Adrian Public Library facts for kids
|
Adrian Public Library
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
Adrian Public Library in 2023
|
|
 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 110 E. Church Street Adrian, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Built | 1909 |
| Architect | Paul O. Moratz |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque, Mission Revival, Spanish Colonial Revival |
| Part of | Downtown Adrian Commercial District |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000719 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | December 6, 1977 |
The Adrian Public Library is a historic building located at 110 East Church Street in downtown Adrian, Michigan. This special building was first used as a library. It was named a Michigan Historic Site on December 14, 1976. Later, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 6, 1977. Today, the building is home to the Lenawee County Historical Society Museum.
History of the Library Building
The idea for a library in Adrian started way back in 1868. But the building we see today was finished in 1909. It was built with a large grant of $27,500 from the Andrew Carnegie Library Fund. The city of Adrian also helped by donating $5,000.
An architect from Illinois named Paul O. Moratz designed the library. A local builder, C. F. Matthes, completed the construction. The building was planned to hold a public library. It also had space for an art gallery and a lecture hall.
The library officially opened on February 5, 1909. It was first used as a library for the school district. In 1915, the city took over ownership. As the town grew, the building became too small for the library. So, a new library opened on June 12, 1978, at 143 East Maumee Street. That new library is still in use today. The old building was owned by a few different groups. Eventually, it was given back to the city. Now, it proudly houses the Lenawee County Historical Society Museum.
What the Building Looks Like
The Adrian Public Library building is about 2½ stories tall. It mixes different old architectural styles. These include Mission Revival Style, Spanish Colonial Revival, and Richardsonian Romanesque architecture. It is built from brick and sandstone. The building measures about 70 feet by 70 feet.
Since it's on a corner, the building has two main entrances. Both entrances are through very large arches. These arches are 18 feet high and 17 feet wide. They are decorated with carved sandstone. Near each entrance, there is a tall tower. One tower rises 66 feet high, and the other is 44 feet tall. A round room sticks out from the corner between the two towers.
Inside, on the first floor, there is a lobby with a curved ceiling. This lobby connects the two entrances. There are also two other big rectangular rooms on the first floor. The round room and two smaller rooms in the base of the towers are also on this level. The second floor has a similar layout to the first.
