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As Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) reached his seventh
decade, his published writings focused increasingly on his life
history. He even consented to have his biography written by the
author Albert Bigelow Paine, who moved in with the recently-widowed
Clemens to expedite the project.
Paine had a significant impact on Samuel Clemens' final years. In 1906, on Paine's recommendation,
Clemens purchased a total of 240 acres in Redding, and arranged
to have an Italianate mansion built. In June 1908, Clemens moved
to the property, which he named Stormfield, and he lived there until
his death in April 1910. His youngest daughter Jean, who became
his close companion, was given a house on the northeast corner of
the estate.
Within five months of moving to Redding, Clemens
joined with his new neighbors to form the Mark Twain Library Association;
a Mr. Adams donated the land where the Library now stands. Clemens
enjoyed raising money for the Library, through such amusing stratagems
as charging his houseguests to retrieve their luggage as well as
supper dances and benefit concerts.
But it was only a day or two before his death that
Samuel Clemens wrote the generous check permitting the construction of
the first library building. The house and property given to his
daughter Jean were sold after her tragic death (on Christmas Eve
1909 from a seizure). The $6000 proceeds from this sale was directed
to the erection of the Jean L. Clemens Memorial Building. This building
was opened in late 1910 and served the Redding community well for
almost 60 years.
In 1972, the library quadrupled in size with the
construction of a circular addition. And after the completion of
a significant renovation project in 2000,the library has been able
to offer updated technological resources in a newly-configured and
expanded building.
Click here for additional details on the library's
history.
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