Ballard Carnegie Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ballard Carnegie Library
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Ballard Carnegie Library, ca. 1911
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| Location | 2026 NW Market Street Ballard, Seattle, Washington, U.S. |
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| Built | 1904 |
| Architect | Henderson Ryan |
| MPS | Carnegie Libraries of Washington TR (AD) |
| NRHP reference No. | 79002535 |
| Added to NRHP | June 15, 1979 |
The Ballard Carnegie Library is a very old and important building. It is located in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, United States. This building used to be a Carnegie library. These libraries were built with money from a famous rich person named Andrew Carnegie.
Before this library, there was a small reading room started by a women's group in 1901. The Ballard Carnegie Library opened on June 24, 1904. At that time, Ballard was its own city. After Seattle took over Ballard in 1907, this library became the first big branch of the Seattle public library system. It was also special because one of Seattle's first African American librarians worked there.
The library was used until 1963. Then, a newer and more modern library took its place. After being sold, the old library building became different businesses. These included an antique shop, a restaurant, and even a company that made kilts. In 1979, it was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes buildings that are important to history.
Contents
History of the Ballard Library
How the Library Started
In the late 1860s, Ballard was a new settlement. A person named Ira Wilcox Utter helped start a small library there. Later, in 1901, a group called the Women's Christian Temperance Union of Ballard began raising money. They held fairs and social events to open a new reading room. This reading room moved and grew several times.
The Ballard City Council decided to build a proper library in 1903. They asked Andrew Carnegie for money. He was a very wealthy person who gave a lot of money to build libraries across the country.
Building the Library
The land for the library cost $2,100. Local businesses and people helped raise money for the building. The women's union also helped with their earlier fundraising and book collections. Andrew Carnegie gave a large grant of $15,000.
When the building was finished, it had a big auditorium that could seat 500 people. It also had a room for men to read and relax. This room was later changed into a general reading room. Some of the building work was done by a special work crew.
At first, the library needed books. Carnegie's grant did not pay for new books to start the collection. So, people in the community were asked to donate books. This helped the library get many books for everyone to read.
The Library's Busy Years
In 1907, the Seattle Public Library took over the Carnegie library. This happened when Ballard became part of Seattle. Many early immigrants from Scandinavia used the library. The Ballard area was home to many people from Scandinavian countries. The library even had a special gate at the entrance to its book shelves. This gate would count how many people came in to borrow books.
During World War I, the Carnegie Library became a center for community activities. People could get information about the war there. It also hosted classes from the Red Cross and English language classes. In 1942, during World War II, a special event happened. Lucille Smith, one of the first African American librarians in Seattle, was assigned to work at this library.
A New Chapter for the Building
By 1956, the library building was considered too small and old. Seattle voters approved a plan to build a new library. The Ballard Carnegie Library closed its doors in 1963. A new, bigger public library was built nearby.
After closing, the old library building was sold. It became an antique store. Some experts had said the old building might not be strong enough for earthquakes. However, the building has survived several earthquakes since then.
From 2003 to 2010, the old library building was a French restaurant called Carnegie's. Other businesses have also used the building. Since 2012, it has been home to the Kangaroo and Kiwi Pub.
The area around Market Street where the building is located has become very valuable. The Ballard Carnegie Library building does not have special "landmark status" from the City of Seattle. This means it could be at risk from new building projects, even though it is on the National Register of Historic Places.
See also
In Spanish: Biblioteca Ballard Carnegie para niños
