Carnegie Free Library of Beaver Falls facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Carnegie Free Library, Beaver Falls
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Front and northern side of the library
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1301 Seventh Avenue, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1899 |
| Architect | Frederick J. Osterling |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| NRHP reference No. | 85001967 |
| Added to NRHP | September 5, 1985 |
The Carnegie Free Library of Beaver Falls is a special old library in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, USA. It was the very first library building in Beaver County. A famous rich man named Andrew Carnegie paid for it. The library was designed by a top architect from Pittsburgh. Its grand style changed how people thought about Carnegie libraries. Many groups in the community have used this building. It is still used as a library today and is known as a historic site.
Contents
How the Library Started
In 1883, some people in the community decided to start a library. They held talks and sold tickets to raise money. At first, the library was very small, fitting inside a grocery store. Even though it was a subscription library (meaning you paid to use it), many people used it. This showed that the community needed a bigger library.
The group kept holding events to raise money. They even invited Andrew Carnegie to speak. He couldn't come, but he sent some money to help. This made the community leaders think about asking him for more help. They wanted him to pay for a whole new building. After talking for several years, Mr. Carnegie agreed to give $50,000 for the library.
Building the Library
With the money secured, the library group bought land in downtown Beaver Falls. They hired Frederick J. Osterling, an architect from Pittsburgh, to design the new building. Osterling created a grand design in the Neoclassical style. Construction began in 1899. The library officially opened to the public in December 1903.
The building quickly became famous. Local people saw it as a landmark. Even Andrew Carnegie and his assistant, James Bertram, noticed its grand design. In fact, this library helped change how future Carnegie libraries were built. Carnegie and Bertram thought buildings like this were too fancy. They decided that new Carnegie libraries should be smaller and have simpler designs.
A Community Hub
This library was the first building in Beaver County made just for a library. It quickly became a center for the whole community. The local school district, Big Beaver Falls Area School District, owned the library. This meant it was used for school activities. Plays and graduation ceremonies were held on its stage.
It was also the first building in Beaver County with a stage for performances. So, it hosted many community events not related to the school. By 1915, more children in the city needed classrooms. The school district used part of the second floor for classes. All the children moved to regular school buildings by 1931. Over time, fewer events were held at the library. But it has always been an important part of the community's culture and buildings.
Library Design and Features
The library building has two stories and is built in the Neoclassical style. It also has some Palladian influences. It is made of yellow brick and sits on a raised stone foundation. The stone details at the top of the foundation are about 4 feet above the ground.
Outside the Building
There are strong supports called buttresses on three sides of the building. These help hold up the roof and divide the walls into sections. Many windows are placed between these supports. The building has a lot of glass, including a huge stained glass window at the front with a fanlight shape. All this glass means the building can lose a lot of heat. Even the roof has windows, like dormer windows and a skylight, to let in light.
Many windows have decorative terracotta frames. Large stone steps lead up to the front entrance. The most striking part of the building is the main entrance on the east side. It has two pairs of columns and a large triangular top part called a pediment. The north and south sides also have nice designs. The back (west) side, which faces an alley, has been changed to help prevent damage or theft.
Inside the Library
The library has three floors. The basement and first floor are similar to other Carnegie libraries from that time. The basement has utility rooms and spaces for community meetings. The first floor has the main desk where you check out books. It also has areas for bookshelves, reading rooms for adults, and a special section for children.
Upstairs, the second floor holds a special library for family history, called the Beaver County Research and Resource Center for Local History. The city's historical museum is located in the basement.
Most of the original performance hall in the basement was taken apart in 1961. The idea was to make more space for books and reading. However, it was later rented out to a state government agency. After that, it was changed again to become the city museum. Not many other big changes have happened. The second-floor ceiling was lowered to save on heating costs. A small wall was added at the top of the stairs to keep people safe. But the main floor still has its high ceilings. Almost all of the building's original wooden parts, which were never painted, are still there. You can see hand-carved details on the walnut and oak wood trim. Some parts even have large Ionic columns that look like they support the ceilings.
Protecting the Library
By the mid-1980s, the school board in Beaver Falls knew how important the library's architecture was. The building has stayed in such good condition partly because the board had a rule. This rule said that no changes should be made that would harm its historic look.
The library became even more recognized in 1985. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It earned this honor because of its unique architecture and its important role in local history. It is one of twenty such places in Beaver County. It is the only one in Beaver Falls. The building is still used as a library today. It is now part of a larger library system that serves the entire county.
