Occasionally, Illinois communities leapt to the challenge
before Andrew Carnegie hit the scene. In some cases (Dominy Library of
Fairbury and Mary McCoy Library of McLeansboro), local
citizens led the way.
Some of these cards,
however, postdate the grant program or picture buildings that
replaced Carnegie buildings (Highland Park, Des Plaines).
Building pictured is the post-1960 Miriam Havighurst Children's Room addition.
And this is not the first
library
building.
From card:
Library was built in 1878. Children's room addition added in April 1960. A historic landmark. In the foreground Batavia's Memorial to its Hero Dead.
--Custom Studio, Batavia, Illinois as printed by the Dexter Press.
The first library served from 1902 - 1921; the second, 1921 - 1981, and the third,
1981 - 2002. At this rate, the next is due to appear sometime around 2012.
Torn down in 1978. It probably took far longer than expected:
this was one impressive brick bookhouse.
Partial history on the Bloomington Public Library site in its
online newsletter.
Card appears to date from the 'teens.
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| Unevenly divided card with a 1906 postmark | Linen-finish card from the '30s | Modern chrome by Ned's Photo Service of Vienna, IL |
Built in 1883, dedicated in 1884, and still in use, albeit underused, sayeth a former resident.
From the newest card:
Dedicated in 1884, the Cairo Public Library's A.B. Safford Memorial Building at 1609 Washington is home to a diverse collection of over 50,000 volumes, including a nationally recognized Civil War Research Collection. The two story, Queen Anne style structure also contains museum quality sculptures, paintings, unique furnishings and interesting displays.
Romanesque building dates from 1892 and was superceded in 1957 by the Parlin-Ingersoll Library. The old library was recycled into use as a city building. It almost looks like it was built for that destiny.
Neither card really shows the library well.
(L) Building obscured behind trees. Appears to be red brick.
(R) Curt Teich 'C.T. Photo Finish' card. I don't know why
they called this card series that, as nearly every card looks like
a pen and ink drawing.
Real Photo Post Card of Carlinville's library. There are no clues
as to its date, but the lower left corner bears the notation 'BREGSTONE TV NO 27.'
The library's website offers me no help: I don't know if this building is still in use.
I suspect it is.
Neither card does the dark brown brick building, located on Washington Street in Carpentersville, justice.
Merged with Dundee library in 1959 to form the Dundee Township Public Library District. (From a 1962 library brochure on the neat-o Digital Past site.)
This was my favorite library as a child. It had lovely wood
paneling, built-in
bookcases, and newspapers mounted in slatted poles.
There were real library tables and green-shaded reading
lights. (Light is a relative term here.) It wasn't air conditioned, but
it was cool even on the hottest days. The maple trees were mammoth
by the 1960s.
If I recall accurately, the entire children's collection was by the righthand windows,
one full range parallel to the foyer, and a short range for smaller
children underneath the front windows.
It didn't take a lot to make me happy, as long as I was in a library.
On Digital Past, the North Suburban Library System's fantastic digitization project, there is a very clear early photograph of the building. That maple tree in front looked to be at least 60 years old during the years we used the Carpentersville Public Library.
Recently a reader, Greg White, filled me in on the Cary Library:
I grew up roughly 100 yards from that library, so I know the story behind it: The area in question is indeed in Cary, Illinois and was owned by the Curtiss Candy Company (who bought it from John D. Hertz of Hertz Rental Car fame). The plot of land was known a s Curtiss Farm #77, and was known for breeding prize bulls and was nationally recognized as the center for artificial insemination programs. In the mid 70's, the surrounding acreage was sold to developers and became the community of Trout Valley. The farm itself was donated to the Village of Cary, and after renovation became a complex that housed the police station, town hall, the Cary Community Center, and the Cary Library. The entrance to the library was through the side of the silo you have pictured on your site. A glass ceiling was installed about 8 feet off the ground, and upon entering the library you could look up at the entire length of the silo from the inside. The address of the library would have been on Stonegate Road. Sometime in the late 90's or early 2000's ..., the library moved to its current location on Three Oaks Road, which is a shame because although it is a much larger facility, it holds none of the charm of the old library.
The card was produced by MWM Dexter.
Located in the county seat of Champaign. Lefthand card postmarked 1910; righthand card, 1907.
Urbana, its twin city, has a Carnegie library: Champaign did not.
That'll l'arn me not to go by architecture only.
The featured building having been replaced in 1977,
Champaign Public Library again built a
new facility, opened in 2008.
Hey, where'd my chimney go?
This monochrome card was also postmarked in 1907, but with a divided back, it's newer.
Built 1897. Architects were Shipley, Rutan, and Coolidge.
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Chicago Public Library thumbnails are arranged chronologically, and may be enlarged by clicking. Return using your browser's back button. The leftmost postcard features 4 Chicago libraries. |
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Ostensibly Art Deco building built in 1930. You can't really tell from this postcard. Curt Teich could make a corncob look Deco.
Visit the NIU digitization project page for more history.
Des Plaines Public Library's website is a work of art, as is its new building. The website even gives a complete and concise history. However, I was stymied as to which library this card featured, since the web page has no photos. Thanks to E.R. et familie for clearing up the confusion! The Carnegie building was built in 1907. In the 30s, the library moved into City Hall. The next mention of a dedicated building is 1958, and this is the one the card shows.
Dixon's public library was built in 1900. Its long history is detailed on the library's website. At one point the library contained an apartment for the custodian. I am unaware of any other library building that can make this claim.
One would like to think that President Reagan had spent some time with the collection.
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Where the rest of America had Andrew Carnegie, Elgin had condensed milk magnate Gail Borden. By the late '60s, the featured building was outgrown, and the new library built several blocks away, on the Fox River. In 2003, the river side building in turn was superceded.
The old red brick library was used by the Ackemann Department store in the '70s for a hip junior store. After it went out of business, the final fate of the building is unknown to me.
Interesting historical photographs on GBPL's portion of the Digital Past site.
<-- Linen-finish Curteich-Chicago 'C.T. American Art'
postcard which shows the main facility.
Chrome finish Artvue card that shows the addition.-->
Wilder Mansion facility superceded by new building in October, 2003. Site has some great pictures of the construction process, as well as its opening day.
This library causes me a quandary. It's a non-profit library, not
a public
library, opened on New Year's Day, 1905. Yet, it serves
a locality, not special interests.
Its rather tragic
origin is detailed on its home page.
The Real Photo card (L) was mailed, as a Christmas card, in 1907. Real
Photo cards don't exactly strike me as Christmassy.
(R) Early Curt Teich card mailed 1909.
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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.
©2003-2008 Judy Aulik
Separated from Carnegie libraries of Illinois, 27 February 2006.
Divided on 09 May 2007. Updated 01 June 2008.