Founded:
The building housing the Hamlin Memorial Library and Museum was originally the Oxford County Jail, but when the county buildings moved to South Paris the jail was vacated and bought by Dr. Augustus C. Hamlin, the nephew of Hannibal Hamlin. He renovated the facility before deeding it to the Ladies of the Paris Hill Library (which would later become the Paris Hill Library Association). The library opened in 1902.
Collections:
The Hamlin Memorial Library is a public circulating library.
The Museum shows changing exhibits in addition to a more permanent collection. The best way to stay up to date with current and upcoming exhibits is via the Library and Museum's website.
The permanent holding of the Museum include portraits of members of early Paris families, including Hamlin, Crocker, Cummings, Lincoln-Hamlin campaign artifacts, a primitive oil painting; "The Clearing of Paris," a rare map of the Rangeley Lakes District of Oxford County, drawn on birch bark by Metallak, son of the chief of the Cooashhaukes; a collection of local minerals and gems, a grandfather clock built on Paris Hill between 1840-1855, a friendship quilt made in 1848 by the ladies (and one man) of Paris Hill, the keys of the old jailer, diaries, early letters, and other information relating to earlier Paris residents.
Facilities:
The original jail building, built in 1822, was made of large blocks of local granite. It was the Oxford County Jail and was made of two floors of cells. When Dr. Augustus C. Hamlin bought it in 1896 he renovated the structure, removing the second story floor and all of the cells, effectively turning the entire building into one large room. He then deeded the building to the Ladies of the Paris Hill Library, and the new facility opened in 1902. In 1960 the building underwent a second round of renovations, this time reinstating the second floor of the building, which now houses both the library and museum.
Activities: