Elizabeth Stevens died of tuberculosis at the age of 41 on March 30, 1881. For twenty years she had worked as a web-drawer for the Laconia Mills, which became part of the Pepperell Mills. At the time of her death she had funds totaling $4,500 composed mainly of United States bonds. In her will, Stevens left the bonds to fund a reading room for the people of Biddeford.

At the time, this was an enormous sum of money. In 1902, when the McArthur Library Association found a permanent home for the library, the funds were eventually used to fund a beautiful reading room that is still used today.

Recently, McArthur Library’s Archivist, Rose Dionne unearthed a document citing that the library’s benefactor, Robert McArthur, wished to recognize Miss Stevens’ contribution by placing flowers on her grave each year. This year in honor of Women’s History Month and to honor her legacy and memory, staff from the library will be at Greenwood Cemetery at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 30, 2024 to place flowers at Elizabeth Stevens’ grave.

At 11 a.m. anyone interested in a tour of the historic McArthur Library is welcome to join us for a walk around the building followed by light refreshments in the community room.