Civic Pride in a Lost America: Library Postcards
Carnegie Libraries of Indiana
Cities M-O
Marion
Some information from an impressive site, WikiMarion.
1901 grant. The building looks like a 'Mini-Me' for the Indianapolis library. It served other community purposes during its 90 year tenure, including holding a kindergarten. Converted to a museum in 1991.
All three postcards I have seen of this library feature the same angle. The one I am sharing is that by S.H. Knox.
Martinsville
1906 grant. Built with area limestone. Addition in 1990, and renovation in 1996.
Now the Morgan County Public Library flagship.
Americhrome card mailed in 1912.
Mishawaka
Library now known as the Mishawaka-Penn Public Library.
Carnegie building built in 1916; added to as a WPA project in 1937-8; and closed in 1969.
Happily, it still stands in the Local Historic District. It is now a private residence, hopefully after a lot of TLC.
Mitchell
1914 grant.
Still in use, with an addition. The White River separates Mitchell's library district from Bedford's.
(L) Photo postcard with a stylish caption.
(R) C.T. American Art Black and White brand card, mailed in 1937. Note the unusual detailing that surrounds the windows, visually tying its storeys together.
Monticello
(L) Very spooky looking building that its foxing spots do nothing to improve. The manufacturer of this card is unknown.
(R) C.R. Childs card, ca. 1907.
1903 grant. 1954 addition. Replaced in 1991.
Now houses the White County Historical Society.
Montpelier
Now the Montpelier Harrison Township Library.
This tiny ca. 1907 Carnegie building has had a substantial addition, well-designed and harmonious with the Carnegie building.
On the other hand, the postcard is a bit of a disaster.
Mount Vernon
A rosy lil' building, isn't it? Chicago's ZIM (H.G. Zimmerman) postcard company had a few cases of the vapors when it came to coloring library buildings.
1902 grant. Replaced in 1986. A 2009 Indiana government file states the Carnegie building now serves as Mt. Vernon's City Hall. .
Muncie
1901 grant. Now known as Local History and Genealogy at Carnegie Library.
Muncie, Indiana also had the Hemingray insulator factory.
(Hemingray Insulators would be a great PC name for a football team.)
By the way, someone forgot to add the candy stripes to the awnings. Tsk, tsk.
Card postmarked 1916.
New Albany
Text blatantly swiped from the Indiana Historical Society website:
New Albany School Board organized a public library on May 8, 1884. This library building, supported with funds from Andrew Carnegie, opened on March 2, 1904 with 11,125 volumes. Building is Neoclassical style, constructed of brick and limestone. Public Library moved to new building 1969. Floyd County Museum opened here 1971. Carnegie building included in Downtown Historic District, listed in National Register of Historic Places 1999. One of 1,679 libraries built in U.S. with funds from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Indiana built more Carnegie libraries than any other state.
(L) Early card mailed in late 1906.The vignette shows a small letterbox on the corner.
Notice the exquisite penmanship of the message.
This building is now the Carnegie Center for Art & History.
(L) Curt Teich postcard.
(R) F.M. Kirby postcard, printed in Germany.
New Castle
(L) Harry H. Hamm card on pebbled cardstock. May have been a Curt Teich product.
(R) 'Clear View' Wayne Paper Box & Printing' postcard.
1913 grant.
Now known as New Castle - Henry County Public Library.
It's hard to tell if the current building is the Carnegie building, heavily modified, or an entirely new building.
It's the former.
Noblesville
1910 grant. Opened more than 100 years ago: May 8, 1913. Carnegie building converted into City Hall, 1987. The Library is now known as the Hamilton East Public Library, which also serves Fisher.
'Clear View' brand card by the Ft. Wayne Box and Printing Company. The building looks as if some modernization was made to the facade along the way.
North Manchester
1910 Carnegie grant.
The old library building is now a law office.
Clear View' brand card by the Ft. Wayne Box and Printing Company. Mailed in 1948.
Auburn Post Card in the 'Blue Sky' style
Glossy monochrome card by the B.H. Grimes Company, of Frankfort. Mailed in 1914.
North Vernon
Now the Jennings County Public Library.
A 1918 Carnegie grant funded this late building, with throwback Classical Revival Type A architecture. Since 1998, it has served as civic offices. It is planned for renovation and asbestos abatement. This is the first Carnegie building of which I have known to face that particular challenge.
Osgood
Early 1913 grant: dedicated in 1914. ADA-compliant renovation in 1989.
Still in use.
This is an oddly attractive building, with castle-like crennelations. Gustav Darch was its architect, according to a 1986 article in the Sun. Even the basement entrance has its petite interpretation.
This was another 'Groganized' card out of Danville, Illinois. Most of this product line are crisp and attractive.
Oxford
Built in the same year as its Carnegie grant: 1914. The building is still in use as a public library. Its addition blends in well.
The Bregstone photo postcard was mailed in 1920. The Roll of Honor monument stylistically resembles those for the Civil War.