Written by Gary Anderson | 15 June 2009

The first thing you notice about Library Hall on Bailey Island is that it is a very beautiful building, and why not? It is a miniature Mt. Vernon. The building was designed by architects Horace Mann and Perry MacNeille of New York. Between 1902 and 1931 these men, who were not only partners but brothers-in-law; MacNeille having married Mann's sister, Clausine, designed over 1600 buildings on 600 sites.
In 2008 the building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places after lengthy and detailed work by a number of people starting in 1998.
Long a spot for educational, social, and recreational activities, it also served as a USO during WW II for members of the Coast Artillery and US Navy.
The cupola is a replacement; the original dry rotted beyond repair. One unusual aspect is the extra wide shingles, which are double laid. Library Hall served as a later model for other community centers such as the Soldiers' and Sailors' Community House in New York, the Community Center in Perryville, MD; and the home of architect H.T. Lindeberg in Princeton, NJ, Mr. Lindeberg was a later partner with Mann and MacNeille.
It seems everyone in Harpswell has some sort of tie or fond remembrance of the "Hall." Among other events, most eighth graders from the fifties received their diplomas there at a dinner and graduation exercise. In the writer's case, I had won first place for School Union 14 in the spelling bee and was presented with a dictionary by the school board at our graduation. This, of course, brought on a lot of teasing by the other boys whether I knew them or not! Many people, who remember those days, recall this was the first time they had met children from other parts of town.
The Hall owes its origins to two groups: summer residents and the Mingo Club; a group of young adult girls, who were year round residents. These girls read aloud to each other from 12 books, which had been donated. On Saturday they met at the schoolhouse and loaned out any book not then in use. They soon realized a building was needed to establish a real lending library. Mr. Charles T. Root of New York gave the land with the stipulation that a building fund be initiated immediately. He then donated the first hundred dollars, a second hundred from Mr. William D. Smith, the third hundred by "seven little girls, aged 10 to 12 and all summer residents." This primed the pump and substantial donations were forthcoming. After receiving plans from MacNeille and Mann, Mr. Charles Thomas obtained the bid for construction in 1911. The building was completed that fall. Mr. Thomas was also a member of the board of directors and an interesting study in his own right.
He built cottages and houses all over Harpswell Neck and the islands and added the second veranda to Merriconeag House Hotel on Pott's Point. His name triggered a memory, and Prof. Joyce Bibber came up with the information. He resided on Bailey Island and traveled by boat with construction crews to building sites.
The small mortgage was paid off by fairs and public suppers. There is a brisk debate as to which was the best: baked beans, clam or fish chowder. Having partaken of all, I call a draw and, why not? The cooks were undoubtedly among the best in the State of Maine.
Many references to the Hall mention the Palladian windows, the double laid, extra wide shingles, the copper clad cupola, the dormers, plastered walls and other unique building features. These are easy to detail. What is more difficult to explain is the place it has held in the island community for nearly a century.
In Nancy Orr Johnson Jensen's Bailey Island-Memories, Pictures and Lore; in Leona Harris's memoirs and other notes such as those by Margaret B. Todd all speak to the importance of the Hall in their lives and in the lives of their forbearers. Let's hope this stays for generations yet to come.
Many thanks to Zella Dewey, Prof. Joyce Bibber and Barbara Munsey for information and reference material.