Non-Carnegie Indiana Libraries

Yes, there are some that were not funded from Carnegie grants.

 Auburn (Eckhart Public Library)

Charles Eckhart actually had a Carnegie contract cancelled in 1909 so that his vision of an Arts & Crafts public library would be built instead. The 1911 library was a Patton & Miller design, modeled after the Linton, Indiana building. Unfortunately, I don't have a card of that library.

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 and carefully expanded in 1996. The library's website, from whence I obtained my information, shows the new building.

This card was published locally by the Auburn Post Card Mfg. Co., and has an unevenly divided back. Although it was never stamped or cancelled, it most likely dates from 1911.

 Aurora


Still in use. Ms. Georgianna Sutton donated the library in 1914. Its design is similar to many of the later, larger Carnegie buildings.

This is another (E-352) 'Clear View' card, produced in Fort Wayne by the Wayne Paper Box & Prtg. Corp.

You can actually buy an afghan with Aurora's historic sites illustrated, including the public library.



 Evansville: Evansville/Vanderburgh County Library; Willard Library

Willard Library (left) was built in 1885, and is the oldest library building in Indiana. The main library (right) was built in 1930.
Evansville apparently has the best of all worlds with respect to libraries. The East Side branch, one of two built from a 1911 grant, and remodeled in the early 1970s. The west side had a Carnegie building that can be seen on an Evansville postcard site which can be reached through the library site under 'Evansville Postcards.' The Deco building is the Evansville/Vanderburgh County library today. And the Willard Library, an impressive Victorian Gothic edifice, is reputedly haunted. It certainly looks as if it could have been built for the Addams family.

Evansville/Vanderburgh Library history page.

 Indianapolis

Currently the system is known as Indianapolis - Marion County Public Library.

I don't know if this building dates back as far as the 1873 founding.

Central Library (Cret Building)


James Whitcomb Riley, perhaps my absolutely least favorite poet of all time, did do something redeeming in 1917: donating the land that the Central Library stands upon. It is also known as the Cret Building, after its architect.
According to the card:

THE CENTRAL LIBRARY and 21 branches make 675,000 volumes available to all parts of Indianapolis, one of the foremost cities in book circulation and registered borrowers.

It has recently been extensively renovated.

This is not a Curt Teich card. Instead, it comes from the Craft Greeting Card Co. of Indianapolis.


 Lafayette (A.A. Wells Memorial Library)


1927 building in use as the Tippecanoe Arts Foundation.

The library is now known as the Tippecanoe County Public Library. The current building was opened in 1989. Its branch library is also part of the Ivy Tech campus. I'd like to see this combination.



 Richmond (Morrison and Reeves Library)

Founded in 1864. The card is of the renovated and expanded building! It even had Tiffany windows!

At first, when you look at the library's website, you think this building is still in use. Gleefully, you click through to their local history pages. Later you realize that it was recently demolished. Judging from their 'Then and Now' series lead photo, it happened significantly later than its 1975 replacement.

They salvaged the good bits, however, including the Tiffany windows.

 Rushville

This Bedford limestone building is a legacy of the Depression years, built 1931. It's still in use, and looks as if it's never undergone any exterior renovation, That's because they excavated during the 1988-1989 renovation.
I rather like the attitude of Rushville!

The card is, again, a Curt Teich product and appears to be a newer iteration of the Blue Sky series.

 South Bend


A.K.A. The Castle.

Built 1895-6, demolished 1958. Replacement: the Mrs. Betty Ruth Spiro Memorial Library. Outmoded by 1992, replaced by Saint Joseph County Public Library.

Visit the link for more photos and another postcard.

Terre Haute (Emeline Fairbanks Memorial Library)

Superceded by the Vigo County District Library.

This library has a weird history. At first it was under the jurisdiction of the Terre Haute school system.
This building was built in 1906 at 222 N. 7th Street, by the Modern Construction Company of Terre Haute to the Beaux Arts design of W.H. Floyd and C.E. Scott. Indiana State University acquired the building from the city in 1979 and converted it into an art building in 1984.

The building's full history is on the ISU website.

Versailles

Tyson Library, with what appears to be a tin roof, and canna lilies out front.

This card seems to be a little bit of a trademark infringement on Curt Teich.
Teich had their 'Blue Sky' series: here, above the words 'Post Card' appears a small 'Blue Sky.' It was produced by the Eagle Post Card View Co. of New York; published by Spencer's Drug Store of Versailles; and mailed in 1946.


© 2007 - 9 Judy Aulik
Separated from Indiana's Carnegie Libraries on 06 December 2007.
Updated 01 March 2009. Coming soon: my Auburn pictures from a recent vacation.

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