Rice Public Library

Back in the day, Rice Public Library had one reading room for ladies and a separate room for gentlemen.

The second floor of the building served as a meeting place for grizzled old Civil War veterans from the local Grand Army of the Republic chapter. It also housed a substantial collection of stuffed birds.

Obviously, RPL has seen a lot of changes since it opened on November 5, 1888.

The library was built and furnished at a cost of $18,500. Designed by the renowned Boston architect Sheperd S. Woodcock and constructed of Philadelphia brick, the Victorian-era building had a Romanesque visual style. Noted for its marble steps, granite sills and a spectacular vaulted ceiling with stained glass panels, this was an institution in which the town of Kittery could take great pride.

Rice Public Library was founded by Arabella Rice, the youngest of four daughters born to Capt. Robert Rice and wife Charlotte, and the only one to outlive her parents. Although a lifelong resident of Portsmouth, when Arabella died in 1872 her will included bequests totaling $30,000 to honor "the wish of my beloved father to give a sum of money for educational purposes to the inhabitants of his native town of Kittery.”

Photo 1272, Mar 2020

Rice Public Library

Photo 1273, Mar 2020

Rice Public Library

Photo 1274, Mar 2020