Ballinger Carnegie Library

Ballinger Carnegie Library
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Show map of Texas Show map of the United States
Location	204 N. 8th St., Ballinger, Texas
Coordinates	31°44′23″N99°56′59″W / 31.73972°N 99.94972°W / 31.73972; -99.94972 (Ballinger Carnegie Library)
Area	1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built	1909
Built by	Leslie, J.D.
Architectural style	Vernacular Classical Revival
NRHP reference No.	75002002 [1]
Added to NRHP	June 18, 1975

The Ballinger Carnegie Library, at 204 N. 8th St. in Ballinger, Texas, is a Carnegie library which was built in 1909. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. ^[1] It is one of only five Carnegie Libraries in Texas, out of 32 built, to remain in use as a public library. ^[2]

It is built in "a vernacular version" of Classical Revival style. Its most prominent feature is a two-story portico. ^[3]

After construction of a one-story building was started, it was redesigned to add a second floor auditorium. Additional funding from the Carnegie Foundation was sought and denied, but followups led to another check from Andrew Carnegie. ^[3]

The building, in addition to serving as the library, was an important cultural center for the community. In early years it was run by members of a Shakespeare club, and was later taken over by an American Legion group. ^[3]

It is a Texas State Antiquities Landmark and a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark.

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
2. "Carnegie Library". City of Ballinger. City of Ballinger. Retrieved January 27, 2025.
3. Joe R. Williams; Marie Landon; Steve Smith (May 1, 1975). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Ballinger Carnegie Library". National Archives. Retrieved May 27, 2018. With two photos from 1975. Downloading may be slow.

External links

• Media related to Ballinger Carnegie Library at Wikimedia Commons