Ayer Public Library | |
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Location | 208 Locust St., Delavan, Illinois |
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Coordinates | 40°22′27″N 89°32′49″W / 40.37417°N 89.54694°W |
Area | less than one acre |
Built | 1914 |
Built by | Lillibridge, Ray |
Architect | Simmons, A.T. |
Architectural style | Classical Revival |
MPS | Illinois Carnegie Libraries MPS |
NRHP reference No. | 98001352 [1] |
Added to NRHP | November 12, 1998 |
The Ayer Public Library is a Carnegie library located at 208 Locust Street in Delavan, Illinois.
The library was the city's fifth attempt at forming a library; it succeeded and assumed the collection of a library founded in 1902 by the Blue Button Army temperance organization. When the Blue Button library closed in 1907, supporter Amos K. Ayer called for the city to establish a permanent public library.
With Ayer's financial backing, a library for all citizens of Delavan Township was approved in 1907; [2] [3] however, it used a temporary space and lacked a permanent home until the city applied to the Carnegie Foundation for assistance in 1912. After a protracted misunderstanding with James Bertram, who expected a city library tax and did not understand that the township provided tax support, the Foundation provided a $10,000 grant for the library and construction began in 1914. [4] The Classical Revival library opened later in the year; it remains open to this day. [5] [4]
The library was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 12, 1998. [1]
Ayer Public Library | |
![]() | |
Location | 208 Locust St., Delavan, Illinois |
---|---|
Coordinates | 40°22′27″N 89°32′49″W / 40.37417°N 89.54694°W |
Area | less than one acre |
Built | 1914 |
Built by | Lillibridge, Ray |
Architect | Simmons, A.T. |
Architectural style | Classical Revival |
MPS | Illinois Carnegie Libraries MPS |
NRHP reference No. | 98001352 [1] |
Added to NRHP | November 12, 1998 |
The Ayer Public Library is a Carnegie library located at 208 Locust Street in Delavan, Illinois.
The library was the city's fifth attempt at forming a library; it succeeded and assumed the collection of a library founded in 1902 by the Blue Button Army temperance organization. When the Blue Button library closed in 1907, supporter Amos K. Ayer called for the city to establish a permanent public library.
With Ayer's financial backing, a library for all citizens of Delavan Township was approved in 1907; [2] [3] however, it used a temporary space and lacked a permanent home until the city applied to the Carnegie Foundation for assistance in 1912. After a protracted misunderstanding with James Bertram, who expected a city library tax and did not understand that the township provided tax support, the Foundation provided a $10,000 grant for the library and construction began in 1914. [4] The Classical Revival library opened later in the year; it remains open to this day. [5] [4]
The library was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 12, 1998. [1]