Name/Title
Eastport Bandstand | Library Park, Eastport, Maine | District #152Entry/Object ID
152Description
This octagonal sided wooden Bandstand was built in 1915 as a gift to the City of Eastport by Mrs. E.E. Shead of a prominent local family. It is the first and only bandstand that Eastport has had. The cost was about $500. It stands on the northwest corner of what is known as Library Park next to the Peavey Memorial Library building that had been built in 1893. The bandstand is now owned by the library. The bandstand was designed by Prof. S.A. Frost, the director of a local brass band at the time. It was built by Warren Clark, assisted by Justus Holmes. In addition to bands the bandstand has also served as a venue for public speeches.
• From Eastport Sentinel, September 8, 1915, p.3:
Work was begun last Saturday on the construction of the new band stand, which is to be erected in Library Park for the use of the Eastport Band Ass'n. It is the gift of a prominent Eastport citizen whose name is to be announced later. Warren Clark has charge of the building and expects to have the work completed within another week. It will be of ornamental design, and besides adding something to the appearance of the park, supplies a want that has been “long felt.”
• From Eastport Sentinel 29, 1915, p.5:
The grand opening of the new band stand, by the Eastport Band Ass’n, which was to have taken place last evening was postponed to Tuesday evening, Oct. 5th. The dance will also be held at the Armory on that night and Lodge Bros. complete orchestra will furnish music.
• From Eastport Sentinel, October 20, 1915, p.3:
The New Band Stand.
When you have the leisure, or opportunity, walk up close to the new band stand in Library Park and look it over. Only in that way an anyone realize what a fine struture it is, and how completely it fills a need that has been felt here ever since the formation of the famous old band, remembered as the “Hoboes.”
It is built in the form of an octagon, with each side three feet in length, making the floor space about twenty one feet across. Each angle of the sides is set on a concrete post, and the center is supported by a concrete pillar running up to the level of the beams supporting the floor which is about three feet from the ground on the upper side and about six on the lower side where the ground slopes away. The floor is roomy and is surrounded by a strong but ornamental railing which likewise serves as a back for the seats for the musicians. Of these 32 can be seated, or if chairs are placed in the center of the floor, sixty can be easily accommodated.
The roof is supported by eight posts extending up from the foundations, and runs up in conventional bandstand style to a height about 25 feet from the ground. A sounding board of hard pine is built into this at a height of nine feet from the floor. Into this are set tungsten lights of 200 volts each, one in the center, and one at the central point of each side, affording an abundance of light, without shadows. Those who occupied the stand last Tuesday night stated that the illumination is perfect.
Entrance to the bandstand is by a door in the side, giving access to the space beneath the floor, which is surprisingly spacious, and which will be very useful as a storage room for the effects of visiting bands. From here steps lead up through a trap door to the floor or deck. This door is long, so that it does away with the necessity of stooping, and can be locked into position on leaving the bandstand, so that it cannot be raised by people who might gain access to the floor by climbing up from the outside.
The structure will be very useful for other purposes than as a bandstand. Eastport has no auditorium large enough to house a crowd of more than 400 people, and no really suitable place for out-of-doors gatherings. This will be an ideal roster for public addresses such as that which Albert J. Beveridge made here two years ago, and there will be an abundance of room for a band, if there is one for the occasion, and for others as well. For the convenience of speakers the seat fronting Water Street is removable, allowing closer approach to the railing on that side.
The bandstand cost about $500, and is the gift of an Eastport citizen whose name is withheld. The business was transacted through W.S. Alexander, who was largely responsible for the presentation of the needed funds.
Eastport now has a bandstand which is certainly one of the finest in the state of Maine, one which every citizen can point to with pride, and which constitutes not only a splendid public utility, but a testimonial to the public spirit which is becoming more and more general in this city.
• From Eastport Sentinel, November 3, 1915, p.3:
In describing, in a recent issue, the new bandstand at Library Park, mention was not made that the building was designed by Prof. S.A. Frost, who is responsible for its convenience, for the close adaptation to the purpose for which it is intended, and for the admirable balance and proportion of this structure which makes it so quietly ornamental in appearance. The actual construction of the bandstand was under the direction of Warren Clark, assisted by Justus Holmes.
• From the Quoddy Tides, August 24, 2018:
The Quoddy Tides, Celebrating 50 Years
From the August 13, 1976 issue of the Quoddy Tides: “.… The bandstand was given a fresh coat of paint, and next year the bandstand will have a green trim just as it did when completed in 1920. The bandstand was gift to eat community from Mrs Lucia W. Shead, the widow of Edward E. Shead….”
• Conversation with Wayne Wilcox of Eastport, Maine, August 21, 2024: Wayne said the Mrs. Edward Shead of Eastport, Maine provided the funds for the construction of the bandstand.
