Old Library Building (Maysville, Kentucky) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Old Library Building
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 221 Sutton St., Maysville, Kentucky |
|---|---|
| Built | 1878–1880 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000895 |
| Added to NRHP | August 30, 1974 |
The Old Library Building in Maysville, Kentucky, is a historic place. It was built between 1878 and 1880. This building was the last of four libraries created in Maysville during the 1800s. It was officially started by the Maysville and Mason County Library, Historic and Scientific Association in 1878.
Contents
The Old Library Building: A Look Inside
A Rich History of Books
Before the Old Library Building, Maysville had other libraries. The first was the Maysville Lyceum, started in 1839. Then came the Maysville Athenaeum in 1840. There was also a "Maysville Library," but its exact start date is unknown. By 1859, this earlier library was no longer open. The Old Library Building continued this tradition of learning.
What Does It Look Like?
The building is made of brick and is long and narrow. It stands with its side facing Sutton Street. Originally, the front of the building on Sutton Street was just a plain brick wall. In 1973, a new section was added. This new part has windows that look like the original ones on the side. It also has simple double doors at the ends.
Cool Architectural Details
The building has tall, thin brick sections called piers. Between these piers, the wall is set back a bit. Most of the wall has large, tall windows that are two stories high. These windows seem to cover most of the building's surface. The deepest windows have rounded tops. They also feature noticeable stone keystones, which are the wedge-shaped stones at the top of an arch.
Inside these arches, there are round windows framed in wood. Above the keystones, you can see special brick designs called corbelled features. These have narrow slits that look like machicolation, which were openings in old castles used for dropping things. The building has never had a fancy decorative cornice at the top.
Stepping Inside the Library
The large size of the two-story windows shows that this building was not a home. Its style looks like the mid-1800s Italianate design. This style was often used for public buildings. Examples include fire stations, banks, meeting halls, and libraries.
Inside, the building originally had one long hall. Above this hall was a gallery, which is like a balcony. Today, you reach the gallery by a staircase at the far end. This staircase splits into two parts above a central landing. Each part leads up to the gallery on either side. The gallery is held up by decorative columns that stand on top of newel posts, which are the main posts at the end of a staircase railing.
