Tag Archives: Andrew Carnegie

The Last Carnegie In The Berkshires

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In a town filled with interesting buildings, none captured my attention more than the public library in Lee, Massachusetts. While exploring downtown, I was excited to see one of the most recognizable buildings in my little world – a Carnegie Library.

I wasted no time hustling up the sidewalk and through the front doors to see the interior. Check out these doors.

But I didn’t just see the inside, I got a tour and such a warm welcome that I wished for a moment that I worked there.

The original part of the Lee Library was constructed in 1907 with help from Andrew Carnegie who gave $12,000 to the project. Unfortunately, the total price for the library and furnishings was $35,000.

My tour guide said that building the library was a source of contention in the community as some were supportive, others were vocally against, and some were on the fence. Some didn’t understand why the town needed a new library at all and certainly didn’t want to see tax dollars used for the cause. This sounds tragically familiar in 2026.

The compromise was for the additional funding to come from the town and from private donations. The town pitched in $18,300 and private donors covered the rest.

Lee Marble Works quarried and cut the marble used in the construction of the building. This was a big deal because Lee was known to have some of the finest marble anywhere. This original building is Corinthian in style.

The interior woodwork is polished birch, something that I didn’t expect but that is beautiful.

Look at this amazing fireplace! Can you read it? “A book fitly chosen is a lifelong friend.”

Indeed.

The building has since been added onto and updated but they have done a nice job preserving the original space and many original elements. The circulation desk has been relocated but is original. They have a couple of original bookshelves including one that rotates plus that gorgeous woodwork, fireplaces, and the requisite portrait of Andrew Carnegie that hangs in every one of his namesake libraries.

There’s even an unusual metal roll-up door that could be used to partition off the section of the library where books were originally shelved from the entryway.

A new wing was added in 1977, tripling the library’s square footage but they did a great job making the new addition consistent with the old. It’s clearly of a different era and doesn’t have the same workmanship but they incorporated the same local marble and honored the spirit of that 1907 space.

I want to make it clear that this library is one of the most active and busy small town libraries I have ever seen. They were busy that day, chatting with their patrons like old friends and making everyone feel seen and welcome. They even were hosting a local art show in their community room and I was invited to peruse the art which was submitted by children and adults. Plus, a staffer took the time to give me a great tour and patiently answer all my many questions.

It made my cynical little heart swell with pride for them.

This is the last remaining Carnegie in the Berkshires and it’s clear they are proud of that as well.

When out adventuring, remember that libraries are safe spaces to find a clean restroom, place to fill your water bottle, and even get local information. Librarians are some of the most helpful and knowledgeable people around. It’s even better when the building is historic and pretty!

Carnegie In Chillicothe

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When you’re a book nerd, most any place with lots of books will do. Bookstores and public libraries are favorite places for most self respecting book dragons. For this reason alone, Andrew Carnegie is one of the very best philanthropists in our nation’s history, if you ask me.

Carnegie was one of the wealthiest men in American history and he chose to spend much of his wealth helping others. He saw value in giving communities centers for learning and culture. To have a library where people could go for free programming and for books was a true gift, especially for the poor. 

Carnegie, like some other wealthy individuals of the day, seemed to feel responsibility to do something useful for the good of the world. This, of course, was at a time in our history when education and intelligence were things to revere. That doesn’t seem to be the case these days as we push kids toward money rather than learning and our own opinions over the expert’s experience. Most of our country’s wealthy tend to invest in their own dreams and missions rather than someone else’s. 

We could use an Andrew Carnegie right now. 

We went on a sidequest Saturday to visit the Carnegie Library in Chillicothe. This is one of about 2,500 libraries that Carnegie donated in American communities both big and small. This library was built with a gift of $30,000 from Carnegie and a ten percent match of $3,000 raised locally. That was in 1907 during the heart of Carnegie’s 46-year building spree. 

We got a quick tour of the facility from the library director. He took us outside to show us the building’s appearance today and then back inside to see old photos that depict the original look of the building. Most Carnegies were designed with simple but impressive staircases that lead to substantial front doors. Once you’ve seen a Carnegie library or two it’s easy to spot them.

When ADA access became a legal issue, these libraries were modernized in a couple of basic ways. The least obtrusive was to build on and add a side or back door with a ramp or elevator. Then there’s what actually happened in many communities including Chillicothe. They removed the front steps and made a new front door at ground level. Not only did this change the character of the building, it caused water drainage issues for this one. The director told us they are working on a plan to expand the library and restore the original entrance and steps. ‘

I hope they’re able to do it. 

It’s a nice library and the collection looked interesting. I have a card with their system but always go to a location across town. Now I want to go back!

A Library With A View

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One of the treats of being in Pittsburgh at night is a stroll along the Mount Washington Overlook. You can take the incline up the 450 feet or you can drive up and park along the street.

While you’re there, pay attention to some of the architecture. I’m especially fond of this Carnegie Library. The Mount Washington community formed a library association in 1882 and a reading room six years later.

Industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie supported the efforts to build a proper library, funding this nice building which opened May 31, 1900.

The Pittsburgh titan of steel funded 1,689 libraries in the United States and more in other countries. Along the way, he created a revolutionary new self service model. Before this, library employees would retrieve requested books rather than allowing the patron to browse and select their own.

This reduced operating costs and opened a new world of accessibility for readers. He actually introduced this model in Pittsburgh’s neighborhood branch libraries that were built after the city’s main library. It appears this was one that used the new self service model.

I have such respect and appreciation for Carnegie’s support of access to books and reading. Where would our society be if not for the resources provided by our libraries? It’s one of the last places in the world where you can exist, use materials and find enrichment completely for free.

He died in 1919. In the final years of his life, Carnegie gave away $350 million dollars. In modern money, that would be about $5.5 billion. The man was filthy rich but he thought it more important to use his money for philanthropic interests rather than hold onto more money than he could spend in a lifetime.

When you think about the good he did for small towns and neighborhoods across the country, the good he did for the masses is awe inspiring. The next time you pass by a Carnegie library, be sure to pause a moment and say a word of thanks.

Carnegie Library of Xenia

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Steel magnate Andrew Carnegie built close to 1,700 libraries in his lifetime. You’ll see a lot of them still used in towns and cities across America. I found one in Xenia while out exploring last weekend.

Carnegie spent about $40 million on his libraries. He believed that libraries were the best gift he could offer a community as it gave equal access to self improvement to all. Some of these libraries are still used for their original function but many have been repurposed into events centers, stores and restaurants. This one, sadly, is just empty.

There had been a revitalization project underway a few years ago but there doesn’t seem to be any movement afoot right now.

The building dates back to 1906 when it opened with a gala affair attended by local social and political leaders. The library eventually outgrew the space this beautiful building offered and a new library was constructed closer to downtown. It was used for storage for a while and then changed hands before eventually being sold to the county. As far as I can tell it has been unused all these years.

Volunteers formed a group called Carnegie Historic District that got it listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2017, the library made headlines for efforts to reimagine the building but things have gone quiet and I can’t tell if there’s anything still happening on that front.

It’s a gorgeous Classical Revival with a stained glass dome and ionic columns. I hate to see it empty but certainly understand why. These types of revitalization efforts are costly, time consuming and a real challenge to fund. Here’s hoping they are able to breathe new life into this exquisite piece of history.