History of the Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library

History of the Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library

Photos	History
Portrait Miss Susan Walker	1899 The Women’s Library Club of Lovell is organized by Mrs. Frank Swett and Miss Susan Walker to take advantage of the trunks of books sent from the Maine State Library as ‘traveling libraries.’
Group Portrait on steps	1901 Women’s Library Club of Lovell officially incorporates.
Portrait of Charlotte in Graduation Gown	1902 Charlotte Hobbs graduates from Wellesley College and returns to Lovell. Born in 1879 in Lovell, Charlotte Hobbs dedicated herself to the people of her village. After graduating from Wellesley College in 1902, she returned to Lovell to teach school, tutor students, and collect historical materials, all the while committed to creating a library for the town. She was the driving force behind the drama productions that raised money to construct our library building. For more than 50 years, Charlotte Hobbs served as our librarian. She was also the village historian and her papers are now in the Lovell Historical Society. After her death in 1969, the Women’s Library Club changed the library’s name to the Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library as a lasting tribute to this remarkable woman.
American House	1903 First of many fundraising dramas put on at The American House, the main hotel in town and the center of 19^th century Lovell social life.
American House fire	1906 Fire destroys The American House; Library Club buys lot for $450.
Drama ‘Old Maid’s Convention’ put on at the VFW.	1906—1907 More dramas put on to raise money to construct our library building.
Old postcard Original Interior	1908 Lovell Public Library opens its doors.
Original Lovell Public Library logo	1940 Town of Lovell votes to raise $200 for library support for first time.
Fiftieth anniversary: Charlotte Hobbs and ladies on front steps.	1951 Fiftieth Anniversary
Participants of 2003 Digital Photography Workshop visit Hobbs Family grave.	1969 After Charlotte Hobbs’ death the Library Club changes the library’s name to The Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library as a lasting tribute to this remarkable woman.
Library Club President Mrs. Theo Dallinger and Gerry Andrews pose during renovation.	1975 Renovation and Addition paid for by Charlotte Hobbs’s legacy.
Roger Blood selling nature mobiles at Arts & Artisans Fair, 1979.	1976 First Arts & Artisan Fair, will become biggest annual fundraiser since the drama series.
Volunteer Elizabeth Farr reading with Christine Klinepeter and Becky Moody	1986 All 250 local schoolchildren visit library once a week.
Harry Crosby and David Fisher at retirement party for librarian Sally McAllister, 1999.	1998 Library Club votes to extend membership to men. First male board members: Harry Crosby and David Fisher.
	2001 100^th Anniversary of incorporation.
Stephen King signing book of young fan	2002 Writer Stephen King attracts many fans at reading. Proceeds become seed money for the Building Fund.
Campaign Brochure, designed by Roger Williams.	2004 Official launch of ‘Building for our Next Century’ Campaign
Glenn Moore, WW II veteran, speaking about his experiences during the Battle of Okinawa, (2003) Participants of library‘s after school program ‘Charlotte’s Web’, 2003 Family Game Night, 2002	1908—2005 The Charlotte Hobbs Memorial Library has established itself as the cultural, educational and literacy center for the Greater Lovell Community.