NORRIDGEWOCK — Even Kent Sinclair does not yet know the extent of historic materials and books at the town’s former library building on Sophie May Lane.

“Some of it could be a one-of-a-kind thing, especially these books of old photographs,” Sinclair, a genealogist from Norridgewock, said on Thursday, standing in a newly-renovated room at the Norridgewock Public Library Genealogy and Research Branch at Sophie May.

The town’s library board and other volunteers have been renovating the small red building next to the Kennebec River for several years, ever since the Norridgewock Public Library moved to 40 Mercer Road in 2009. They have also been organizing the hundreds of old books, historic documents and photographs that were left behind.

All the repair work, including the replacement of rotting boards, painting of walls and reconditioning of flooring, has been funded with donations. Sinclair, and Norridgewock resident Marnie Bottesch, are volunteers.

People may view the building’s contents at an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. A grand opening is anticipated for this spring, after which the building will hold regular hours. Until then, people may make appointments to view the materials by calling Nina Pleasants, librarian at the Norridgewock Public Library, at 634-2828.

Stretching across several shelves in the 171-year-old building is a series of Civil War correspondence in 128 books, organized into 70 volumes, entitled the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies of the War of the Rebellion. There are piles of scrapbooks, collections of obituaries and a copy of Father Sebastian Rasles’ translation of the Native American Abnaki language into French, first published in 1833.

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“It’s very important to preserve it for future generations,” said Sallie Wilder, chairman of the library board. “It gives people a sense of place.”

Because Norridgewock was the county seat when Somerset County was formed, the Sophie May building holds old vital records and histories of municipalities across the county. On the wall hangs Charles Sawyer’s framed photographs, including one depicting the town’s former covered bridge across the Kennebec.

There is a bound collection of the county’s first newspaper, the Somerset Journal, which was first published in 1823.

Held in a glass case is also an original collection of children’s books, written by the building’s namesake. Sophie May, whose real name was Rebecca Sophia Clarke, was descended from one of the early settlers of Norridgewock: her grandfather, John Clark, who came to the town in 1773. Sophie May was known for her book series about Dotty Dimple and Little Prudy.

Clarke, who died in 1906, donated the little building next to the Kennebec to the town, to be turned into a library. Built in 1840 by John Abbott as his law office, the structure’s use has changed many times. Now, its purpose is changing again.

In the coming months, Sinclair, who is also president of the Taconnett Falls Chapter of the Maine Genealogical Society, will review what he said intrigues him most: a filing cabinet with unknown contents. The volunteers will continue to renovate, clean and organize; and people from far and near will begin to look through the building’s materials in search for their family’s history.

Erin Rhoda — 612-2368

erhoda@centralmaine.com


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