Fulton Public Library - Fulton, NY - U.S. National Register of Historic Places on Waymarking.com

Originally supported as a free library through public subscriptions and grants, the Fulton Public Library was Chartered in 1895 by the New York State Education Department. It was housed in the old Fourth Street High School and contained books from the High School and Falley Seminary and was used by students only.

In November 1898 it moved to a room in the Phillips Block at #7 South First Street (above the W.J. Watson drug store). The long, narrow second floor room was lined with bookshelves and scattered with potted plants and had large windows at each end. Mrs. Helen Emens served as librarian. The library was free to the public; children were allowed to borrow one book a week. The collection numbered over 4,000 books in 1900, and circulated around 25,000 books in the same year.

In 1902, after many requests, a letter received from Andrew Carnegie said if the city would find a suitable site and pledge at least $1,500 a year, he would donate $15,000 for the building. Finally, a 120' by 50' site next to the river at 160 South First Street was agreed upon. Syracuse architects and D. E. Wadsworth, a local construction firm, built it.

An old stone building which had been housing for canal workers was demolished, with the stone being used for the library's foundation. Stone from this abandoned quarry was also used in the construction of Auburn Prison. Cornerstone laying took place in June 1905; Mrs. Emens directed moving and opening in February 1906. A gentleman named Marlon H. Brando, not the actor, also assisted with the library. The building was made of native stone, Gouverneur marble, litholite, and brick, with a slate roof. The interior woodwork is quartered oak with oak and tile floors.

The Carnegie Building was designated an Oswego County Historical Landmark in 1985, and was added to the State and National Registers of Historic Places in 1999.

Street address: 160 South 1st Street Fulton, NY USA 13069 County / Borough / Parish: Oswego Year listed: 1999 Historic (Areas of) Significance: Event, Architecture/engineering Periods of significance: 1900-1924 Historic function: Education/Library Current function: Education/Library Primary Web Site: [Web Link] Secondary Website 1: [Web Link] Privately owned?: Not Listed Season start / Season finish: Not listed Hours of operation: Not listed Secondary Website 2: Not listed National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   10/19/2018 alynx visited it 09/17/2007 PTCrazy visited it

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