Mac Smith to Speak about his new book “Plain Madeleine” at the Stockton Springs Community Library on Sunday, April 21st at 2:00 PM.

Stockton Springs Community Library (SSCL) will host a talk by author Mac Smith on Sunday, April 21st at 2:00 pm at the Stockton Springs Community Library. The talk will focus on Smith’s new book, Plain Madeleine. 

The story of Madeleine and Colonel John Jacob Astor is very much part of the story of Bar Harbor, Maine. The relatively poor Madeleine Force met Colonel Astor, the third richest man in the United States, in Bar Harbor in 1910. The vicious scandal after their wedding caused the newlyweds to board the Titanic to return to America; the ensuing tragedy would claim the life of the colonel.

Madeleine Astor returned to Bar Harbor after the Titanic disaster, where all eyes were on her, and where she was triumphant in claiming the role of social leader. In 1916, she remarried in the center of Bar Harbor, and gave up everything Astor.

The story follows the 17 years of her second marriage, and then her scandalous third marriage. Madeleine, now in her 40s, married a penniless young boxer and her name erased from the Social Register after that. She died a lonely figure in her 40s.

This new book from historian Mac Smith documents Madeleine’s life in Bar Harbor and the Astor presence on Bar Harbor through Colonel Astor’s family and the Kane family–Astor cousins who were prominent there. It puts Madeleine Astor’s story in the context of Bar Harbor’s Golden Age. In telling Madeleine Astor’s story, the story of a changing Bar Harbor is also revealed. 

A Navy veteran of the first Gulf War and former reporter for The Bar Harbor Times, Mac Smith lives in Stockton Springs, Maine in the village of Sandy Point. He is the author of several books of Maine history, including Mainers on the TitanicPeyton Place Comes Home to Maine, Siege at the Statehouse, and Disaster at the Bar Harbor Ferry.

Following the talk Mac Smith will sign copies of Plain Madeleine, which will be available for purchase. Copies of his other books will also be available.

Light refreshments will be served. All are welcome.

SSCL is located at 6 Station St. in the heart of Stockton Springs. For more information please contact the library at 207-567-4147.

Annual Book, Bake, and Plant Sale at Stockton Springs Community Library June 3rd

On Saturday, June 3rd from 9 am to 1 pm the Stockton Springs Community Library will host its very popular Annual Book, Bake, and Plant Sale at the library on Main Street in Stockton Springs.

Library volunteers are busy dividing perennials for this popular fundraiser. There will be a wide variety of flowers and herbs to brighten your gardens. You can stock up on books for summer reading while snacking on delicious homemade baked goods. There’s always a great variety of sweet and savory baked goods available. A wide range of books, both hardcover and paperback, fiction and non-fiction, will be available for purchase.

The Stockton Springs Community Library was founded in 2001 and is located in the historic Colcord House, which is owned by the Stockton Springs Historical Society. The library is run by a group of dedicated volunteers and new volunteers are always welcome. For more information visit www.stockstonspringslibrary.org

Stockton Springs Community Library (SSCL) will hold a new fundraising raffle to support the all-volunteer library.

Tickets are $1 each and will be sold beginning June 4th during SSCL’s annual Book, Bake, and Plant Sale. The Raffle prize is a $100 gift certificate to Sweet Cheeks Bakery of Verona Island. Sweet Cheeks is a gourmet bakery and sweets shop featuring homemade traditional family recipes.

Drawing for the raffle will take place on August 20th at 2:00 pm at the library’s annual Pie & Art Festival.

Tickets will also be available for purchase during the library’s open hours, which are Monday and Wednesday 3 – 5 pm, Tuesday 4 – 7 pm, Thursday 9 am – Noon and 6:30 – 8:30 pm, and Saturday 9 am – 3pm.

For more information phone 567-4147 or visit www.stocktonspringslibrary.org

Annual Book, Bake, and Plant Sale at Stockton Springs Community Library Saturday, June 4th

On Saturday, June 4th from 9 am to 1 pm the Stockton Springs Community Library will host its Annual Book, Bake, and Plant Sale at the library in Stockton Springs. Time to come out of hibernation and join in the fun as you find bargains to read, eat, or plant. The sale starts promptly at 9:00 so no early birds please.

Library volunteers are busy dividing perennials for this popular fundraiser. There will be a wide variety of flowers and herbs to brighten your gardens. You can stock up on books for summer reading while snacking on delicious homemade baked goods. There’s always a great variety of sweet and savory baked goods available. 

Stockton Springs Community Library was founded in 2001 and is located in the historic Colcord House on the corner of Main and Station streets. The library is run by a group of dedicated volunteers and new volunteers are always welcome. For more information visit www.stockstonspringslibrary.org or call 567-4147.

Fall Book and Bake Sale at Stockton Springs Community Library September 12

Stockton Springs Community Library is holding a Fall Book and Bake Sale at the library on Saturday, September 12, from 8 am till 1 pm (unless we sell out earlier). So come and find that special book or two, the movies and shows you’ve always wanted. While you are here, we are sure you will not be able to leave without buying some scrumptious homemade baked goods! Our volunteers really know how to bake your favorites. So put this date on your calendar and don’t miss it!

Additional donations of baked goods (homemade only) are certainly welcome to help us make this event successful.

If you’ve been holding on to books to donate, we need to ask you to hang on to them until next year if you can. Our limited storage space is already bursting at the seams.

Thank you to all who help support SSCL in so many ways. We hope to see you on September 12 at the Fall Book and Bake Sale! Face masks and social distancing guidelines are strictly enforced.

Don’t forget if you don’t want to come into the library to check out a book or movie, you can call 207-567-4147 and leave a detailed message (or better yet, call during open hours). We will have your books and movies checked out and ready for you and available on the porch. Items that are returned to the library are put in quarantine as per State guidelines, so you may have a little wait, but we’ll let you know when they are available.

COVID-19 SSCL Update

The Stockton Springs Community Library will continue to remain closed through May 31, 2020. We hope to open June 1st and will continue to follow the State of Maine CDC guidelines to ensure the safety of our volunteer staff and patrons. The Library will be following Department of Economic and Community (DECD). Maine CDC and Maine State Library guidelines and protocols for Libraries when we re-open.

The Library’s free wi-fi is available outside the building. We recommend patrons follow CDC guidelines when accessing this service for the safety of everyone.

Additionally, the Library’s annual Book, Bake, and Plant sale, that had been planned for June 6, has been canceled.

Outdoors columnist John Holyoke shares stories from his book “Evergreens” at Stockton Springs Community Library

The Stockton Springs Community Library will be hosting an “Author Talk” featuring Bangor Daily News Sportswriter, John Holyoke author of Evergreens on Sunday, February 9th at 2 PM.

V. Paul Reynolds says ”Evergreens is an authentic slice of the Maine outdoors heritage and Holyoke’s best writing over his career, a wonderful addition to the bookshelf of any outdoors person.”

Please join us at the Stockton Springs Community Library on Sunday, February 9th at 2 PM to hear about these interesting stories. Books will be available to purchase.

For more information call the library at 207-567-4147.

Author Talk October 2. Patsy Baldus, author of Love, Lutefisk, and Lemon Zest Sneakers”

The Stockton Springs Community Library will be hosting an “Author Talk” featuring retired educator, Patsy Baldus, author of “Love, Lutefisk, and Lemon Zest Sneakers” on Wednesday, October 2nd at 6:30 PM.

“ What do yellow sneakers, a gecko, a visit to the vet’s, and a memorable seven-course Swedish meal all have in common? Why, calamity, of course! Romp through these humorous and sometimes poignant adventures as the author reveals the joys and comedic pitfalls of everyday experiences, including vacations, family pets, moving, and dealing with the neighborhood kids.”

Please join us at the Stockton Springs Community Library on Wednesday, October 2nd at 6:30 PM to hear about some of these wonderful stories.

Books will be available to purchase. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Questions about the event can be directed to the Stockton Springs Community Library staff at 207-567-4147.

18th Annual Book, Bake, & Plant Sale June 1 at Stockton Springs Community Library

On Saturday, June 1st starting at 9 am the Stockton Springs Community Library will host its 18th Annual Book, Bake, and Plant Sale at the library on Main Street in Stockton Springs.

Library volunteers are busy dividing perennials for this popular fundraiser. There will be a wide variety of flowers and herbs to brighten your gardens. You can stock up on books for summer reading while snacking on delicious homemade baked goods. There’s always a great variety of sweet and savory baked goods available. Also for sale will be DVDs and audio books.

The Stockton Springs Community Library was founded in 2001 and is located in the historic Colcord House, which is owned by the Stockton Springs Historical Society. The library is run by a group of dedicated volunteers and new volunteers are always welcome. For more information visit www.stockstonspringslibrary.org