Cattermole Memorial Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Cattermole Memorial Library
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 614 7th St. Fort Madison, Iowa |
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| Built | 1893-1894 |
| Built by | J.C. Sunderland |
| Architectural style | Richardsonian Romanesque |
| Part of | Fort Madison Downtown Commercial Historic District (ID07000852) |
| MPS | Public Library Buildings in Iowa TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 84001267 |
| Added to NRHP | April 5, 1984 |
The Cattermole Memorial Library is a special old building in Fort Madison, Iowa, United States. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. This means it's an important place worth protecting. Later, in 2007, it became part of the Fort Madison Downtown Commercial Historic District. This district is a group of historic buildings in the city center.
A Look Back: The Library's History
The very first library in Fort Madison started small. It was a reading room in the late 1870s. A local group called the White Ribbon Society set it up. This group worked to encourage people to avoid alcohol. The reading room became very popular. By 1884, it grew into the City Circulation Library. This collection of books was the start of what would become the Cattermole Memorial Library.
Building a New Library for Fort Madison
The new library building was made possible by Elizabeth Cattermole. She paid for its construction to honor her husband, Henry. Henry Cattermole had earned a lot of money from his businesses. He worked in pork packing and banking. In his will, Henry had set aside $10,000 for a training school. However, this amount was not enough to build the school.
Elizabeth Cattermole saw that Fort Madison needed a public library. She decided to use the money for this important cause. She gave $30,000 to build the new library. She also gave $500 to buy new books. This was a big deal! It was the first time in Iowa that someone gave money to build a public library building. Elizabeth passed away before the library was finished.
What the Library Looks Like: Architecture
The Cattermole Memorial Library building has a unique design. It mixes two styles: Loire chateau and Richardsonian Romanesque. The building has 2½ stories. Its outside walls are made of brick. It also has special terracotta and stone decorations.
The roof is a hipped roof, which slopes on all sides. You can see roof dormers, which are windows that stick out from the roof. These are on the north and west sides of the building. A tall corner tower is the most noticeable part of the library. It has a cool, pointed conical roof. In 1954, a new section was added to the back of the building.
