Newnan, Georgia Carnegie Library
(Public Library: 1904 to 1987)
Andrew Carnegie provided a grant of $10,000, on 1901 December 30, for construction of a Carnegie Library building facing the town square in Newnan, Georgia. A teenager from this Georgia town actually sought this library grant directly from Andrew Carnegie! Given early in the Carnegie Library grant program, this was one of the first Carnegie Library grants in the state of Georgia and was provided to a town which had not previously had a public library. It is also, likely, the oldest surviving Carnegie Library building in the state. The cornerstone for the Library was laid on 1903 August 4. The Carnegie Library opened to the public in 1904.
A larger, modern library replaced this Carnegie Library in 1987, three miles from the center of town. The Carnegie Library building later became an overflow courtroom for the County Courthouse, located across the square. As of May of 2007, the building is empty, and concerned citizens are seeking a new public use for the building that would be more complementary to its original use, according to Carol Burke, Communications Chair of the citizens group “Friends of the Carnegie.”
As of August of 2007, through the efforts of the “Friends of the Carnegie” citizens group, the mayor and city council of Newnan, Georgia have agreed to return the historic Newnan Carnegie Library building to use as a public library. Once it reopens as a public library, it will have a few unique distinctions;
1) Carnegie Library which has never been enlarged and, hence, the original building's historic exterior is completely intact;
2) The only Carnegie Library to be replaced with a newer structure, original building used for another purpose, then returned to use as a public library;
3) Oldest Carnegie Library in the state of Georgia.
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At this website a view from the top of the Cowetta County Courthouse across the street (
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At this website a very touching bit of history of this library (
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