History
Colcord House Joseph W. Thompson, who built the Fort Point Hotel, probably built the house, as well as several others in Stockton, in the mid to late 19th century. Thompson held many public offices in Maine. He lived in the house until his death in 1891. His widow sold the house to Capt. Melvin E. Colcord. Colcord spent forty years at sea. He sailed as master of the schooner David Babcock and the bark Isaac Hall. Colcord also ran a ferry service in Stockton Harbor. The last Colcord resident to live in the house was Elaine Colcord Ward. The Stockton Springs Historical Society acquired the building in 1999 and volunteers have been restoring the house since then. The Historical Society shares the building with the Stockton Springs Community Library.
The Colcord House now holds the town’s free public library, the historic museum, and offers welcome meeting room space for a variety of community activities.
Bottles for Books Basil Staples, a life-long Stockton Springs resident, always hoped that some day his hometown would have a free, public library. In his retirement, he decided to bring his dream to fruition. Not one to let the lack of financial backing prevent his dream from becoming a reality, Basil came up with the idea of starting a “Bottles for Books” campaign to fund the Library’s purchase of books and videos. Since its inception in 2001 the Bottles to Books campaign has generated over $50,000. This milestone has been reached thanks to the generosity of many local friends of the Library who donate their refundable bottles and cans to ensure new material is constantly being added to the Library holdings.
To learn more about the early history of the Stockton Springs Community Library and this successful campaign check out “Bottles to Books” in the January 2008 in Down East Magazine.
Along with Basil and his wife Mary, a retired local school teacher who was also the first Library Director, a great many dedicated and hard working volunteers joined together to create and maintain the little gem that is Stockton Springs Community Library.
Abigail Curtis, of The Bangor Daily News, came to the Stockton Springs Community Library to interview volunteers and patrons. Her article, “ Library runs on volunteerism, returnables” describes the wonderful community involvement that keeps the Library operational and jam-packed with a surprising number of new books and videos.
During the 2010 National LIbrary Week, WBLZ2 TV also came to Stockton Springs to interview Basil Staples, Pat Curley, and Janice Capano at the Library where they provided an update on the success of the Library and the Bottles for Books campaign. The interview was aired on WBLZ2 TV on April 6, 2010.
Funding
SSCL is an independent not-for-profit organization. The Town of Stockton Springs has voted each year since its inception to give the Library a donation that helps with expenses. The biggest funding the Library has, other than the Town of Stockton Springs donation and grant application awards, is from the Bottles for Books campaign, which raises about $6,000 every year.
Bottles for Books. The Library collects REFUNDABLE bottles and cans in the wagon outside the front door of the Library. The refundables are carted weekly to the Bucksport Redemption Center and turned into cash to buy books and videos for the Library and to help defray Library operational expenses. Patrons can also take their refundables directly to the Bucksport Redemption Center and ask that the cash be applied to the Stockton Springs Community Library account.
Annual BOOK, BAKE, and PLANT Sale. The annual BOOK, BAKE, and PLANT sale takes place the first Saturday in June, from 9 am to 3 pm. This year's sale will be held on June 4, 2011.
Annual Library Tea.The Library Tea, held in the Colcord House in September, has not only proven to be a valuable fund-raiser but also a delightful community event. This year's Tea will be held on Sunday, September 11, 2011.
Book and Video Donations. Donations of new or lightly used hardback books, DVD audiobooks, and DVD videos are welcome. The Library reserves the right to refuse any book or video donation in poor condition. Due to limited space donated items that the Library already has in its collection are sold at the annual BOOK BAKE and PLANT Sale.
Cash Donations. The Library greatly appreciates any cash donation, large or small.
“If the Stockton Springs Community Library ever
creates a logo, it should include an empty soda can.
The little library, which has no paid staff and is open
just fifteen hours a week, derives most of its income
from the returnable cans and bottles that supporters
drop off in the cart near its front door. "The town
gives us $3,500 a year," explains Mary Staples, who
with her husband, Basil, helped found the library in
2001," but most of our income, about $6,500 a year
now, comes from returnables."
– Down East Magazine, Jan 2008
Volunteer Opportunities:
The Library is entirely operated by a staff of dedicated volunteers. If you would like to join SSCL in a volunteer capacity please stop by the library during open hours or send an email to stocktonstaff@stocktonsprings.lib.me.us to discuss how
you can help.
Contact information:
Library email - stocktonstaff@stocktonsprings.lib.me.us
Webmaster email - info@stocktonspringslibrary.org
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