Though the Spokane Public Library had its beginnings in the nineteenth century, it was not until 1905 that the branch system came into being, with the opening of a library branch in the basement of a school on the west side of Latah (then Hangman's) Creek. In 1912 Andrew Carnegie gave $70,000 to the city of Spokane for the construction of two branch libraries. Naturally enough, city council couldn't agree on where to place the branches, the ultimate decision being to build not two, but three branches - this one, the
East Side Branch on Altamont Street in the east end, the second, the
Heath Branch, at 525 Mission Street, northeast of downtown, and the third the
North Monroe Branch, directly north of downtown. Construction began in 1913 and all three opened in 1914.
Of the $70,000 given by Carnegie, $17,500 went into the construction of this Albert Held designed branch. It remained in service until 1980, being sold into private hands in 1981 and becoming law offices. Today renamed the Naegeli Building, it is occupied by court reporters
NAEGELI Deposition and Trial.
Spokane Public Library - East Side Branch
Constructed of red brick, it has a hip roof of red tiles. The front entrance is in the center of the west facade and features a modest pediment supported by two Doric columns and an arched transom above glass paned doors. The entry is flanked by pairs of floor to ceiling
casement windows decorated with cast-iron balcony railings. Under the
eaves is a stone frieze and bands of tiny dentils, eggs and darts.
The East Side branch is a good example of a Carnegie library. It is important to the neighborhood it served for nearly 70 years. The architect, Albert Held, was one of the busiest in Spokane. He came to Spokane in 1889. Among his works were the North Central high school, the Place department store, the Marshall-Wells Hardware Company building, and works in the Riverside Historic District.
From the NRHP Nomination Form