Winterport library cited for 100 years of service

WINTERPORT – Secretary of State Dan A. Gwadosky has cited the Winterport Free Library Association in honor of its 100th anniversary.

Gwadosky honored the library association this week by presenting Phil Sherwood, its president, with a certificate of achievement.

Sherwood said the library association was pleased with the award and he predicted that the library would be around for another 100 years to pick up the next citation.

“It’s pretty nice to be recognized,” Sherwood said Wednesday. “We’re a small library in a small town but we’re doing pretty good. We have quite a few people who use the library.”

Gwadosky said the library was one of 10 Maine corporations celebrating centennial anniversaries this year. Six are nonprofit corporations and the other four are businesses.

“I enjoy this opportunity to recognize these Maine businesses and nonprofit organizations that have attained this milestone,” Gwadosky said in a prepared statement.

“Many dedicated people have been involved in keeping these organizations and businesses active for 100 years. It is a significant achievement, given that my department has over 50,000 corporations on file.”

The Winterport Memorial Library ha been in existence since 1895 and was incorporated 100 years ago. It has been located in its historic building on Main Street since 1922.

The memorial library was built on land donated for that purpose. Winterport community donations were instrumental in the construction of the building.

The library serves about 1,500 people a year who browse the volumes of fiction, nonfiction, and many magazines and videos in its collection.

Sherwood commended librarian Cora McLeod for her leadership and dedication to the facility.

The library is open from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday under the direction of McLeod and a staff of volunteers.

Sherwood said the building, constructed of stone and oak, has been kept in excellent condition over the years.

“We have a nice operation,” he said.