Civic Pride in a Lost America: Library Postcards
Carnegie Libraries of Minnesota
Cities A - D
With the advent of the Placeography website, some missing details (primarily pertaining to architects of record) about the Carnegie buildings have been added.
There were 65 Carnegie buildings. I like to think this results from that Upper Midwest mixture of Lutheran socialism and Scandinavian frugality.
You might also be interested in the 'Carnegie Library Tour' of Placeography.
Aitkin
1908 grant. Claude & Starck are the architects of record, as they were for at least 25 more Carnegie buildings in the Midwest.
Replaced, but contains the Jacques Art Center.
Photo postcard of unknown maker, mailed in 1922, shows a dirt street.
Albert Lea
(L) Tinted Faber card, prited in Germany, and mailed in 1908.
(R) Amazing photo card by the Albert Lea Souvenir Co., capturing the Beaux Arts/Classical Revival building in all its splendor.
1902 grant. Its architects--Schick and Ross of LaCrosse, WI--also designed the Sparta Free Library in their home state.
Replaced in 1968: minor alterations effect its service as an office building.
Alexandria
1903 grant. Replaced, but now used as offices.
I used to have a card with a thumbnail, listed as "Alexandria, Minn." on this page, but as of this writing, I realize it's not like the card on the left at all.
(L) Bloom Bros. postcard.
Anoka
Goodrich & Jennings claim responsibility for this postcard.
1903 grant; demolished in 1964.
Austin
(L) The older card dates from soon after construction.
(R) Charming Curt Teich card, printed in 1926. The trees are more mature and an attractive coupe is parked along the curb. Teich gave the plantings a plethora of flowers.
1901 Carnegie Library.
Damaged by a 1928 tornado, remodeled in similar fashion to the Carnegie library in Downers Grove (IL), 1964. Per Placeography, razed 1996.
Bemidji
(L) This is a 'Photochrome by W.A. Fisher Co., Bemidji, Minn.'
(R) Bloom Bros. card printed in Minneapolis.
1908 grant, built 1909.
Designed by W.D. Gillespie, and is now the Bemidji Community Art Center.
Just like the card shows, the Carnegie building is on the lakefront, which makes its survival even more amazing.
Bemidji's library is part of the Kitchigami Regional Library System.
Benson
(L) Theo E. Lee & Son card.
(R) Photo post card, copyrighted in 1913. It was mailed later that year.
1912 grant. Replaced in 1992. Demolished since.
Brainerd
1903 grant: replaced in the mid-1980s. Still standing and part of the National Register of Historic Places.
Woolworth's card, probably printed by Curt Teich. Mailed in 1912.
Browns Valley
1914 grant: built 1917 using "local labor." Whoever them used did a bang-up job with the masonery.
Replaced in 1997 and serves as storage for the Browns Valley Historical Society.
Chatfield
Surprisingly, this is a Claude & Starck building. It's not one of the "Seven Sisters," but it shows Prairie lines. From a 1912 grant, it was finished in 1915. It was expanded in 1998, and is still in use.
The unattributed card, dating to ~1956, was mailed in 1970.
Coleraine
Late 1908 grant: still in use. Designed by Kinney and Halden, but built by the A.C. Thomas Corporation. Someone was quite insistent that one does not take the shortest line between two points to reach the entrance.
L.L. Cook card, mailed in 1949, with some unfortunate water damage.
Crookston
Late 1903 grant. Replaced, but still standing. Part of the Lake Agassiz Regional Library.
(L) Harry W. Brandow card, mailed in 1909.
(R) Bloom Bros. postcard which seemed to have been utilized to announce the March 14, 1974 Windy City Postcard Club gathering
Charming real photo postcard showing a winter scene of the Library with three children. I hope it was taken during a thaw, because one is in short pants.