall. Founders of this association included John and Isaac Cutler, the latter of whom donated the funds for the construction of this building, which is named in honor of his father Nathan.