Maine Memory Network

The Skowhegan Free Public library sits on Elm Street along the Kennebec River. It has been here for 115 years. In the front there is 15 minute parking only. We are trying to change this rule so people can enjoy their stay there longer without tickets or towing!
Mr. Blynn Currier is now the head librarian and we will meet with him and then the town manager.

This is mighty Abner Coburn. He helped Skowhegan in many ways. The Skowhegan Free Public Library was built in 1889 with money donated by Mr. Coburn. He looks sad here, but he must have been a happy man because he did so much good in his life. He was born on a farm in Old Canaan(now Skowhegan) in 1803 and died in 1885. He was Governor in 1862, and was also a State House Representative. He gave nearly 1,000,000. dollars to charitable causes. It is said that he was kind, and never wasted money, but gladly gave thousands to a good cause.

Standing on Elm Street by the library you can look up the Kennebec River towards Norridgewock.

This view is looking over to the Skowhegan Island from the library.

Looking from the library you can see the head of the Island about 1870.

The Brewster House built in 1867 burned down in 1872. it burned on one of the coldest nights that winter and the firemen there had inches of ice all over them. If it hadn't been for the snow on all the roofs around it, the whole town might have burned flat.

In this photo you can barely see the library right next to the big Hotel Coburn built in 1882. This replaced the one that burned down in 1872.

This view from the library looks over the great falls.

This view is on Elm Street, in front of the old Parlin homestead and right next to the Skowhegan Library. The house in the background was torn down for Skowhegan Savings Bank to build a drive-thru window.