Ayer Public Library (Delavan, Illinois)

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Coordinates: 40°22′27″N 89°32′49″W / 40.37417°N 89.54694°W / 40.37417; -89.54694
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Ayer Public Library
Ayer Public Library (Delavan, Illinois) is located in Illinois
Ayer Public Library (Delavan, Illinois)
Ayer Public Library (Delavan, Illinois) is located in the United States
Ayer Public Library (Delavan, Illinois)
Location208 Locust St., Delavan, Illinois
Coordinates40°22′27″N 89°32′49″W / 40.37417°N 89.54694°W / 40.37417; -89.54694
Arealess than one acre
Built1914 (1914)
Built byLillibridge, Ray
ArchitectSimmons, A.T.
Architectural styleClassical Revival
MPSIllinois Carnegie Libraries MPS
NRHP reference No.98001352[1]
Added to NRHPNovember 12, 1998

The Ayer Public Library is a Carnegie library located at 208 Locust Street in Delavan, Illinois.

History[edit]

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]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ Delavan Community Historical Society (1976). Delavan: A Bicentennial Community. Delavan Community Historical Society. p. 44.
  3. ^ Federal Writer's Project. Illinois (1937). Delavan, 1837-1937: a chronicle of 100 years. p. 73.
  4. ^ a b Skaggs, Robyn (2022-10-06). "On the books: Carnegie libraries of Central Illinois". The Pantagraph. Retrieved 2023-09-22.
  5. ^ "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Ayer Public Library" (PDF). Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. May 1975. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-11-23. Retrieved September 19, 2015.

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