Ornamental and Historic
Former Carnegie Library holds fond memories for Crown Point residents Stepping into the old Crown Point Community Library is like entering a fine museum. Decorative woodwork adorns the walls and frames the windows, and there are chandeliers, a fireplace and gracious staircases.
And all this elegance comes with an interesting history, too. The two-story building was constructed in 1908 as a Carnegie library, the project in which businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie donated funds to establish libraries throughout the world. A group of local women is said to have spearheaded plans for the city’s first library, which replaced a small lending effort operated out of a Crown Point resident’s home. The library is the fourth building in the Greater Crown Point Chamber of Commerce’s Christmas Village miniatures collection. “A lot of longtime Crown Point residents remember coming here since they were children,” says Lynn Frank, director of Crown Point Community Library. “They tell us this is where they grew up.” An addition to the library was built at 214 S. Court Street in the early 1970s and now serves as the main library. The newer section houses the popular “Indiana Room,” filled with old newspapers and other historical materials and books that teach about the state’s history. Although the original Carnegie building portion ceased serving as the town’s main library in 1972, it remained a popular site for wedding receptions, quilting sessions and other community events until 1990. The older section is now in use as library offices with space for meetings, children’s story times and periodicals storage. Story by Kari K. Ridge
Photo by Brian McCord
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Former Carnegie Library holds fond memories for Crown Point residents Stepping into the old Crown Point Community Library is like entering a fine museum. Decorative woodwork adorns the walls and frames the windows, and there are chandeliers, a fireplace and gracious staircases.
And all this elegance comes with an interesting history, too. The two-story building was constructed in 1908 as a Carnegie library, the project in which businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie donated funds to establish libraries throughout the world. A group of local women is said to have spearheaded plans for the city’s first library, which replaced a small lending effort operated out of a Crown Point resident’s home. The library is the fourth building in the Greater Crown Point Chamber of Commerce’s Christmas Village miniatures collection. “A lot of longtime Crown Point residents remember coming here since they were children,” says Lynn Frank, director of Crown Point Community Library. “They tell us this is where they grew up.” An addition to the library was built at 214 S. Court Street in the early 1970s and now serves as the main library. The newer section houses the popular “Indiana Room,” filled with old newspapers and other historical materials and books that teach about the state’s history. Although the original Carnegie building portion ceased serving as the town’s main library in 1972, it remained a popular site for wedding receptions, quilting sessions and other community events until 1990. The older section is now in use as library offices with space for meetings, children’s story times and periodicals storage. Story by Kari K. Ridge
Photo by Brian McCord
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