Maine Charitable Mechanic Association

The library's hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.[1] The MCMA was founded in 1815 as a way for local tradesmen to pool their resources, better their educations, and improve the quality of their work.

The association sponsored education for apprentices who worked as carpenters, masons, shipbuilders, jewelers, ironworkers, watchmakers, riggers, instrument makers, glass workers and more.

Lectures were an especially popular draw for the organization; speakers like John Neal[6] expounded on such topics as anatomy, physiology, natural philosophy, and modes of heating.

Perhaps the grandest of these took place in 1854, when the association was not only allowed to use all the unused space in Portland City Hall, but raised a two-story building across the street and filled it with exhibits.

[7] It continues to operate its library at Mechanics' Hall, which offers a slate of lectures, book groups, and other events of artistic and historical interest.