In Westminster, Massachusetts -- The Forbush Library for Genealogy, Crackers and The Old Mill

The Forbush Memorial Library / aka Westminster Public Library

Above is the old original front entrance, and below is the back newer entrance. History of the Library may be seen HERE.

The newer book area is the first room you see entering from the above back door.

Below are four photos showing the beauty of the original part of the library. You feel as though you're visiting a museum. Every old area makes up for the ugliness of a new room.

The three photos below show the genealogy / local history in the locked, very small room. I didn't notice a table to work on!

 

The photos above and below are on the top floor, in the original building. During this day, the room was filled with many round tables topped with books for their book sale.

Looking out the front door to Main Street, Westminster, Massachusetts.

 

The Westminster Cracker Co. manufactures crackers and their famous oyster crackers, are made from the original 1828 recipe. The company had its beginnings in 1824, and is now headquartered in Vermont. (If you click on their link, you'll see an old photo of this building.) While researching this company, I discovered their facebook page. Apparently, the company still has ties to the town, and they are sponsoring The Westminster Cracker Festival in a few weeks.

No trip to Westminster would be complete without a meal from The Old Mill. Shown above is the old restaurant (enlarged so you can see it through woods), reached by a small covered bridge. Below is the scenic pond and falls.

The Pope and Joan Baez, 1979 in Washington, DC

Well, no, I never got to see the Pope Paul 11, on October 7, 1979, but I was on the National Mall the same time he was, I heard him speak and I took the below photo as proof.

That same year, in July, there was a free Joan Baez concert at the Lincoln Memorial. I don't believe I saw her either. I wonder if the reason for my not liking crowds stems from the many events I attended in Washington, DC during my 20 years there.

York Public Library, Genealogy Collection -- York, Maine

York Public Library

15 Long Sands Road

York, Maine 03909

Phone: (207) 363-2818

https://yorkpubliclibrary.org/

York Public Library in the center of York, Maine is so large, I couldn't figure out how to enter the building. Unlike many others I've visited, this is new, with little or no character on the inside. I asked several questions, but nobody knew the answers, like when was it built, where was the old one, was the lovely foundation part of a barn or old building. However, they have a good-sized genealogy/history collection. I didn't do any research but should have, as both my husband and I have ancestors from there.

Main entrance at the back of the library, the view below is what you see first. This was the first time I'd seen it, we had to ask where it was. Easy to get to, once we

knew, and plenty of parking on two sides.

I wondered if the same architect built this as the Topsham, Maine Library. Both very similar to their main great room, reading room with lots of windows, and many side rooms.

Fortunately, there is a genealogy and history collection. Shown above are the family genealogies. Most libraries don't have that, so I give this library kudos.

There was an extensive collections of York books.

I loved the stone foundation, on the side entrance, but the door is not used, so it was a waste of energy and time to walk up it. You need to use the back entrance.

Wiscasset Public Library, Wiscasset, Maine -- History and Genealogy Room

The Wiscasset Public Library located in Wiscasset, Lincoln County, Maine the town known as the "Prettiest Town in Maine." I did a post for that town in my Seeing New England blog, and it may be seen HERE.

From their library link, I discovered a 151 page listing of Cemeteries with names of those buried in Wiscasset...a great asset to anybody with ancestors from this town. NOTE: The cemetery link is being updated as of 11/6/18 and I will post when it is available.

From their flyer shown below states, "The building was completed in 1805, built for the Lincoln and Kennebec Bank under a Massachusetts Charter of 1802."

Above and below is "The Jane S. Tucker Archives and Genealogical Collections (holds archives related to Wiscasset, Alna, Dresden, Edgecomb, Sheepscot, and Westport." For a very small library, it has a good collection of history and genealogy books. A librarian brought me up the very steep stairs to the locked room. Not wanting her to do the steps more than necessary, I quickly took these photos and went down the steps with her.

Genealogies, with names written on the cards.

To the right half of the above picture is the small storage closet.

 

 This is the Hortense and Henry Ferne II Memorial Art Room.

 Large reading room (above and below).

Front view.

From the flyer, The Museum in the Streets, a historical walking tour of the Town of Wiscasset, I found the following very interesting. "The first Europeans arrived near here in 1607. They established fishing and trading communities. Over time, European settlers took more and more land from the native tribes. King Philip's War of 1675 began a series of brutal and bloodily wars that wiped out all English settlements north of York for over 50 years."

Topsham Public Library, Topsham, Maine -- History and Genealogy Section

The Topsham Public Library in Topsham, Maine was a priority visit for me, since my husband has relatives in this town, and I have visited Topsham for 20 years but never thought about their library. My husband knew where this new 2004 library was, and when we went, I was sure he was taking me to an assisted living center. It looks like one on the outside, with the main rooms on the top floor, the huge parking area was surrounded by lots of manicured grass. Emma J. Gibbon, a librarian gave me a tour and was extremely helpful. Although there wasn't a huge genealogy section, I got a few surprises with the library.

Topsham Public Library,

25 Foreside Road

Topsham, ME 04086

Phone: (207) 725-1727

https://topshamlibrary.org/

Front entrance (above), back view (below).

Reading area with lots of light and woods.

Genealogy and History books.

The Brunswick Record books were in a small private reading room. When I first saw these books, a few months prior, I had no idea what was in-between the covers. I was far more curious the second time I visited the library. It turns out, The Brunswick Record was the town newspaper. Below is a copy of the January 8, 1931 issue. There is an article on this page about the new Topsham Library stating it was opening on January 15, 1931.

Children's section (above). Their back door leads to a large

backyard, a play area for the kids with a small picnic table, so cute.

The Stephen and Tabitha King

Young Adult Room (above)

Loved this painting. The Androscoggin River separates Brunswick and Topsham. 

The two surprises were the Brunswick Record books in the small study room (I was thinking, at least they didn't throw them away). It wasn't until a few months later that I found out it was holding old newspapers and not town records. Second, I'm glad I read all the labels outside of all rooms because seeing Stephen and Tabitha King's name was a pleasant surprise.