Duluth Public Library (historic)

Last updated

Duluth Public Library
Old Duluth Public Library.jpg
The former Duluth Public Library viewed from the southeast
DuluthMapRevised.png
Red pog.svg
USA Minnesota location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location101 W. 2nd Street, Duluth, Minnesota
Coordinates 46°47′14″N92°6′8″W / 46.78722°N 92.10222°W / 46.78722; -92.10222 Coordinates: 46°47′14″N92°6′8″W / 46.78722°N 92.10222°W / 46.78722; -92.10222
AreaLess than one acre
Built1902
ArchitectAdolph F. Rudolph
Architectural style Neoclassical
NRHP reference No. 78003125 [1]
Added to NRHPMay 5, 1978

The historic Duluth Public Library is a former Carnegie library building at 101 West Second Street in Duluth, Minnesota, United States. It was constructed in 1902 as the first purpose-built facility of the Duluth Public Library. [2] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 for its local significance in the themes of architecture and education. [3] It was nominated for its Neoclassical architecture and association with early community education efforts. [2]

Contents

Library services relocated to a new downtown facility in 1980, after which the historic library was renovated and converted into an office building. [4] [5]

History

The library in 1902 Duluth Public Library 1902.jpg
The library in 1902

In 1899, through the efforts of the Duluth Evening Herald, Andrew Carnegie gifted $50,000 for the construction of a library in Duluth. [6] [7] Later that year, the city purchased three lots for $16,000 on which to build the library. [8] By 1900, the city had selected a design by architects Radcliffe & Willoughby, [9] but later decided to go with a design by Adolph F. Rudolph instead. [2] [10] The designs would cost at least $50,000, so in mid-1900 the city requested and received an additional $25,000 from Carnegie for a total of $75,000. [7] [11]

Construction began in 1901, with the cost estimated at $68,900. [12] The cornerstone was laid on July 4, 1901, as part of the Independence Day celebrations. [13] [14] By the end of construction the library cost slightly more than the $75,000 donated by Carnegie. Expenses for the property and furniture were covered separately by the city. [15] The library opened on April 19, 1902. [7]

The Duluth Public Library was the first of three Carnegie libraries to open in Duluth, followed by the West Duluth Branch Library in 1912 and the Lincoln Branch Library in 1917. [7] [11] In 1927, an addition was built at the rear of this library to house additional book stacks and other facilities. [2]

The Carnegie library served as Duluth's main library until 1980, [lower-alpha 1] when it moved to its new location at 520 West Superior Street. [7] After the library ceased operations, it was renovated and became an office building. [4] [5]

Architecture

Detail of the entrance Duluth Public Library 7.jpg
Detail of the entrance

The library is a two-story neoclassical building made of brick and Port Wing brown sandstone. [2] [16] The front of the building features a portico with four Ionic columns topped by a pediment decorated with the letters "DULUTH PUBLIC LIBRARY". The roof features a low circular dome near the center of the building. [2]

As of 1977, the main entrance to the library was at the basement level; this floor housed stacks and rooms for workshops and book mending. A stairway led to the first floor which housed children's books and periodicals. A white marble staircase led to the second floor which housed the circulation desk, more stacks, and the reading and reference rooms. The reading and reference rooms were symmetric to either side of the staircase along the main facade, each featuring a stained glass window. [2]

The stained glass windows were both designed by Anne Weston and manufactured by Louis C. Tiffany Studios. The first window, commissioned in 1893, depicts Minnehaha, a character in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's epic poem The Song of Hiawatha , standing in front of Minnehaha Falls. [2] [17] It was displayed in the Minnesota Building at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, and then gifted to the Duluth Public Library, which was based out of the Masonic Temple at the time. [17] The window moved to the Carnegie library after being donated to the library following a dispute with the Masonic Temple. The second window was commissioned in 1904 and depicts Park Point along Lake Superior. When the library closed in 1980, the windows were moved to the Duluth Depot. [17] In 2011, the windows were loaned to the St. Louis County Historical Society. [18]

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Various sources list different closing years for the library, including the late 1970s, [4] 1980, [7] and 1981. [5]

Related Research Articles

A Carnegie Library is a library built with money donated by Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

National Farmers Bank of Owatonna United States historic place

The National Farmers' Bank of Owatonna, Minnesota, United States, is a historic bank building designed by Louis Sullivan, with decorative elements by George Elmslie. It was built in 1908, and was the first of Sullivan's "jewel box" bank designs. The building is clad in red brick with green terra cotta bands, and features two large arches on its street-facing facades. Single-story wings, originally housing bank offices, extend along each side. Internal elements include two stained-glass windows designed by Louis J. Millet, a mural by Oskar Gross, and four immense cast iron electroliers designed by Elmslie and cast by Winslow Brothers Company.

Endion station

Endion station is a former train station in Duluth, Minnesota, United States. It was built in 1899 to serve the Endion neighborhood but was relocated to Canal Park in 1986 to make way for expansion of Interstate 35. Passenger service through the station had ceased in 1961 and freight service in 1978.

Fisher Fine Arts Library United States historic place

The Fisher Fine Arts Library was the primary library of the University of Pennsylvania from 1891 to 1962. The red sandstone, brick-and-terra-cotta Venetian Gothic giant—part fortress and part cathedral—was designed by the acclaimed Philadelphia architect Frank Furness (1839–1912). The cornerstone was laid in October 1888, construction was completed in late 1890, and the building was dedicated in February 1891.

Historic Old Central High School

The Historic Old Central High School of Duluth, Minnesota, United States, is a local landmark dating to 1892. One of Minnesota's leading examples of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture, it occupies an entire city block and sports a 210-foot (64 m) clock tower. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Duluth Central High School in 1972 for its state-level significance in the theme of architecture.

Mountain Iron Mine United States historic place

Mountain Iron Mine is a former mine in Mountain Iron, Minnesota, United States. Opened in 1892, it was the first mine on the Mesabi Range, which has proved to be the largest iron ore deposit ever discovered. Mining operations at the site ceased in 1956. The bottom of the open-pit mine has filled with water but its dimensions are readily visible. The city maintains an overlook in Mountain Iron Locomotive Park.

Taylors Falls Public Library United States historic place

Taylors Falls Public Library is the public library of Taylors Falls, Minnesota, United States, still operating in its original 19th-century building. Originally constructed as a tailor shop in 1854, the building was remodeled and converted into a library in 1887. Taylors Falls Public Library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 for its local significance in the themes of architecture and education. It was nominated for being an intact example of small-town libraries as they existed before Carnegie libraries and bookmobiles, and for its Carpenter Gothic/Stick style architecture.

Carnegie Free Library of Beaver Falls United States historic place

The Carnegie Free Library of Beaver Falls is a historic Carnegie library in the city of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, United States. Erected as Beaver County's first library building, it was financed by Andrew Carnegie and designed by a leading Pittsburgh architect in grand architectural style that helped to redefine the image of the typical Carnegie library. Numerous community organizations have used its space, which remains in continued use as a library, and it has been named a historic site.

National Register of Historic Places listings in St. Louis County, Minnesota

This is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Saint Louis County, Minnesota. It is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Saint Louis County, Minnesota, United States. The locations of National Register properties and districts for which the latitude and longitude coordinates are included below, may be seen in an online map.

Carnegie Library, Runcorn

The Carnegie Library is in Egerton Street, Runcorn, Cheshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building and "possesses special architectural and historic interest within a national context". It was built in 1906 as an extension to Waterloo House and the existing library with a grant from Andrew Carnegie, and closed in 2012.

Oliver G. Traphagen American architect

Oliver Green Traphagen was an American architect who designed many notable buildings in Duluth, Minnesota, during the late 19th century and in the Territory of Hawaii during the early 20th century. Among his most famous landmarks are the Oliver G. Traphagen House in Duluth, called the Redstone, and the Moana Hotel in Honolulu, both of which are on the National Register of Historic Places, as are several other buildings he designed.

Oliver G. Traphagen House United States historic place

The Oliver G. Traphagen House, also known as Redstone, is a historic residential building in Duluth, Minnesota, United States. Built in 1892 as a duplex, it was designed and inhabited by architect Oliver G. Traphagen (1854–1932). The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 for its local significance in the theme of architecture. It was nominated for its association with Traphagen, recognized together with his business partner Francis W. Fitzpatrick as Duluth's leading architects of the late 19th century.

Munger Terrace United States historic place

Munger Terrace is an architecturally significant rowhouse in the Central Hillside neighborhood of Duluth, Minnesota, United States. It was designed by Oliver G. Traphagen and Francis W. Fitzpatrick and built from 1891 to 1892, originally containing eight luxury townhomes. Munger Terrace was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 for its local significance in the theme of architecture. It was nominated for being Duluth's finest example of Châteauesque architecture applied to an apartment building.

Ottumwa Public Library United States historic place

Ottumwa Public Library is a public library located in downtown Ottumwa, Iowa, United States. The current building was built in 1901. It is part of the Central Park area, which is the civic center of the community. It includes the Wapello County Courthouse, Ottumwa City Hall, and St. Mary of the Visitation Catholic Church. The library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.

Bemidji Carnegie Library United States historic place

The Bemidji Carnegie Library is a former library building in Bemidji, Minnesota, United States. It was built as a Carnegie library in 1909 and housed the city's public library until 1961. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 for its local significance in the themes of architecture and education. It was nominated for being a well-preserved example of a Carnegie library and of public Neoclassical architecture.

Lincoln Branch Library United States historic place

The Lincoln Branch Library is a former Carnegie library building in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Duluth, Minnesota, United States. It was constructed from 1915 to 1917 as the first permanent home of a Duluth Public Library branch first established in 1892. The Lincoln Branch Library was built of brick and limestone in the Late Gothic Revival style. It was the last of the three Carnegie libraries built in Duluth.

Rumford Public Library United States historic place

The Rumford Public Library is a library in Rumford, Maine. The building it is in was designed by Maine architect John Calvin Stevens and was built with a funding grant from Andrew Carnegie in 1903. The architecturally distinguished building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

Delano Village Hall United States historic place

The original Delano Village Hall is a historic government building in Delano, Minnesota, United States, now in development as the Delano Heritage Center. From its construction in 1888 through most of the 20th century the building housed municipal offices, the police and fire departments, and a public library, while the upper-floor meeting hall was a key venue for public and private events. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 for having local significance in the themes of architecture and politics/government. It was nominated for being a typical example of Minnesota's municipal buildings of the late 19th and early 20th century, and for its longstanding centrality to government and civic functions in Delano.

YWCA of Duluth United States historic place

The YWCA of Duluth is a former YWCA building in Duluth, Minnesota, United States. It was built in 1908 to provide programs and activities for Duluth's young, single women. It contained a gymnasium, swimming pool, cafeteria, meeting rooms, and apartments. In addition to the organization's usual suite of athletics, Bible study, and employment assistance, the YWCA of Duluth catered to the city's large foreign-born population with English and citizenship classes. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011 for its local significance in the theme of social history. It was nominated for its role in local civic development through the YWCA's social welfare efforts.

References

  1. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Nelson, Charles W. (July 11, 1977). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory -- Nomination Form: Duluth Public Library". National Park Service. Retrieved April 20, 2019.Cite journal requires |journal= (help) With five accompanying photos from 1977.
  3. ↑ "Duluth Public Library". Minnesota National Register Properties Database. Minnesota Historical Society. 2009. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  4. 1 2 "A Brief History". Carnegie Building LLC. Archived from the original on August 28, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  5. 1 2 "Duluth's Carnegie Library up for sale". St. Paul Pioneer Press. May 20, 2010. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Andrew Carnegie Gives Duluth $50,000 for a Library Building". The Minneapolis Tribune. October 24, 1899.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 Boelk, Tayler. "Library History: The Duluth Library and How it Grew". Duluth Library Foundation. Archived from the original on January 20, 2017. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Now Owns the Site". The Duluth Evening Herald. December 6, 1899.
  9. ↑ "The Library Plans". The Duluth Evening Herald. April 25, 1900.
  10. ↑ "Call For Bids: Library Board Will Receive Proposals For Building on Feb. 18". The Duluth Evening Herald. January 17, 1901.
  11. 1 2 Sommer, Barbara W.; Debra Kellner (2012). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Lincoln Branch Library" (PDF). National Park Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 3, 2013. Retrieved May 12, 2013.Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  12. ↑ "New Library: Board Lets Contract and Decides on All Materials". The Duluth Evening Herald. March 5, 1901.
  13. ↑ "The Library: Corner Stone to be Laid on Fourth of July". The Duluth Evening Herald. June 4, 1901.
  14. ↑ "Result of Year's Work". The Saint Paul Globe. January 31, 1902.
  15. ↑ "All Quit Losers". The Duluth Evening Herald. April 11, 1902.
  16. ↑ Kidder, Frank Eugene (1910). Building Construction and Superintendence: Masons' work. William T. Comstock Company. p. 240. Archived from the original on February 10, 2018.
  17. 1 2 3 Duluth City Council (2008). "Resolution of Intent to Cause a Gift to Be Made to the St. Louis County Historical Society of the Minnehaha, The Daniel Greysolon Sieur Du Lhut and Daniel Greysolon (Currently Located at City Hall) Windows on Certain Conditions" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on February 20, 2017.Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  18. ↑ Duluth City Council (2011). "Resolution Authorizing Long Term Loan Agreement With the St. Louis County Historical Society for Display and Preservation of the Two City-owned Stained Glass Tiffany Windows" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on February 18, 2017.Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.