Fletcher Free Library facts for kids
|
Carnegie Building of the Fletcher Free Library
|
|
|
U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
|
 |
|
 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 235 College St., Burlington, Vermont |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1902 |
| Architect | Willcox, Walter R. B. |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| Part of | Main Street-College Street Historic District (ID88001850) |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000138 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | August 18, 1976 |
| Designated CP | October 13, 1988 |
The Fletcher Free Library is the main public library for Burlington, Vermont. You can find it at 235 College Street. The library is in a really cool building that looks very fancy. It was built in 1902 with help from a generous person named Andrew Carnegie. This special building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. This means it's an important historical place.
A Look Back: The Library's Story
The Fletcher Free Library first opened its doors in 1873. It was started with money given by Mary Martha Fletcher. She was the daughter of a local businessman. The library quickly grew too big for its first home by 1901.
A new, bigger building was needed. A very rich businessman and helper, Andrew Carnegie, gave money for the new library. It was built between 1901 and 1904. This made it the very first of four "Carnegie libraries" in Vermont. A local architect from Burlington, Walter R. B. Willcox, designed the building. He won a special contest to get the job.
In 1973, the building had some big problems. It was built over an old, filled-in ditch, and parts of it started to sink. The library's books and everything inside had to be moved out. Some people wanted to tear the building down. But a group of citizens stepped in to save it. They successfully had it added to the National Register of Historic Places. A special grant then helped fix and strengthen the building. A new, modern part was added in 1981.
The Fletcher Free Library is the largest public library in Vermont. In 2002, it had a budget of over $1 million. It loaned out more books, had more visitors, and had more computers than any other library in Vermont. Besides being Burlington's main library, it's also a community hub. It helps new immigrants and is the city's only free public computer center.
Building Design: How It Looks
The library is located just east of downtown Burlington. It sits at the corner of College Street and South Winooski Avenue. The original Carnegie building is a tall, one-story structure. It is made of brick with special terra cotta decorations. It rests on a strong granite base.
The middle part of the building sticks out. This was the original entrance. It has a pointed, gabled roof. A larger section with a hip roof sticks out behind it. The building has decorative brick columns on its corners. It also has a very detailed top edge called a Corinthian cornice. On the left side, a new, modern three-story part is attached. This new section now has the main entrance. You enter through a walkway between the old and new parts.
