Walker Memorial Hall

Walker Memorial Hall, also known as Ridge Hall, was built by Frederick Tompson of Portland, a Maine Architect.  This lovely Victorian building was erected in the summer of 1892 in accordance with a $5,000 bequest in the will of Joseph Walker.  It was Mr. Walker’s request that the building be used for the purpose of a library, for lectures, promotion of agriculture or to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number of residents of the district.  The lot in Potter field was conveyed on May 5, 1882.  Upon completion, the Hall had western windows and a cupola which were architecturally attractive, a library that was extremely pleasant in both summer and winter.  In addition to the library, which could be partitioned to make two smaller rooms, there was a kitchen and large dining room downstairs and a large auditorium and stage upstairs.  The building was heated by wood with an excellent water system connected to a neighboring well.  First used by the Ridge Literary Society, the Hall served very well the farm families living on the Ridge.  Over the years it became the custom to include people living on both the upper ridge and middle ridge and the lower road for the various gatherings.  In this respect, it was much more than a library for many community functions took place there, such as Sunday Services, dances, plays, Christmas parties and circle suppers.  The Ridge is no longer a farming community and the cohesive neighborhood has changed, but today there is renewed interest in preserving this unique building and its turn of the century charm which has been at the center of this rural community for so many years.   The building was added to the National Registry Of Historic Buildings in 1983.