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  Table of Contents about Andrew Carnegie About Allen Gardiner, author of The Carnegie Legacy in Kansas Further information about Libraries featured in this book Carnegie Legacy in Kansas logo: Link that takes you to the home page  

CALDWELL

EARLY LIBRARY HISTORY
 
Following its brief period of lawlessness as one of the more infamous towns along the Chisholm Trail in the early 1880s, Caldwell settled into its role as a farming community. The ladies of the Caldwell Research Club were responsible for starting a circulating library.
 
Carnegie Library: Caldwell, Kansas

 
THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY
 
The Caldwell Research Club was primarily responsible for the city obtaining a Carnegie grant. Carnegie was written to and he offered $7,000.00 for a building on December 2, 1909. The city held an election to establish a library and maintain it; the measure passed and a budget of $700.00 was called for.
 
A site in the Osage Street park between Fourth and Fifth streets was chosen for the library. Fred G. McCune, a Wichita architect, drew up the plans which were approved by Carnegie's secretary. The contract went to a man named Young for $6,900.00. The total cost of the building and furnishings was $8,700.00. The building was completed in December, 1912, and dedicated January 29, 1913.
 
DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING
 
The single-story building sits on a raised basement and has minimal detailing. It is constructed of concrete block with red brick veneer, and all of the trim is composed of concrete. There are two identical facades facing east and west, apparently an unusual arrangement for Carnegie libraries in Kansas.
 
LATER LIBRARY HISTORY
 
In 1981, Gordon Wallace, who had lived in Caldwell as a boy, offered a $5,000.00 gift to the library, provided that the library could raise a matching amount. They did, and he did, and the library was updated through the Wallace gift. In 1982, Wallace again gave a $1,OOO.O0 gift to refurbish space for a browsing area for the public and a story hour for children. Memorials for Scott Cunningham were also received and remodeling was made possible.
 
The building is in excellent condition. It has been placed in the National Register of Historic Places.
 
The library today has 7,800 volumes and serves a population of 1,400. 5,850 were circulated in 1984. The 1985 budget is $12,850.00. The library is a member of the South Central Kansas Library System.