The original structure of what was to become the Thomas Memorial Library was built in 1849 as a one-room school house on Bowery Beach Road, about a quarter mile from the intersection of Fowler Road. Among its early instructors was William Widgery Thomas, Jr. who was employed for the winter term of 1857 for a stipend of $122.50.
In 1877, this yellow clapboard schoolhouse was repaired and relocated to Fowler Road near the Spurwink Grange Hall. A decline in pupils led to the school’s closing in 1913 and three years later the building was purchased for $150.00 by Phineas Sprague. Mr. Sprague moved the 26×36 structure to land near the farm of Pomroy Jordan on Spurwink Avenue apparently planning to convert it into a pigsty.
William Widgery Thomas Jr. purchased the building in 1917 and by 1919 moved it back to its original site on land that was donated to Thomas by Pomroy Jordan. On February 7, 1919, Thomas wrote to the Town Selectmen offering to the Town as a free gift the library lot, the library building thereon, books, furnishings and equipment. After repairs funded by Mr. Thomas were completed, the Thomas Memorial Library was dedicated on Tuesday, April 22, 1919.
After an active start, use of the library waned in the 1930’s as the population of the Spurwink area of Cape Elizabeth declined. By 1942, the library was especially quiet as gas rationing discouraged citizens in many areas of the Town from traveling to it. Consequently, in December 1943, the Town meeting unanimously voted to appropriate $2500.00 to move the building to the school grounds although there had been objections to placing “so small a building…on the school grounds.” On July 5, 1944, the original building was moved to the present site, and on October 17, 1944 it reopened.
In 1957, the town meeting appropriated $9250.00 for a 46×30 addition to house additional stack space, a children’s room and a reference area. $2000 for the project was donated by both the Sprague and Thomas Memorial Foundations and an additional $5000 was approved by the Town in 1958. On October 10, 1958, the expanded facility was opened.
By 1967, the Thomas Memorial Library again needed more space. An entry way was added and a new children’s room was developed in the basement. The Cape Elizabeth Lion’s Club funded this work with an $11,000 contribution.
Library Trustees in 1978 noted that once again the library was in need of space. An addition was designed in 1980 but was not funded as the Town Council wished to consider use of school space. In 1981, a special committee unanimously agreed that a combined School/Town library would not be feasible. Also in 1981, the Town Council considered razing the Pond Cove School Annex and constructing a new building on its site. In June 1981, the Council put plans on hold and asked for a study of all community facilities. This report called for additional library space and for reuse of the Pond Cove School Annex. In 1983, the Town Council formed a committee to study the Annex and this committee recommended in June 1984 that the former Annex and the library should be connected and utilized as a library and Community Center. On August 13, 1984, the Town Council approved the expenditure of up to $590,000 for the proposed work.
Subsequently, local citizens donated over $67,000 to provide for furnishing for the “new” Thomas Memorial Library. The new facilities were designed by Portland Design Team, with the guidance of an active building committee, and were constructed by Donbury, Inc. The former Annex section was opened as the adult section of the Thomas Memorial Library on December 2, 1985. The Children’s Library relocated on the first floor of the original building with its additions on December 30, 1985. A community room in the basement of the original building was completed in January 1986. The rededication of the Thomas Memorial Library took place February 9, 1986.
In the Fall of 2007, the Town Council authorized the creation of the Thomas Memorial Library Study Committee, a group charged with conducting a Needs Assessment and Design Concept for a Library Improvement Program. The study committee completed its work and issued a final report in the Fall of 2009. The report recommended that the Town pursue a plan to renovate or replace the Thomas Memorial Library building due to its many deficiencies. Casaccio Architects was hired as a consultant, and, after a lengthly study and focus groups, they presented their first design for a new library building early spring of 2011 to the town for consideration. This initial design helped to define the space and provided an opportunity for the community to review options, but a new building was not quite right for Cape Elizabeth. After input from the Trustees, Councilors and the community, Casaccio came back with a second design.
In November of 2012, voters rejected the initial plan for renovation of the library with 2,696 votes for the project, and 3,566 against it. Yet the need to address the many deficiencies of the current building remained. The Library Planning Committee worked throughout 2013 to develop a less-extensive plan for building and renovation, hiring Reed & Co. Architecture of Portland to develop that plan.
The Library Building Committee was established in December 2013. The voters of Cape Elizabeth approved a $4 million library renovation in a November 2014 referendum. The Thomas Memorial Library opened in its current renovated space in February of 2016.
Timeline
1849: The original library structure was built as a one-room school house on Bowery Beach Road.
1857: William Widgery Thomas, Jr. taught the winter term for a stipend of $122.50.
1877: This yellow clapboard schoolhouse was repaired and relocated to Fowler Road, near the Spurwink Grange Hall.
1913: A decline in enrollment led to the school’s closing.
1916: The 24 x 36 school building was purchased for $150 by Phineas Sprague. It was moved to land near the farm of Pomroy Jordan on Spurwink Avenue apparently planning to convert it to a pigsty.
1917: William Widgery Thomas, Jr. purchased the building and by 1919 moved it back to its original site on land that was donated to Mr. Thomas by Pomroy Jordan.
1919: Mr. Thomas wrote the Town Selectmen offering to the town: the library lot, the library building thereon, books, furnishings and equipment. After repairs funded by Mr. Thomas were completed, the Thomas Memorial Library was dedicated on as a gift to the town on April 22.
1930’s: The library had an active start, however, its use waned in the 30’s as the population of the Spurwink area declined.
1944: By now, the library was especially quiet as gas rationing discouraged citizens of the town from traveling to it. The town decided to move the building to the “school grounds” at a cost of $2,500. It was reopened on October 17 at its present site.
1958: The library was expanded by a 46 x 30 addition to house additional stack space, a children’s room and a reference area.
1967: By this time, more space was needed. An entryway was added and a new children’s room was developed in the basement.
1978: Again, it was determined that the library was in need of more space. Over the next 5 years, alternatives were carefully considered.
1983: The Town Council formed a committee to study the reuse of the Pond Cove School Annex as additional library space.
1984: A combination of public and private funds were used to construct the connector as well as provide new furnishings. The connector also accommodated
the checkout desk and gallery space.
1985: As a result of the earnest efforts of town officials and active citizens, the former Annex was opened as the adult section, and the children’s library relocated
in the original building and its addition by the end of the year.*
2007: A new committee was established to look at the long-term needs of the Thomas Memorial Library, and develop a plan to meet those needs.
2009: The Town Council voted to delay plans to rebuild the library.
2011: An architectural consultant was hired, and after a lengthy study and focus groups, they presented their first design for a new library building to the town for
consideration.
2012: Voters rejected a referendum to borrow up to $6 million for construction of a new Thomas Memorial Library.
2013: The Town Council established a five-member Library Building Committee to develop a building plan for renovating the Thomas Memorial Library.
2014: Voters approved the revised library renovation plan.
2015: The original Spurwink School building was detached from the existing library and became the site for library services during the renovation and construction of the new library building.
2016: The renovated Thomas Memorial Library opened in its current space, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on February 8, 2016.
*(Adapted from: “History of the Thomas Memorial Library Building”, in the February 9, 1986 rededication booklet.)