Jefferson Branch, Cleveland, Ohio
Posted by: 
boatchick
N 41° 28.748 W 081° 41.123
17T E 442777 N 4592174
With the assistance of grants from Andrew Carnegie, fifteen branch libraries were built in Cleveland during the period from 1904 to 1920. The Jefferson Branch is one of six still in use as part of the Cleveland Public Library system.
Waymark Code: WM3Y5H
Location: Ohio, United States
Date Posted: 06/03/2008
Views: 19
The
Cleveland Public Library traces its roots back to a humble beginning in 1869 in a small rented room near Public Square in downtown Cleveland. Over the years, the library grew and expanded. William Howard Brett became the head of the Library in 1884, and would serve in that capacity until his death in 1918. Brett was successful in lobbying Andrew Carnegie for a total of $590,000 to build
fifteen branch libraries in Cleveland.
Built in 1918, the small
Jefferson Branch continues to serve the Tremont neighborhood. The building was designed by an Ohio architect named William Robert Powell, who also designed several East Cleveland residences, the 1923 Cleveland Heights City hall (now demolished), two Cleveland Heights fire stations, and a second Carnegie library on East 79th street. The Jefferson Branch is architecturally similar to the now-closed East 79th branch library. Tremont residents fought to keep their library when it faced closure in 1975, and their efforts kept the Jefferson Branch open. Extensive renovations of the interior were made in 1981. This branch offers WiFi and many community outreach programs.