Part of the Library Postcards: Civic Pride in a Lost America web site.
Contains Olney to Rushville, except for
Rockford.
Illinois Carnegie libraries from utterly alphabetically impaired localities comprise the next page,
S - Z, Savannah - Winchester.
Anyone out there with a Ridge Farm, or Park Ridge card?
1903 grant.
Decorative glass above the front door helps distinguish this rather mundane library building. Despite its bland appearance, it did make the Illinois Historic Preservation list.
This is a 'Competition Proof' Weixelbaum card, published in Lima, Ohio.
I don't know about the veracity of the claim, but it sure beats the monochrome
card I had posted before.
Confirmed as a 1907 Carnegie building by Bial and Bial.
I had to rely on a church website to learn that
this building is still in use. I did find out from the library's site
that the library was formed in 1858 (impressive!) and that the
district encompasses Ridgeland Township (Iroquois Co.).
This is a Real Photo card, with the helpful comment written on the back, 'Onarga in 1910.'
Still in use.
Oh, so naughty! This design was sneaked past James Bertram, I fear. It has an artist's gallery on the second floor, permanently dating from 1918.
This is a hard building to categorize with respect to its architecture, a product of Pond & Pond architects of Chicago. I do not see the Classical Revival touches some do: although it has a type of pediment over the doorway, it is placed asymmetrically. Interior photos I have seen are somewhat Arts and Crafts movement in nature, which would make sense, given Oregon's connection with the Eagle's Nest Art Colony.
The card is a C.R. Childs 'Real Photograph.'
1911 grant. Dedicated in 1913.
Charming take on the Carnegie style.
Now known as the Carnegie-
Schuyler Library, and still in use.
Both cards are from Curt Teich.
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(L) Raphael Tuck & Sons' card with entire back. Never mailed.
(C) C.U. Williams 'Photoette.'
(R) Curt Teich card, postmarked 1955.
This library is still officially named 'Paris Carnegie Public Library,' according to its website. It was established in 1904 with the help of an $18,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie. In 1992, it required an addition to serve the community.
Built in 1903, Paxton Carnegie Library is still in use, albeit in a gently remodeled state. A recent photo is on their blog, and their history reveals that the building was designed by a local architect, Paul O. Moratz, of Bloomington.
Raymond Bial and Linda LaPuma Bial chose this library to feature on the cover of their University of Illinois Press book, The Carnegie Library in Illinois. To me, it'd come down to that or Sycamore (also a Moratz design).
1903 - 1974
I can only describe this as 'Carnegie goes to the Wadhams gasoline station.' Although I know Wadhams never reached central Illinois, I can't say the same about Carnegie. The tile roof had an Asian feel, which is appropriate for the city. The dome had small windows, which was an unusual touch. Dentil trim is a common feature on Carnegie buildings, but not on every edge! I'm surprised it wasn't added to the steps.
The main library's funding came from different sources, and is featured on a different page.
Late 1909 grant.
Head straight south about 1.5 miles from the Bradley University campus, and you'll find the only Peoria branch library funded by Mr. Carnegie. At one point it was considered endangered (just look how small it is!), but is undergoing renovation as I write this.
The postcard is a semi-local product, published by C.E. Wheelock and Company, but not printed in Germany, as so many Wheelock cards were. It was mailed in August, 1924.
Built in 1910: replaced some time after 1983.
I almost prefer the reverse of this card, mailed in 1944 with the message:
Dear Richard,
Do you know what there is in this building?
No, not monkeys.
Daddy
In the heart of the Land of Lincoln.
Late 1906 Carnegie grant.
Searching for this library online informs me that it's part of the Rolling Prairie Library System. It's still in use, according to the city's web page, and appears newer than its 103+ years.
The E.C. Kropp card dates from early in the library's history, perhaps 1907 or 1908.
No library website, but I have discovered that they loan out fishing equipment.
Late 1905 Carnegie grant, still in use since 1907.
Nearly full history (lacking its architect of record) on the city's website. It's a beautiful library building that's beginning to show a little age.
Late 1904 grant. Still in use, but dwarfed by a huge addition.
This photo postcard was hard to locate. Its attribution is to an
R.E. Lincoln, aka 'Ed,' photograph, dating before his 1935 death.
The typed caption, running vertically on the right side, is unusual and the signature is closer to the top border.
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Another Patton and Miller Carnegie Library, built between 1903
and 1904, and still in use. (Polo is not a large town.)
Not evident from the first Real Photo card, but seen on the
library's website,
is its red brick construction. The (L) postcard illustrates the
entrance quite well, however.
The center card is quite ethereal and was mailed to collector Lotta Simpson of Albany, Illinois.
The photograph on the third card is sharper, and newer, but leaves
obscure the roofline over the entrance.
1904 grant. Opened 1906. Replaced 1976. Fate unknown.
The library's
history
page has some amusing sections.
1915 - The library is catalogued by Miss Fanny Hill.
1920 - The library is fumigated because of smallpox.
One of the communities of the district is Oblong.
(L) RPPC mailed in 1907.
(R) Card by N.E. Paper and Stationery of Ayer, MA. Mailed in 1909.
Raymond Bial's photography does a much better job capturing the details
beneath the eaves than did the left hand card.
So, of course, purchasing another card (right) became necessary.
The Carnegie Library in Illinois informs us that Flagg Township Library is a Carnegie Library
designed by Claude and Starck of Madison, WI. This is a lovely Prairie-
style building included on the National Register of Historic Places (1973).
Every other piece of info on the place is
available on the Internet, however. except this text:
The Flagg Township Library of Rochelle, Illinois, a Carnegie Library, was built in 1912. The building was designed by Louis Sullivan of the firm of Claude and Stark and was placed on the National Registry of Historical Places in 1973. The library houses over 26,000 volumes and is open 56 hours a week.
--House of Photography, 628 N. Lincoln Hiway, Rochelle, IL 61068
Now for something completely different.
(L) This linen finish card was produced by MWM (Mid-West Map Company) of Aurora, MO. Notice that they removed
the building in the left background (it's still standing) and added a flagpole. The roofline also
looks steeper.
However, they made pretty good maps.
(R) Prosaic Wm. G. Hoffman card, probably printed by Curt Teich, made at the beginning of the 'white border' era.
1906 grant.
The still-functioning Rushville library, with a very functional website, still resides in its Carnegie building. Thanks to you who filled me in on this detail.
(L) L.L. Cook photo postcard.
(R)This looks like an RPPC, but it's not.
It's a product of S.R. McQuown of
Monmouth.
At this point, the only way to see the non-linked library 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 - 2012 Judy Aulik
Divided 17 June 2009.
Updated 20 May 2012.
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