Drake Public Library - Centerville, Iowa
Posted by: 
BruceS
N 40° 43.921 W 092° 52.344
15T E 510774 N 4509017
Historic public library in Centerville, Iowa.
Waymark Code: WM7V5T
Location: Iowa, United States
Date Posted: 12/05/2009
Views: 8
Prior to the the Drake Public Library being built Centerville had a Reading Room founded by the Ladies of the Reading Room Library Association Group in 1896. As Centerville was becoming a growing town with the growth of coal mining in the early 1900's, town leaders felt a need for permanent library for Centerville. At that time most library funding was done through grant from Andrew Carnegie. The town formed a committee to ask for funding from the Carnegie Foundation, at that time for any endeavor to proceed in Centerville required consultation with its leading citizen General F.M. Drake, a former Governor of Iowa, businessman, banker, lawyer, founder of Drake University, adventurer, railroad builder, Civil War General and a major philanthropist. When the committee consulted with Governor Drake he decline their request to support an effort to obtain funding from from the Carnegie Foundation but instead indicated if Centerville was to have a public library he would fund it himself.
The Drake Library building contract was let July 2, 1901 to J.W. Sanderson of Burlington at the bid price of $23,521 and the library was designed by E.C. Eastman. And the library was dedicated January 15,1903. The libraries architectural features have been maintained and restored over the years with the last major restoration in 2008.
Classification of Library: Public Library (Open to all)
Internet access available: Yes - Your Laptop: Free
Hours of Operation:
Sunday 1 pm to 4 pm
Monday 12 pm to 8 pm
Tuesday closed
Wednesday 12 pm to 8 pm
Thursday 12 pm to 8 pm
Friday 10 am to 6 pm
Saturday 10 am to 6 pm
Approximate date of opening.: 01/15/1903
Library Website: [Web Link]
Additional Internet Connection Options: Not listed
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