H - M
Illinois communities tended to know a good thing when they saw it: hence, many accepted Carnegie funding. The 105 state Carnegie library count does not include college libraries.
As I approach finding cards of all the cities, I have had to divide this page
again, alphabetically.
Libraries in towns beginning with
N - R or
S - Z have their own page.
Dedicated in 1909, recently replaced. Status unknown (November 2008).
C.U. Williams 'Photoette' card that looks as if the Bloomington publisher should have discarded the plate a few hundred strikes earlier. Did you notice that one of the windows in front was open?
1906 - 1971
Very interesting Carnegie building with traces of Romanesque architecture. And, it has ornaments. Big, honking, ornaments. Fall-off-the-roof-and-concuss-you ornaments. Architect Paul O. Moratz, of Bloomington, did not seem prone to such excess on his other buildings (Sycamore, Greenville, and Paxton).
Honestly, it surprised me
that Harvey was able to build a newer library. It's not a city with
wealthy residents, but maybe the '70s were kinder to the community. It's nice to see Harvey had its priorities straight.
The newer of these cards was sent in 1944: the lefthand card was never mailed.
Opened 1902; addition 1937; renovated in the 1990s. One of the libraries on the Illinois Historical Preservation list.
The library's web site has an excellent
history page.
This ZIM card was a hard postcard to locate, and isn't in the best condition. I have no idea what architectural style this building is, but it's quite attractive.
Highland Park is one of the posher North Shore Chicago
suburbs, showing that it wasn't always the neediest communities
that got the Carnegie grants.
Handsome Carnegie building, begun in 1905,
and
replaced in 1931--one of the quickest cases of
obsolescence.
Visit the public library's web site for more details.
I think that this Montgomery County library is still in use, judging from the picture on its single screen web site. It looks as if only the portico was enlarged.
(L) The postcard was one of the most difficult to find among my Illinois cards.
The scan makes it look like a real photo postcard, but it's not.
(R) Actually, I like this early Curt Teich 'C.T. American Art Blue-Sky' card
I found a year or so later even more.
Both cards date from 1909.
The lefthand card primarily features Honeywell Park. On the righthand
card you can nearly read the notice on the front door.
Leaning against the rightmost pillar is a notice for Episcopal Church
services. Hmm.
Today Hoopeston, home of the Cornjerkers, is fighting to stay alive as its cannery-related economy has been superceded.
Hand-colored card with delicate, believable tints. This is another case where it seems as if the photo was taken before the library was ready for patrons. The right wing looks empty.
Card was mailed in 1907, a very early divided-back card.
On the left is a handcolored card mailed in 1911. The right-hand card is one of the earliest linen finish (Curt Teich) cards in my collection,
I would bet.
This building still in use as the Main Branch. Except for casino money, Joliet is chronically short of cash as its industrial base has dwindled.
Daniel Burnham designed this semi-Gothic, semi-Romanesque library in 1903.
Built in 1906 - 1908 by Patton & Miller. Considering that it was funded partially from a 1901 Carnegie grant, this is rather remarkable. The building was renovated in 2000 and is still in use.
The library's updated website has a nice history page, with a pretty picture of the library's stained glass window.
1904 - 1969
(L) Quality control at Curt Teich was a little off on the day this card was made. Everything is slightly askew and the tree on the left extends into the border. But the mad awning striper had her day in the sun, by golly. The arched awning has its red and white stripes.
(R) Ordinary monochrome much enlivened by the message:
They took pattern from Freeport. Hello Josie.
Visit the public library's website for the history of this lovely building (and yet another postcard).
Completed in 1906 and still in use.
The library's website
is very simple. A three person library doesn't really need to
go to extremes, does it?
Photographer is L.W. Butler, but the publisher of the card is unknown.
1907 Carnegie building, still in use.
Check out the library's Then and Now site.
A 1906 Moratz building. I think Paul was growing bored
of domes by this point.
(L) Beautiful German card, imported and published by J.R.
Grafton of Lewistown. Unevenly divided back.
(R) Monochrome card by Curt Teich, mailed 1940.
I can find no web site for this facility, but it is indexed on several functional library sites.
Monochrome card by Curt Teich. Scan slightly retouched.
Typical Carnegie Library.
According to the Bials, the grant came in 1901. The library, which seems small for the city, was renovated in the 1970s.
1904 Carnegie grant. Paul O. Moratz installed an iffy concert hall on the second floor. If Andrew Carnegie gave the thumbs up to a bowling alley in a Pennsylvania library, why would the concert hall have been so questionable?
Lefthand card postmarked 1910, and produced by the Art Mfg. Co. of Amelia, Ohio. This is one of the nicer hand coloring jobs in my collection.
An extra attraction to Litchfield is that it's a Route 66 town. That and a Carnegie building: what more can you want?
Carnegie building occupied since 1904. Instead of enlarging it, a Children's Library was built in 1980. They are connected via a hallway and two rooms. That's a sensitive compromise.
The postcard was mailed in 1910. I can't make out the publisher's name, but it was made in Germany. Doesn't the library's cupola look like a pickelhauber?
Check out the
Marion Carnegie Library site! This is probably the
most sensitive renovation I have seen yet on an old building.
Built 1915; expanded 1997.
Oh, and the postcard: E.C. Kropp out of Milwaukee.
1904 grant: tan brick building, expanded in 1938, after these cards
were made.
(L) C.R. Childs card mailed in 1914.
(R) Early monochrome Curt Teich 'C.T. Photo-platin' postcard.
Scan converted to black and white, since the card is a rather peculiar green.
No data available as to whether the building is still in use: the library's web page
consists of less than one screen!
Those who grew up in the Chicago area may remember Marseilles as the former source of weather radar.
(R) Very early Curt Teich card, in poor condition, postmarked 1907.
<--Before the
Mattoon Gasser
After the
Mattoon Gasser-->
(L) Early divided back, published by the Mattoon News
Co. Publishers.
(R) C.T. American Art card, mailed 1954.
No historical info found on the library site, but the Bials state that the building was dedicated in 1903. They also comment that this library lacks a full basement. Perhaps if it had had one, it might have needed a smaller footprint for the purpose.
(L) The library is the lefthand building, stemming from a 1904 grant. The city hall, on the right, has been replaced by the library annex. It's a huge building for the size of the Chicago suburb today.
(R) 1907 Curt Teich card, mailed 20 years later.
These cards feature a classic Carnegie library built
in 1904.
According to the city's website, it is still in use--
similar to Antigo, Wisconsin's outdated building--as the Hume-Carnegie Museum.
(L) Dates from ca. 1937.
(R) Mailed in 1919.
Grant accepted 1905. This postcard, sent 1948, must not have been a best seller. Milford is not a flashy tourist destination in the best of times.
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1901 grant. Replaced.
At last I have the straight scoop on
Moline's public library. Of course, it was just before the Carnegie
building was replaced. And now, alas, their Sunday hours have been cut.
Please visit the Moline Public Library site, .pdf file linked above for its history, to
read the entire story.
Highlights:
Built 1904, renovated due to advanced deterioration 1964, funded for new
building 2004.
A pleasing symmetry, isn't it?
1911 Carnegie Library condemned in the 1960s and replaced in 1970. E.C. Kropp post card.
1905 grant.
Andrew Carnegie, discussing this
building:
It is one of the few libraries I have given in which there was no graft in building.
Both the above, and the fact Mt. Carroll built its library before its city hall, make sense when considering this was the original home of Shimer College. Originally a seminary (and with an interesting campus remnant), now featuring the rare 'Great Books' curriculum, it has moved to Chicago.
Way prettier in reality than on these monochrome cards.
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| From R.L. Webb's Book Store. | Postmarked 1923. | Linen finish. |
Center and right cards are from the C.T. 'American Art' series. The building was completed in 1905, and is still in use after a century plus. An excellent history of the building and of the C.E. Brehm Memorial Public Library District is given on the district's website.
At this point, the only way to see the non-linked libraries is to visit the pertinent IHPA site.
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All text is under copyright by the author. Cards are presented for scholarly study: most are significantly older than 1928. You may link, and even deep-link to its pages, but you may not claim any part as your own nor link to individual images.
©2003 - 2009 Judy Aulik
Carnegie libraries divided on 30 January 2007.
Trisected on 24 April 2008.
Updated on 11 November 2009.
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