Howard Gardner Nichols Memorial Library - Gadsden, AL
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 34° 01.532 W 086° 02.636
16S E 588265 N 3765399
Listed in the National Register of Historic Places under the incorrect name of Alabama Public Library
Waymark Code: WMPVGV
Location: Alabama, United States
Date Posted: 10/25/2015
Views: 1
County of library: Etowah County
Location of library: Cabot Ave. & Dwight Ave., Gadsden
"The Howard Gardner Nichols Memorial Library is a historic building in Gadsden, Alabama. The library was built in 1902 by the Nichols family, owners of the Dwight Manufacturing Company. It is named in honor of their son, who was badly injured while supervising the construction of the company's mill in what was then Alabama City. He died several days later.
"The library is the home of NEAGS, NorthEast Alabama Genealogical Society, and houses over 5,000 family files as well as family books and many references for the counties in northeast Alabama. Also found are Civil War and Revolutionary War references as well as books on genealogy and history of states close to Alabama. The Howard Gardner Nichols Memorial Library is a beautiful building and well deserves being on the National Register of Historic Places.[1] The building housed the first lending library in the state of Alabama. At one time it was a day care center for the mill workers' children. It also was a lawyer's office. Now the library is solely owned by NEAGS and truly is a remarkable place to do genealogy research.
"The building is similar in scale the mill workers' houses that surround it, but its location on a corner lot and blend of Classical Revival and Victorian design make it a focal point of the neighborhood. It has a steeply pitched hip roof with deep, bracketed eaves. The façade is anchored by a semi-circular portico supported by six Ionic columns, flanked by windows with lancet arched upper sashes. It was purchased and restored in 1973 by the NorthEast Alabama Genealogical Society.[3] The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
NOTE: Howard Gardner Nichols Memorial Library has never been, to the knowledge of NEAGS, the Alabama City Public Library." ~ Wikipedia
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