Library
Bion R. Cram Library
Looking for a quiet and well-equipped space to study and conduct research? Look no further than the Bion R. Cram Library, which offers state-of-the-art facilities and resources, including four classrooms, computer technology rooms, and a climate-controlled archival room.
Our shelves are stocked with an extensive collection of books on various subjects, including literature, history, science, and mathematics, to name a few. In addition, we offer access to numerous online databases, academic journals, and other resources that are perfect for supplementing your research. Our friendly and knowledgeable librarians are always ready to help you find the resources you need.
About Bion R. Cram
In 1929, Bion received a scholarship to attend Fryeburg Academy, thanks to a visit by Headmaster Elroy LaCasce. Bion excelled and earned the school's highest academic honor, the Gibson Medal, in 1933. He then went on to attend Bowdoin College and earned a degree in finance. Bion secured his first job in a New York City bank through a connection with Harvey Dow Gibson, a well-known financier. He enjoyed a successful career in investment banking thanks to his education and hard work.
Throughout his life, Bion remained grateful to Fryeburg Academy and generously contributed over $3.5 million to the school. He donated $500,000 to build the Academy's state-of-the-art library named after him, and contributed funds to help construct a new athletic fieldhouse named after his sister, Ada Cram Wadsworth, who was a former teacher at the Academy.
Bion passed away at the age of 93 on Dec. 21, 2008. Following his death, Fryeburg Academy received a generous gift of almost $15 million from his estate and his partner, John H. McCoy. This donation stands as one of the largest ever given to a secondary school in Maine.