North Gorham Public Library

Exactly when the hall was first used as a library is not known, but it was within a few years after its construction, and continued until 1918, about a quarter century. The construction of a higher dam in 1900, required the removal of several buildings along the Middle Jam Road in the area whichwould be inundated and is now under North Gorham pond. Two of these were Forest Hall, and Caleb and Ruel Smith{s store, which had been built next door to the hall, in 1893. The "Smith Bros." store is mentioned here since it was later to be the library building for many years. In 1899, the halland store were both relocated on opposite sides of North Gorham Road at the intersection of the Shaw Road, now known as Whipple Road. Tradition says that moving the buildings required lots of bananas to lubricate the skids!How quiet the library was when in the hall is an interesting question, forat times the large, adjoining room served as a movie theater, and until 1910, the home basketball court for Windham High School. The library room was small and not a reading room, so it probably mattered little. As an Association, the North Gorham Public Library really got its start in 1896, when the Library received a gift of $600 from Trustees of the Estate ofJoseph Walker of Portland, who was also the chief benefactor in establishing the Walker Memorial Library in Westbrook. It is from this date that we mark ur 100th Anniversary at this time.