The Pansy Garden Club; Ardmore, Oklahoma
Posted by: 
boatchick
N 34° 10.251 W 097° 08.137
14S E 671837 N 3782670
Quick Description: Even before Oklahoma became a state, the people of Ardmore had public library service thanks to a Carnegie grant.
Location: Oklahoma, United States
Date Posted: 10/5/2009 5:34:10 PM
Waymark Code: WM7CP0
Views: 0
Long Description:In 1903, the city of Ardmore received a $15,000 Carnegie grant.
Work was begun on a two-story library, which was finished in 1905.
Delays prevented the library from opening to the public until 01
October 1906, over a year before Oklahoma became a state in
November 1907.
As early as 1912, the library was reporting financial problems.
Building upkeep and book purchases were draining the library's
funds. By 1925, the building needed extensive remodeling. It was
again deemed safe for use and reopened in November 1926. Further
remodeling may have taken place after a 1946 tornado.
http://www.seic.okstate.edu/carnopr/Carnegie%20Libraries%20Webpage/carnegie%20librariesweb/Carnegie%20Main.htm>A
study of Oklahoma's Carnegie Libraries compiled by Susan Booker,
University of Oklahoma, and Tanya Finchum, Oklahoma State
University notes that the second story of the library was removed
at some point. Amazingly, no primary source information was
available to determine when this happened. The building now has a
large attic accessed by a drop-down staircase. In addition to the
removal of the second story, a large room was added to the back of
the library at some point. Care was taken to make the newer wing
match the original design and building materials.
The Ardmore Library moved into a new facility in September 1963.
Today, the Carnegie building is owned by the Pansy Garden Club. The
building is rented out for parties and receptions. Placed on the
National Register of Historic Places in 2000, the former Carnegie
Library is listed as building #00000620.
References:
Bobinski, George. Carnegie Libraries
Jones, Theodore. Carnegie Libraries Across America
http://www.ardmorepublic.lib.ok.us/about/about.htm>Ardmore
Public Library - About us
http://www.seic.okstate.edu/carnopr/Carnegie%20Libraries%20Webpage/carnegie%20librariesweb/ardmore.htm>Ardmore's
Carnegie Library
http://pansygardenclub.org/index.htm>Pansy Garden Club
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