A century ago, a man with family ties to Gorham, who witnessed the emergence of a new age, gave a couple of generous gifts to what was then a small farming community.

Born in 1831, he was the son of a country doctor from Gorham. He had lived to see electric lights replace oil lamps as lighting for homes and the automobile pull society out of the horse and buggy days.

As a new world was born, he wanted to ensure the townspeople in a farming community had access to knowledge while preserving the town’s rich heritage. So, in 1907, with eyes on the future, he bestowed Gorham two gifts – a modern library and a museum.

It’s been 100 years since James Phinney Baxter, a Portland mayor and philanthropist, gave Gorham Baxter Memorial Library and his family’s home on South Street.

To mark the event, the library is planning to celebrate its centennial in the coming year, beginning from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, with “A Night of Celebration,” honoring the library’s 100 years of service.

Located at 71 South St., the library opened in 1908 with electric lights, Sebago Lake water and steam heat. “It was pretty nice,” said Joanne Gordon, reference librarian, who has been working there for 22 years.

Carrying on a century later, the library has kept pace with Baxter’s vision and technology. Although it has a collection of 40,000 books, it offers much more, including DVDs, computers and wireless Internet.

“We’re a hot spot,” said Library Director Pam Turner, referring to a capability for people to log onto the Internet even from outside library walls.

The gifts have proven to be valuable assets from the onset. Baxter’s son, Percival Baxter, who would later become a Maine governor, attended the library’s dedication ceremony in September of 1908. It was an occasion that closed Gorham schools for the day so students could attend.

Children’s author Kate Douglas Wiggin of Hollis arrived for the dedication in a chauffeur-driven car, a marvel at that time. “She caused quite a sensation,” Gordon said.

While recognizing its rich history, the library is planning to serve well into the future. “We’re moving forward and looking forward to the next century,” Turner said.

Last year, the library won an award for the writing contest sponsored by the library’s friends. Expanding Baxter’s original vision, the town opened a new library wing in 2003.

The library won an architecture award for excellence in preservation, restoration and expansion. Gordon said it doesn’t feel like a “foreign country” going from the addition to the original section of the library.

The original part of the library is finished with red oak wood, which has been restored. Paintings of Baxter family members hang on walls. Gordon said the original part of the library looks much like it did when it opened. Gov. Baxter took a lifelong interest in Gorham and often visited. “He kept an eye on the library,” Gordon said.

The library served 44,220 patrons in 2005-2006, and Turner expected that number to increase when the latest figures are tabulated. “We circulate well over 100,000 items each year,” Turner said. “We’re very customer and patron oriented.”

Next door at the Baxter Museum, Heather Flanders on a summer day this year greeted visitors at the door, and Antoine Cadot-Wood served as tour guide. Flanders said the home was built in 1797 by Isaac Gilkey, who also built Gorham’s First Parish Church.

Flanders said Elihu Baxter, a doctor, later bought the property. “He lived here several years,” Flanders said.

The home contains artifacts donated by several people and has a room with Civil War items. One of its rooms is dedicated to Baxter family memorabilia.

Beth Valentine recently toured the museum with her two daughters, Claire, 7, and Lydia, 4.

“We’ve been in Gorham a year and are interested to learn about the town’s history,” Valentine said.

In the museum’s kitchen, Valentine was intrigued to see butter churns and molds and to hear Cadot-Wood’s explanation about the butter-making process in olden times. She said making butter was a real art.

She also cited the samplers and paintings created by children. “It’s important for my children to have an appreciation of where we came from,” Valentine said following a tour of the museum.

Fascinated by craftsmanship, Todd Damon visited the museum to see its woodwork. “I’m a woodworker. I like to look at it,” Damon said about the interior of the museum. “This is incredible.”

The house once sat where the library is now, but James Phinney Baxter had it moved back. The library and museum are situated in the epicenter of a historic district on South Street.

“I’m curious to know more about other people who built the grand homes along South Street,” Valentine said.

James Phinney Baxter had earned a fortune in the food processing business. He had a patent on vacuum-sealed cans. “He owned the Portland Packing Co.,” said Eric Baxter, a Portland travel agent and descendant of the Gorham Baxters.

Eric Baxter said the 1907 gift to Gorham served as a model for what James Phinney Baxter would do for Portland.

His wealth was a far cry from paltry amounts that Elihu Baxter earned in his day practicing medicine in Gorham. “He got 50 cents for a house call, if he got paid,” Gordon said.

Honoring two gifts from a century ago, Gorham plans to celebrate its library’s centennial while carrying on its history of service.

The library will close at 4 p.m. before the kickoff celebration Sept. 27, reopening an hour later for the celebration. The event, costing $15 to attend, includes refreshments, music and a silent auction with works donated by local authors and artists. Tickets can be purchased at the library. Pine Crest Bed and Breakfast, South Street, are providing refreshments.

The proceeds from the auction will establish a Centennial Endowment Fund to enhance the library’s collection. The trustees of the Baxter Memorial Library voted to establish this fund to be able to continually provide books, videos, DVDs, magazines and other materials for the public over and above what is allotted in the annual budget. It is hoped that this fund would generate money for the next 100 years.

The artists, writers and musicians who have donated their talents are Sandra Jensen, Martha Harris, Bonnie Eadie, Joan Wood, Pat Franklin, Rosalie Barden, Meadow Welch, Rodney Quinn, Cathryn Falwell, Christine Biegel, Jeremy Green, Lin Lisberger, Maddie Lou Chaplin, Kevin Hawkes, Sis Deans, Sarah Phinney, Patrice Lockart and Anne Emerson.

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