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    Collection

    Portland Press Herald Still-Film Negatives Collection

    Document Type

    Still Image

    Call number of Original

    EX 30 DEC 1983

    Contributing Institution

    Portland Public Library Special Collections & Archives

    Location

    Portland, Cumberland, Maine, USA

    Creation Date

    12-30-1983

    Format of Original

    35mm gelatin silver negatives

    Description

    Views of Mechanics Hall (Maine Charitable Mechanics Association), 519 Congress Street. A 1947 photograph of Mechanics Hall can be seen at this link.

    The building was designed by Portland architect Thomas P. Sparrow, and built in 1859. The Maine Charitable Mechanic Association was founded in 1815, as a social organization that promoted and supported the skilled trades and their practitioners. Its original members were master craftspeople, manufacturers, and entrepreneurs (referred to as "mechanics" in the 19th century). The Association also comprises a Library, on the second floor of the building, along with instructional courses related to mechanical drafting, crafts, and cultural lectures.

    Left image: Full exterior view of Mechanics Hall, from south. Ground floor shops include Carter Brothers Company jewelers (521 Congress Street) and Fotoshops (517 Congress Street). Maine Savings Bank, at right.

    Top right image: Maine Charitable Mechanics treasurer Elias Thomas arranging books in the Mechanics Hall Library. Some of the historic Trade Banners are visible at the top edge of the photo.

    Bottom right image: Lawrence Chapman, Maine Charitable Mechanics Association president, seated in the Library near portraits of his predecessors.

    Photos published in the Evening Express, on 30 December 1983



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    Keywords

    Portland, Me, Downtown Portland, Congress Street, Office buildings, Societies and clubs

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    Rights Statement

    In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted.