Fairfield Public Library

Fairfield Public Library
Location Court and Washington
Fairfield, Iowa
Coordinates 41°0′21″N 91°57′46″W / 41.00583°N 91.96278°W / 41.00583; -91.96278Coordinates: 41°0′21″N 91°57′46″W / 41.00583°N 91.96278°W / 41.00583; -91.96278
Area less than one acre
Built 1893
Architect C. Stafford
Architectural style Richardsonian Romanesque
MPS Public Library Buildings in Iowa TR
NRHP Reference # 83000373[1]
Added to NRHP May 23, 1983

Fairfield Public Library is located in Fairfield, Iowa, United States. A library association was founded by a group of local men in 1853, and funded by dues from its members. It was housed in several different buildings for the first 40 years. U.S. Senator James F. Wilson from Fairfield was instrumental in obtaining a grant from Andrew Carnegie for a building of its own. The grant for $40,000 was accepted on January 15, 1892.[2] It was the first of 101 Carnegie libraries built in Iowa, and the first one west of Pennsylvania.[3] It was also one the few libraries Carnegie funded without stipulations concerning its use, public support, or design. The building was designed in the Richardsonian Romanesque style by Kansas City architect C. Stafford. It was officially opened on Friday, September 29, 1893, and it was dedicated on November 28 of the same year. The association continued to run the library until 1899 when voters approved a referendum to support it with taxes. The building has been altered in the ensuing years, and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.[1] The library moved to a new building in 1996, and the historic building is now home to the Jefferson Center of Indian Hills Community College.

References

  1. 1 2 National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. ↑ "Carnegie Libraries of Iowa Project-Fairfield Public Library". University of Iowa. Retrieved 2016-05-21.
  3. ↑ S. Klingensmith. "Fairfield Public Library" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved 2016-05-21. with one photo from 1978


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