Carnegie Library - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

The Carnegie Public Library is significant in the areas of education, social history, and architecture as an example of and early 20th century Carnegie library and a sophisticated example of civic architecture in the Neoclassical style. The library was constructed in 1903 with funds provided by wealthy industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

The library was designed by E.E. Joralemon, an architect from Niagara Falls, who also designed the Niagara Falls Carnegie Library. Both buildings are similar with low, one-story brick facades with limestone trim, central projecting entrance pavilions, and distinctive projecting hexagonal pavilions at the rear.

The building's integrity has been slightly compromised by its conversion into a gallery with the removal of library furnishings and alterations to the interior decoration.

The original library for the city had become full, and the library committee of the board of education recommended a new one be built to accommodate the growing city. At the same time, Andrew Carnegie offered the board $20,000 to be used for the purpose of building a new library. The condition attached was that the school district had to provide a site and appropriate $2600 annually for maintenance. The city accepted the proposal in 1903 and also approved a proposition to raise $4000 for the site and furnishings.

By 1935, the library, which originally intended to house 18,000 books, now held 30,000. In June 1975, the North Tonawanda Public Library moved to its new current location on Meadow Drive. This building was used as a branch until 1976, when the Tonawandas' Council on the Arts moved in and renamed it the Carnegie Art Center. The center provides art classes and exhibitions for the cultural enrichment of the community.

Street address: 240 Goundry Street North Tonawanda, NY United States 14120 County / Borough / Parish: Niagara Year listed: 1995 Historic (Areas of) Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering Periods of significance: 1900-1924, 1925-1949 Historic function: Education: Library Current function: Recreation And Culture: Museum Privately owned?: yes Season start / Season finish: From: 01/01/2006 To: 12/31/2006 Hours of operation: From: 11:00 AM To: 4:00 PM Primary Web Site: [Web Link] Secondary Website 1: [Web Link] Secondary Website 2: Not listed National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

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