Could Rumford lose the land the Rumford Public Library is on if the selectmen vote to give part of the land to Tom Carey for a commercial enterprise?

In 1903, an agreement was made between Hugh Chisholm, president of the Rumford Falls Power Company, to give the town of Rumford a parcel of land for one dollar to be used for a public library. The land could be used only for a library, according to the terms written in the deed.

The deed, on file in the town office, states, “The above described premises is to be used solely for the public park purposes, to be known as ‘Chisholm Park’ and should it or any part thereof be abandoned as a public park or used for any other purpose, then this conveyance shall be null and void and said premises shall revert to the said Rumford Falls Power Company, its successors and assigns.”

If the Rumford selectmen decide to give Carey part of the library property for one dollar, it could potentially be a violation of the terms of that deed and is clearly a violation of Hugh Chisholm’s intent. Therefore, Rumford could lose the land where the public library is located.

To protect the library property, the citizens of Rumford must vote “no” on addendum items 44, 45 and 46 at the town business meeting on June 3 at the Mountain Valley High School auditorium.

Carolyn Kennard, Rumford, chairperson, Rumford Library Board of Trustees