Park Rapids Carnegie Library, 101 2nd Street West, Park Rapids, Minnesota
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Park Rapids Public Library | |
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| Address: | 101 2nd Street W |
| City/locality- State/province |
Park Rapids, Minnesota |
| County- State/province: |
Hubbard County, Minnesota |
| State/province: | Minnesota |
| Year built: | ca. 1908-1910 |
| Primary Style: | Classical Revival |
| Major Alterations: | Altered |
| Historic Function: | Library |
| Current Function: | Vacant |
| Architect or source of design: | Thomas C. Myers |
| Material of Roof: | Asphalt Shingles |
| Material of Foundation: | Concrete |
| First Owner: | City of Park Rapids |
| Notes: | Carnegie Grant: $5,000
Used as a Library until 1994. |
(46.9211246° N, 95.0584193° W)
The Park Rapids Public Library is one of 65 public libraries built in Minnesota with funds from Andrew Carnegie and the Carnegie Corporation. Between 1899 and 1917, Carnegie, a wealthy industrialist and philanthropist contributed close to 1 million dollars towards library construction in Minnesota. This makes Minnesota the eighth largest recipient of Carnegie Library grants in the United States.
History
On May 8, 1908 the city of Park Rapids secured $5,000 from Carnegie to build the Park Rapids Public Library. Plans were prepared by Thomas C. Myers who was already known for his design and building work in Park Rapids. Myers had designed the first brick schoolhouse in Park Rapids, many private residences and the Methodist Episcopal, Catholic and Baptist churches in the city. Myers was asked to have plans ready by December 1908 and construction began in 1909.[1]
While the Carnegie grant was used to construct the building, the Park Rapids community had to provide a suitable site and were expected to tax themselves at the annual rate of 10% of the grant amount. This requirement imposed by Carnegie ensured a long-term commitment for the purchase of books, staff costs and maintenance of the library building.
The Park Rapids Carnegie building served as the city's public library until 1994. After this it was remodeled and adapted as an office building.[2]
Building Description
The Park Rapids Public Library is a one storey Classical Revival style building with a raised basement defined by a stone water table. It rests on a concrete foundation and has a hipped, asphalt shingled roof. The building was constructed of concrete or stone block but this has subsequently been covered over with a stucco finish. The symmetrical, temple-like facade of the Park Rapids Public Library references classical architecture and is a common characteristic of Carnegie Library design. Ornamentation is kept to a minimum on the Park Rapids Public Library - its main features are the projecting entrance porch with two free-standing columns supporting a simple pediment. An interesting aspect of the current design is that the quoining detail must have been added when they stuccoed as this was not a feature of the original stone block facade.
Memories and stories
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This place is part of the Minnesota Carnegie Libraries Tour |
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Notes
- ↑ Johnson, E. (July 2, 1980). Library started in 1888. Park Rapids Enterprise – Centennial Edition.
- ↑ Information and sources for this entry were provided by the Park Rapids Area Library
