Olean Public Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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The Old Olean Public Library
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Old Olean Public Library, April 2010
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 116 S. Union St., Olean, New York |
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| Built | 1909 |
| Architect | Tilton, Edward L. |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts |
| NRHP reference No. | 85001498 |
| Added to NRHP | July 11, 1985 |
The Old Olean Library is a really old and important building in Olean, New York. It was built in a special style called Beaux-Arts, which means it looks grand and fancy, like old European buildings. You can find it at 116 S. Union Street. This library building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. This means it's officially recognized as a place with special historical importance. It's also part of the Union and State Streets Historic District, a neighborhood with many historic buildings.
Contents
History of the Olean Library
Starting the Library Association
Back on March 25, 1871, a group of people who cared about their community started something called the "Olean Library Association." Their very first meeting was held in a schoolhouse. A couple of months later, in May 1871, the library found a small home. It was in the back of a tailor shop on North Union Street.
At first, the library was only open one day a week. That was on Saturdays, from 1 PM to 9 PM. To join, gentlemen paid $2.00 a year, and ladies paid $1.00. When it first opened, the library had 697 books for people to read.
Over the next few years, the library moved a few times. It went from the tailor shop to a rented room. Later, it moved to the second floor of a bank building. Finally, it settled at 102 Hamilton Street for a while.
The Forman Library Era
On June 12, 1888, the library got a new name: the "Forman Library." This was to honor George V. Forman. He was a very generous person who donated the land and a building for the library. Mr. Forman was also one of the people who started a company that later became part of the huge Standard Oil Company.
The library officially moved into its new home on the Forman property on April 2, 1889. This was a big step for the library, giving it a more permanent place.
The "Old" Olean Public Library Building
On December 13, 1906, something important happened. The library officially became "The Olean Public Library." It also became a free library, meaning people didn't have to pay to borrow books anymore! This was made possible by the Board of Regents of New York State.
In April 1909, the library moved again, but only for a short time. It went to the second floor of City Hall. This temporary move was because a brand new library building was being constructed. This new building was going to be a "Carnegie Library." The first stone for this new building was placed on July 3, 1909.
Features of the Carnegie Library
The beautiful library building, which opened in 1910, was built with money from a famous rich person named Andrew Carnegie. He helped build about 3,000 libraries across the country between 1885 and 1919. The Olean library was one of 107 such libraries in New York State.
Andrew Carnegie gave $40,000 for the Olean library's construction. That was a lot of money back in 1909! The building was designed by an architect named Edward L. Tilton. He designed it in the fancy Beaux-Arts style. Inside, the library had a grand staircase and entrance. It also featured large rooms and a central open area called an atrium.
The Carnegie building officially opened on May 23, 1910. After it opened, the library quickly grew. It got more books and more people started using it. This building was recognized for its history in 1985.
The "New" Olean Public Library Today
By the early 1970s, the library needed even more space. So, a new location was found. On September 21, 1973, the library opened at 134 North Second Street. This new building used to be a Loblaws Supermarket.
This modern library building still serves the community today. Its goal is to help people in Olean by providing books, programs, and services. They want to make sure everyone can find the information they need. This includes helping with schoolwork, finding facts, or just finding something fun to read.
What is the Old Library Building Now?
The original historic library building, the one on the NRHP, found new uses. From 1974 to 1979, it was used by the "Olean Historical Society" and the "Department of Aging."
In 1982, the school board sold the old library building to a person named Louis Marra. This sale made it possible for the building to become something new and exciting. It was turned into "The Old Library Restaurant" and "The Old Bed and Breakfast Library Inn." So, this historic building continues to be an important part of Olean, even though it's not a library anymore!
