HUTCHINSON

EARLY LIBRARY HISTORY

The Hutchinson Public Library was formally opened January 16, 1896, by the Women's Club, as a subscription library. In 1901, the library was moved from rooms in the Hutchinson News building to a room over the police station. On January 1, 1901, the club turned over its books to the city which then began tax support.

THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY

L. A. Bunker, a realtor, urged the city to contact Andrew Carnegie about a library. On April 11, 1902, Carnegie offered $15,000.00 for a building (an amount later increased to $16,000.00 when the city found it could raise $1,600.00 per year). Bunker donated the lots at Fifth Street and North Main, and the frame First Congregational Church building was moved in order to build the new library.

The architect chosen to design the building was C. W. Squires, of Emporia. The contract was let to W. E. Kies. The building was formally opened January 19, 1904.

DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDING

The building is rectangular, of brick, in the Georgian Revival style. The oval windows are from early Federal design sources, and the raised pilasters and fanlight are all classical Federal design motifs. The swags carved into the pediment are of classical design. The porch is adorned by a finial.

LATER LIBRARY HISTORY

In 1916, an addition of a reading room and balcony was made to the library. Andrew Carnegie was again approached and he offered $15,000.00 for the project. [Bobinski's Carnegie Libraries, which quotes from the Carnegie Corporation data, gives the amount of the grant to Hutchinson as $32,000.00.] L. A. Bunker, a longtime supporter of the library, left a bequest of $5,000.00 to the library when he died in the 1920s.

Overcrowded conditions caused voters to approve a $321,000.00 bond issue for a new building at the November 5, 1946, election. The Labor Union made a bid of $35,000.00 for the old building, which was accepted by the city. The Labor Union was to take possession after the library was moved to the new building.