Bolivar Public Library - Bolivar, MO - Wikipedia Entries on Waymarking.com

County of library: Polk County
Location of library: S. Springfield Ave. & E. Jackson St., Bolivar
Built: 1915
Architect: James Heckenlively
Architectural Style: Classical Revival

"The Bolivar Public Library is located at 120 East Jackson Street, in the town of Bolivar, in Polk County, Missouri. The building occupies a prominent comer lot on the public square, and is the only resource on the property. It faces north-northwest, to East Jackson Street and the county courthouse. It is a rectangular brick building with a flat roof and simple Classical Revival detailing. The building lot slopes steeply to the rear; the library is one and one half stories tall at the front, and two full stories at the rear. The three-bay facade is symmetrically arranged, with an elaborate center entranceway and large side window bays. The bays are divided by brick pilasters, and there are horizontal bands of terra cotta and limestone ornamentation at the cornice and the high water table. The upper basement walls are sheathed with the same type of dark bricks used on the main walls, and with smooth concrete closer to grade level. Wide stone steps which are flanked by heavy stone half-walls lead up to the front door. The doorway features an elaborate surround with simple classically derived ornamentation, and a wide transom window of leaded glass; the leaded glass is original. The entrance doors and the other windows hi the building are all newer; the original openings are, however, unchanged. All original exterior ornamentation of note, including the terra cotta and tooled limestone ornamentation, is also intact. The entrance on the facade leads to the main reading room on the upper floor, and a second entrance on the side street provides access to the basement level. The interior plan of the library has seen very few changes over the years, and the original staircase and some early interior millwork also remain in place. The basement has recently been rehabilitated to house the collections of the Polk County Genealogical Society, and the second floor is currently vacant. Overall, the library is intact and in good condition, and it looks very much as it did when it opened to the public in 1915." ~ NRHP Nomination Form