In 1886, a rags-to-riches steel tycoon decided to use some of his wealth to fund the construction of public library buildings all across the U.S. Over the next 31 years, 1,681 public libraries were built in this country with the help of Andrew Carnegie. Today, approximately 750 of those structures are still used as libraries, including the Callaway County Public Library in Fulton.
In 1911, Carnegie gave Fulton $12,000 for the new building. The citizens of Fulton had already passed a 10¢ tax levy in 1910 to pay for operating a library (which had begun in 1908 at the Odd Fellows building), and they also passed a $4,000 bond issue to pay for land for the new building. (The bond issue passed with a vote of 280 to 11!)
The cornerstone of what became the Callaway County Public Library (CCPL) was laid November 2, 1911, and the library opened its doors in July of 1912.
The city of Fulton hired local architect M.F. Bell to design and oversee the construction of its library. Bell’s design featured a broad stairway leading upward to an imposing entrance, a characteristic of many Carnegie libraries. This feature was often described as being symbolic of Andrew Carnegie’s belief that libraries provided the path to education, self-betterment and enlightenment. Today, this doorway facing east along Market Street is no longer the entrance, but it still harkens back to the building’s historical significance. CCPL is located at the north edge of the Court Street Historic District in Fulton.
An 8,000-square-foot addition to the original Carnegie library building was completed in 1987. Before construction, the library’s board of directors decided to retain the historic Carnegie building and incorporate it into the architectural plans.
Starting with exterior refurbishment of the original steps and brickwork in 2002 and continuing on to a full-scale interior remodel and new accessible entrance in 2004, the building received much- needed updates while still preserving the underlying 1912 original. The glass doors and side panels from the original Carnegie entrance (no longer up to code) were repurposed as interior windows for the room behind the upstairs reference desk. Today the original building houses the teen books and adult fiction on the second floor and the Friends Room downstairs.
“Fulton is a community who loves and respects their history. From the town’s historic homes, schools and the historic Brick District, we are proud that the Callaway County Public Library continues to call the 1912 Carnegie building home,” says Robin Westphal, Daniel Boone Regional Library executive director. “And we will continue to do necessary upkeep and make improvements to the library building so future generations can cherish their town’s history and legacy.”
Temporary Closure in Fulton Beginning March 30
In order to replace the heating and cooling system in this historic building, the Callaway County Public Library will be CLOSED beginning March 30.
We expect the work to take 90 days. During the closure, we will be offering some library events at alternate locations. And we are also looking for a temporary site where you can check out materials. Or, visit the Holts Summit Public Library.
For more information about the closure, the Callaway County Library board has shared a statement. We will also provide project updates on this site, in email to cardholders and on the library’s Callaway County/Holts Summit Facebook page.