Eldon Public Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Eldon Carnegie Public Library
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location | 608 W. Elm St. Eldon, Iowa |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1913 |
| Built by | Guthrie and Hoist |
| Architect | Wetherell and Gage |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| MPS | Public Library Buildings in Iowa TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 96000604 |
| Added to NRHP | May 30, 1996 |
The Eldon Public Library is a special building in Eldon, Iowa, United States. It's not just a place to find books; it's also a historic landmark! This library first opened in 1906. The building you see today was finished in 1913. It was built with a generous gift from Andrew Carnegie. Because of its history, the library is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
How the Library Started
The very first library in Eldon opened in 1906. It was in a rented room above a local business. Different women's groups in the city worked hard to raise money for it. Two years later, the town of Eldon officially took over the library. This meant the town would help pay for its upkeep.
In 1911, Retta Meyers, who was in charge of the library board, wrote to Andrew Carnegie. She hoped he would donate money for a new, permanent building. Andrew Carnegie was a very rich businessman who gave money to build many libraries. He agreed to donate $7,500 for the Eldon library. But he had some rules about how the money should be used.
The land for the new library was bought on January 1, 1912. A famous architecture company from Des Moines, called Wetherell and Gage, designed the building. They used a style called Neoclassical. The construction was handled by Guthrie and Hoist from Albia, Iowa.
The first stone of the building, called the cornerstone, was placed on November 23, 1912. The library officially opened on May 9, 1913. A special ceremony was held at the Eldon Christian Church. State Senator J.F. Webber gave a speech. Afterward, everyone enjoyed a reception inside the new library. This building has been used as the community's library ever since. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.
What the Library Looks Like
The Eldon Public Library is a single-story building. It sits on a raised basement. The outside walls are made of red, shiny tiles. The basement level uses rough, rock-faced stone. The roof is a hipped roof, which means it slopes down on all four sides. It has decorative points, called finials, along the top.
The main entrance sticks out from the front of the building. It has a pointed roof, like a triangle. Tall, flat columns, called pilasters, stand on each side of the door. When you go inside, there's a small entry area. Beyond that, the library is mostly one big room. It's divided by bookshelves, following a design popular for smaller libraries.
There's also an entrance to the basement at the back of the building. The two rooms in the basement have been used for many years. Different community groups often hold their meetings there.
