Dyer Library alterations, Saco, 1913-1917

Contributed by Maine Historical Society

Description

Architecture commission for an unknown client at 371 Main Street in Saco, ME, 1913–1917. The commission is associated with John Calvin Stevens and John Howard Stevens Architects. This item is part of the Stevens Architects drawings and records collection.

Dyer Library is the public library serving Saco, Maine. Funded by a bequest from Olive Dyer, the first home of the Dyer Library opened in 1881 in the basement of Saco City Hall. The library is now located in the J.G. Deering House.

This appears to be a plan to somewhat revise the appearance and the size of the then-current home of the Dyer Library, in a building that was designed by Horace G. Wadlin and constructed in 1893 next door to City Hall. The building still stands but the library moved up the street to the much larger Deering mansion in 1955. The changes to the Wadlin building were never made—the side bay was never added. John Calvin Stevens did go on to design the Saco Museum building just a few years later and it was constructed next door to the future home of the library in 1926—but at that time the two organizations were still separate entities. It's possible that that due to the fact that the lot drops off sharply on the side that was to be added onto, and because it’s also already quite close to City Hall, this plan turned out not to be especially feasible. (Source: part of an e-mail from Leslie Rounds, Executive Director, Dyer Library/Saco Museum)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyer_Library
https://www.sacomuseum.org/lib_home.shtml

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About This Item

  • Title: Dyer Library alterations, Saco, 1913-1917
  • Address: 371 Main Street, Saco, York County, ME
  •  
  • Creation Date: 1913–1917
  • Subject Date: 1913–1917
  •  
  • Primary Architects: John Calvin Stevens and John Howard Stevens Architects
  •  
  • Object Type: Text and Image
  • Subtype: architectural drawing
  • Media/Genre: floor plans; elevations; architectural elements; cross sections; additions; alterations;
  • Materials: graphite on tracing paper; ink on linen;
  •  
  • Local Code: Coll. 209, 6-B-3
  • Collection: Stevens Architects drawings and records collection
  • Number of items in commission: 16

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For more information about this item, contact:

Maine Historical Society
485 Congress Street, Portland, ME 04101
(207) 774-1822 x230
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