WELCOME TO STOCKTON SPRINGS COMMUNITY LIBRARY

OUR HISTORY

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The Building

Colcord House owner and Maine architect Joseph

W. Thompson (1822-1891) is believed to have built

his home, as well as the Fort Point Hotel and

several other buildings in Stockton Springs

in the mid to late 19th century. Thompson held

many public offices in Maine, and lived in the

house until his death. His widow sold the house

to Capt. Melvin E. Colcord.

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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.

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The Library

Basil Staples, a lifelong Stockton Springs resident, always hoped that his hometown would have a public library. In his retirement, he decided to bring his dream to fruition. 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, Bottles for Books has fully generated the funds needed to keep the library collection updated, thanks to the generosity of many local friends of the library who donate their refundable bottles and cans.

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Along with Basil was his wife and co-founder, Mary Staples, a retired local teacher who was also the first Library Director. A great many dedicated and hard-working volunteers have joined together over the years to create and maintain the little gem that is home to both the Stockton Springs Community Library and the Stockton Springs Historic Society.