Thursday, April 9, 2015

1954, Carnegie Library, Franklin, New Hampshire


View from the rear...

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Library, Groton, Massachusetts


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Towards the end of the 19th century, Groton’s need for a new library building became more evident.  Current and former residents of the town made bequests to the Library.  Donors included Willard Dalrymple, Augustus Fletcher, and Luther Blood.  Mrs. Charlotte A. L. Sibley offered to give the town a site for the new library building on Main Street, along with $4,000 towards its construction.  The amount of her gift was gradually increased until it reached $12,000, about half of the building’s eventual cost.  Mrs. Sibley continued to support the Library until the time of her death in 1902.

The new library was designed pro bono by Boston architect Arthur Rotch, a grand-son of Abbott Lawrence, the original grantor of funds for the establishment of Groton’s library.  Total cost of the land, building and furnishings was $27,500, of which $15,000 was allocated by the town. At its official dedication on May 18, 1893, the building committee gave the keys to the library trustees, plus an honorary set to Charlotte Sibley, publicly marking the institution’s new permanent home. [Website]

Carnegie Library, Long Beach, California


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The books of an early WCTU library became the nucleus of the Long Beach Library Association in 1895. The city incorporated two years later and the library, which had occupied a succession of locations, moved to city hall in 1899. It became a free and tax-supported library in 1902, the same year that a Carnegie inquiry was first made. In 1908 the city was offered $12,500. After much controversy a site was purchased, and the city committed itself to $3,000 annually from city taxes. There followed an extensive correspondence with Carnegie, and finally the amount was increased to $30,000; the library ultimately cost $34,000. The architect, F. P. Burnham designed the building in the Classical Revival style. The builder was Weymouth Crowell. The cornerstone was laid September 5, 1908, the building was opened to the public on May 19, 1909, and was dedicated on June 15. A new library was already being planned in 1972 when the old library was damaged by fire; the old building was then demolished to make way for the new structure. [Website]
Long Beach California postcard
Long Beach California postcard by camillacalle
Look at Long beach Postcards online at Zazzle.com

Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana


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Library, Indianapolis, Indiana


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Monday, April 6, 2015

Carnegie Library, Perry, Oklahoma


The city of Perry obtained a grant of $10,000 from Mr. Andrew Carnegie to build the current Perry Carnegie Library, which was completed in 1909. [Website]

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