
Morgan County Public Library - Martinsville, Indiana
Posted by:
BruceS
N 39° 25.542 W 086° 25.640
16S E 549289 N 4364175
Quick Description: Historic Andrew Carnegie funded library in Martinsville, Indiana.
Location: Indiana, United States
Date Posted: 10/4/2009 6:17:28 PM
Waymark Code: WM7CD7
Views: 1
Long Description:"Martinsville Public Library, 110 South Jefferson Street,
Neoclassical, 1906/1990.
Martinsville's Carnegie Library is constructed of rusticated
Bedford limestone. The T-plan building features an elevated,
projecting gabled entrance pavilion supported by four Ionic
columns. A rotunda emerges from the cross-gabled roof. Pilasters
mark the outside corners. The windows consist of a single leaded
glass fixed sash over two-over-two pane fixed sash. The roof is
asphalt. Both the original library and the 1990 addition is one
story over a full basement. The classical-influenced 1990 addition
is faced with smooth Bedford limestone and is sympathetic to the
original in material, scale and design.
Funded by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who donated $12,500,
the Martinsville Public Library was designed by the Evansville
architectural firm Harris and Shopbell. The contractor was Ora
Storm. Carnegie's gift covered the expenses of a brick building,
but city officials believed that a limestone building would be more
suitable for the Artesian City, which annually received "thousands
of visitors from the best and most intelligent families of the
United States." City officials sold bonds to generate the
additional $2,500 necessary for the limestone building after
Carnegie refused to contribute the difference. The institution was
dedicated on September 1, 1908. The addition was completed in
1990." - Historic District Nomination Form
Visit Instructions:To log a waymark in this category:
1. Please provide at least one photograph of the building.
Additional photographs are encouraged.
2. Describe your experience.
No additional visit instructions will be added for individual
waymarks. Additional instructions will result in waymark being
declined.