Carnegie Public Library (Escanaba, Michigan)

The Escanaba Public Library was a Carnegie library located at 201 South Seventh Street in Escanaba, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977[1] and designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1976.[2]

Escanaba Public Library
Carnegie Public Library (Escanaba, Michigan) is located in Michigan
Carnegie Public Library (Escanaba, Michigan)
Carnegie Public Library (Escanaba, Michigan) is located in the United States
Carnegie Public Library (Escanaba, Michigan)
Location201 S. 7th St., Escanaba, Michigan
Coordinates45°44′39″N 87°3′22″W / 45.74417°N 87.05611°W / 45.74417; -87.05611
Area< one acre
Built1902
ArchitectTheodore Lohff
Architectural styleClassical Revival
Part ofEscanaba Central Historic District (ID14000123)
NRHP reference No.77000712[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJuly 25, 1977
Designated MSHSJanuary 16, 1976[2]

History

edit

The Escanaba Public Library was constructed with $20,000[3] in funds donated by Andrew Carnegie.[2] The city of Escanaba promised additional yearly operation funds.[3] The building was designed by local architect Theodore Lohff.[2] The Carnegie library opened in May 1903.[2]

In 1992, the city began construction on a new city hall and library complex.[3] The library moved to the new location in 1995,[3] and the old Carnegie building was sold to private owners, who refurbished it with the intention of converting it into a private home.[4]

Description

edit

The Escanaba Public Library is a one-story Classical Revival building constructed of red brick and Lake Superior Sandstone.[2] It sits on a rough-faced stone foundation.[2] The front facade has a portico entrance with an entablature and pediment supported by four Ionic columns.[2] Windows flanked by pilasters and topped with lintels lighten the mass of the building.[2] The building is topped with a cornice and pediments on each side;[2] a balustrade which originally ran between the pediments was removed in 1928.[4] A low dome originally topped building; it was removed in 1958.[2] An upper dome still is in place.[4] The rear of the building is of simpler design, constructed of brick and containing simple windows with stone sills.[2]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Carnegie Public Library". Michigan State Housing Development Authority: Historic Sites Online. Archived from the original on 2012-12-25. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d "History of the Escanaba Public Library". Escanaba Public Library. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved April 18, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c Dionna Harris (May 3, 2008). "Work continues on old Esky library". Archived from the original on 2016-03-03.