Event promotes future library Orono recalls fateful decision 100 years ago

ORONO – The Orono Public Library Foundation held an open house at the Keith Anderson Community Center on March 19.

The event was a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the town meeting of March 19, 1906, when the town decided not to pursue a grant for a public library from Andrew Carnegie. The warrant article that would have funded a library was “indefinitely postponed.”

The Orono Public Library Foundation has begun a fundraising campaign to build a new library. Dana Devoe and David Chase, co-chairmen of the campaign committee, spoke about ongoing fundraising efforts, and Daniel Miller, architect with WBRC, described the architectural plans.

A dramatic reading of the 1906 town meeting, “Indefinitely Postponed,” written by Doug Hall and produced by Chris Luthin and Doug Hall, was the highlight of the afternoon -many community members participated. The cast included Nancy Hall, Sally Jacobs, Terry Morrow, Claire Ackroyd, Kathy Marks-Molly, Conall Molloy, Patrick Molloy, Greta Landis, Siobhan Harrity, Norah Bird, Kip Palmer, Mike Curtis, Chris Newcomb, Christopher Luthin and Doug Hall.

The open house also featured music by Rob Marks and the University of Maine Medieval Music Consort, and a craft workshop for children with hosts from Pi Beta Phi, a University of Maine sorority.