106-year-old Elsie Rogers and Library Director Pam Gormley at Cove's Edge on March 15.

In 1905, the library we know as Skidompha opened its doors. 

In 2005, Skidompha is celebrating its 100th birthday. 

When Skidompha opened, a little girl who lived in Round Pond was in first grade. It is not known, but it is a good bet that Elsie Rogers, age 106, was one of the first children to visit the new library in Damariscotta.

Today, that little girl is Skidompha’s oldest, and newest member! Now living at Cove’s Edge, she joined Skidompha on March 15, 2005 . As a resident of Damariscotta, which generously supports Skidompha with an annual appropriation, her membership does not cost her anything.

On March 15 Pam Gormley, Library Director, welcomed her as a new member by visiting her at Cove’s Edge and presenting her with her Library Card and a gift of Betty Smith’s classic, “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn”, in large print.

Elsie Rogers loves to read. She has been reading all of her life. She especially likes large print books and, according to Jenelle Cummings, Cove’s Edge Activities Director, “She is blessed with the ability to read, and reads voraciously. She has read all of the large print books we have. While she cannot visit the Skidompha to borrow books she sends two of her Great, Great Grandchildren with a list of books she wants to read.

Elsie has been a resident of Cove’s Edge since the fall of 2004. She loves her life there, but, according to Jenelle, one of the things she misses most is shoveling snow! Sensing her nostalgia for throwing the white stuff, The Cove’s staff gave her a token snow shovel, which proudly stands against the wall beside her chair. But rather than puffy cotton attached to resemble snow, the staff (showing their interest in spring) affixed bright flowers up and down the shovel staff.

Elsie loves it. She is very popular with the staff and her fellow residents, and five generations of her family members are frequent visitors.

“Elsie is just great”, reports Pam Gormley. “She has a great sense of humor and keeps abreast of what is going on in the world. To Skidompha, Elsie Rogers is a lively part of our history, from the beginning”. Pam continued, “Skidompha has been an important part of the life of this entire community for 100 years. The importance of libraries to the quality of life of children as well as adults was recognized by the Founders when Elsie was in first grade in Round Pond. We believe that its early success was due to its widespread popularity by everyone, especially teachers.”

While a round trip from the Round Pond school to Skidompha in Damariscotta when she was in first grade probably took the better part of a school day, we believe it happened, and that the kids of 1905, like the kids of 2005 had a wonderful time on such a “field trip”. This is why we believe that the wonderful, 106 year old Elsie Rogers was one of the first children to visit Skidompha. 

The tradition of children’s services at Skidompha is, 100 years later, one of the Library’s strongest and most popular programs. Programs for kids from infants to 18 year-olds include: “Book Babies”, birth to 2 years; “Toddler Time”, 2 to 5; “Skidompha in School”, 5 to 10; “Young Adults”, 11 to 15; and “Lincoln Academy Readers”, 15 to 18.