Sedalia Public Library, Sedalia, MO
**Sedalia Public Library** - National Register of Historic Places Ref # 80002389, date listed 1/10/1980
311 W. 3rd St.
Sedalia, MO (Pettis County)
Sedalia Public Library is significant as the first public library in the State of Missouri to receive a Carnegie grant for construction of a library building (Bobinski, Appendix). In addition, the building subsequently constructed is an outstanding example in this state of the Greek Revival Style and was designed by the noted architectural firm of Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge.
D.H. Smith (owner of D.H. Smith Hardware Co., and Director of the Third National Bank) undertook to contact Andrew Carnegie, with whom he had had some business contact. Carnegie agreed to donate $50,000 for the construction of the building, on the conditions that Sedalia would provide a suitable site and an annual maintenance of 8 per cent, or $4,000. Sedalia was especially favored because Carnegie usually required an annual maintenance equal to 10 percent of the original grant, which in itself was fairly large for a city the size of Sedalia. A special election was held in February, 1900, to increase the tax levy from one-half mill to one mill, in order to meet the annual maintenance requirement. This levy passed by an overwhelming majority.
The present site was selected from a list of nine, on property owned by Emil and George Bichsel and Frederick W. Phipps. Property owners in the neighborhood contributed $2,500 of the $8,000 purchase price, and on 4 April 1900 the deed was presented to the Library Board. (1)
References (1) NRHP Nomination Form s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/25/8199/...
Sedalia Public Library, Sedalia, MO
**Sedalia Public Library** - National Register of Historic Places Ref # 80002389, date listed 1/10/1980
311 W. 3rd St.
Sedalia, MO (Pettis County)
Sedalia Public Library is significant as the first public library in the State of Missouri to receive a Carnegie grant for construction of a library building (Bobinski, Appendix). In addition, the building subsequently constructed is an outstanding example in this state of the Greek Revival Style and was designed by the noted architectural firm of Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge.
D.H. Smith (owner of D.H. Smith Hardware Co., and Director of the Third National Bank) undertook to contact Andrew Carnegie, with whom he had had some business contact. Carnegie agreed to donate $50,000 for the construction of the building, on the conditions that Sedalia would provide a suitable site and an annual maintenance of 8 per cent, or $4,000. Sedalia was especially favored because Carnegie usually required an annual maintenance equal to 10 percent of the original grant, which in itself was fairly large for a city the size of Sedalia. A special election was held in February, 1900, to increase the tax levy from one-half mill to one mill, in order to meet the annual maintenance requirement. This levy passed by an overwhelming majority.
The present site was selected from a list of nine, on property owned by Emil and George Bichsel and Frederick W. Phipps. Property owners in the neighborhood contributed $2,500 of the $8,000 purchase price, and on 4 April 1900 the deed was presented to the Library Board. (1)
References (1) NRHP Nomination Form s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/25/8199/...