Cumberland Historical Society

Description

This postcard shows some of the front of the brick library building at 266 Main Street on the far left, and the Dilloway house next door, both of which still exist although the Library has been expanded. The William Merrill Monument can be seen in the distance on the right side of Main Street, at the crest of the hill.

The First Social Library of Cumberland was founded shortly after Cumberland became a town on March 19, 1821, and the library's book collection was housed in private residences. In 1921, the joint will of Carroll D. and Annie L. Prince of Woodfords listed a bequest of $35,000 to the town library, and Prince Memorial Library was incorporated in November 1921. The library opened to the public on January 7, 1923, and more than 600 books from the early Cumberland library joined the new books on the shelves.

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