The day before had been cold and raw. A daylong winter storm had dropped 5 inches of windswept snow. What remained in the morning was a peaceful and idyllic scene. The pristine white blanket of snow was only broken by the intermittent tracks of animals. Curls of smoke from neighboring fireplaces and wood-burning stoves punctuated the sky.
As residents slowly ventured out on the 20-degree morning, their buggies and wagons jostled about, searching for the deep ruts caused by winter freezes and thaws.
But this was not an ordinary day on Orr’s Island. It was Jan. 13, 1900, and a historic event was about to take place. A collection of 300 books had been assembled in a small room in the then-post office building, owned by Richard Orr. This was the opening day of the Orr’s Island Library.
According to a history by Richard M. York, the library arose through the efforts of east shore summer visitors, the Misses Thwing, Borean, and DeCoursey, as well as Dr. Charles Putnam. The initial books included “Little Men” and “Little Women,” by Louisa Mae Alcott, and were tracked in a ledger.
“Dreams of a separate structure were realized with Miss Thwing and Dr. Putnam as the chief promoters,” York wrote. “On June 25, 1905, the new building was dedicated with impressive exercises featuring the singing of children and an address by Professor Henry L. Chapman of Bowdoin College. Dr. Putnam, as chairman of the board of trustees, presided. By that date, there were over 2,000 books in the collection — all uncatalogued.” That 1905 building is our current location.
Long before the days of free library cards, there was a fee associated with checking out books — 2 cents per week for residents and 5 cents for summer visitors.
Much has changed in 125 years, but one thing remains constant. The Orr’s Island Library continues to grow and adapt to meet the needs of Harpswell residents and visitors.
The original collection of 300 books has grown to more than 10,000, with monthly additions that include the most sought-after bestsellers and new publications by favorite authors. Patrons can now search our catalog online rather than consulting the handwritten ledger.
With the expanse of information available on the internet, some have questioned whether local libraries continue to serve a useful purpose. The answer is yes, especially as we expand our offerings to the community.
The Orr’s Island Library continues to offer services that allow patrons to meet their needs locally. Free public computers and printers and 24-hour Wi-Fi ensure secure connectivity. A year-round used bookstore and notary public services supplement the wide variety of books to check out.
The value of the library and the services and programs we provide is borne out by some impressive numbers. Year-over-year figures from 2023 to 2024 show that library loans increased 36%; patron visits increased 66%; volunteer hours exceeded 500, an increase of 14%; and we issued 275 new family library cards.
Dr. Putnam and the other initial visionaries of the Orr’s Island Library would not recognize today’s services and programs. But we believe they would be most pleased with the results of their efforts, the generous support from the Harpswell community, and an unbroken history of exceptional, dedicated librarians.
Watch for programming this year about the history of Harpswell and a celebration of our 125th anniversary.
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The Orr’s Island Library will again be open as a warming center should the need arise.
“Library Connections” is a monthly column that rotates among the three libraries that serve Harpswell: Cundy’s Harbor, Orr’s Island, and Curtis Memorial.
