Walnut Hills Branch, The Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Cincinnati, Ohio - Carnegie Library Buildings on Waymarking.com

Although earlier subscription services existed, the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County considers March 14, 1853 as their official birthday, and recently celebrated their sesquicentennial. Two downtown buildings have served as the main library, and the system today has 41 branch libraries. Carnegie funds financed 9 branches built between 1905 and 1915. Today, seven of the nine are still in use. The former Columbia-Tusculum branch is now in use as a community center, and the former West End branch was demolished in 1947.

The first and largest Carnegie-funded branch library in Cincinnati was the Walnut Hills branch. The Cincinnati firm of McLaughlin & Gilmore designed the building. James McLaughlin was a local architect who rose to prominence in the second half of the 19th century and continued to work until his death in 1923. The building is constructed of dark purplish brick with a limestone entryway. The entryway is decorated with an ornate pediment and a matched set of columns shipped from Munich, Germany. The interior design incorporates mahogany woodwork and stained glass. A 140-seat auditorium was located in the basement, and the second story housed a committee room. The Walnut Hills branch was opened 7 April 1906 and continues to serve the neighborhood. A marker to neighborhood boys who served in World War II is located in the front lawn of the library.

References:
Armentrout, Mary Ellen. Carnegie Libraries of Ohio
Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Walnut Hills Branch
Biographical Dictionary of Cincinnati Architects
Carnegie Branches of Cincinnati and Hamilton County Library on flickr

Address of Library Building: 2533 Kemper Lane Cincinnati, Ohio USA 45206 Current Use of Building: library Year Built (optional): 1906 Website about building: [Web Link]

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