Spring Valley Public Library, 201 Broadway Avenue South, Spring Valley, Minnesota
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Spring Valley Public Library | |
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| Address: | 201 Broadway Avenue S |
| City/locality- State/province |
Spring Valley, Minnesota |
| County- State/province: |
Fillmore County, Minnesota |
| State/province: | Minnesota |
| Year built: | 1904 |
| Primary Style: | Beaux Arts |
| Historic Function: | Library |
| Current Function: | City hall/town hall/ |
| Architect or source of design: | H. J. Amlic |
| Builder: | H. J. Amlic |
| Material of Exterior Wall Covering: | Brick |
| First Owner: | City of Spring Valley |
| Notes: | Carnegie Grant: $8,000 |
(43.6859472° N, 92.390933° W)
| National Register of Historic Places Information | |
| Certification date: | April 27, 1982 |
| Level of significance: | Local |
The Spring Valley 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 March 27, 1903 the city of Spring Valley secured an initial sum of $8,000 from Carnegie to build the Spring Valley Public Library. The design and building of the Carnegie library is attributed to H.J. Amlic. The library was completed within six months and opened on December 01, 1904.
While the Carnegie grant was used to construct the building, the Spring Valley 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. After initial indecision about an appropriate site, the corner of Main and Broadway was selected. The first librarian of the Carnegie library in Spring Valley was Miss Nellie Grant.
A new Spring Valley Public Library has been built in recent years and the former Carnegie library building now functions as the City Hall.
Building Description
The Spring Valley Public Library is a tall single storey brick building on a raised basement faced with Kasota stone. The library is an example of local Beaux Arts Classicism which is characterised by the paired columns in the central projecting portico and absolute symmetry of architectural features. The entrance is further highlighted by the prominent cornice, arched window openings, and by extending past the roofline beyond the rest of the building. This emphasis on the entrance space is characteristic of Carnegie Library design.[1]
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Notes
- ↑ The information provided in this entry is from the 'Spring Valley Public Library' file held at the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO)
