Cresco Public Library
Location
Current street address: 320 North Elm Street Cresco, IA 52136-1452
Carnegie address: 320 North Elm Street Cresco, IA 52136-1452
Original building still standing: Yes
Still in use as a library: Yes
Carnegie Grant Information
Date of Grant: February 13, 19131
Amount of Grant: $10,000.00 (initial) + $7,500.001
Cornerstone Date: 0000-00-00 00:00:00
Opening Date: Wednesday, February 20, 1915, Methodist church, evening2
Carnegie Correspondent: D. T. Robertson, Secretary of Library Building Committee
Librarian, at Dedication: Miss Abbie J. Converse
Architect: J. H. Howe, Cresco
Contractor: L. F. Parkinson, Iowa City
Building Style:
Building Size: 70 ft. x 36 ft.
Building Description:
Town & County
City: Cresco
County: Howard County
Population in 1900: 2,806
Population in 2010: 3,868
Town/County Images:
Sources:
Twelfth Census of the United States — 1900. p. 449.
Thirteenth Census of the United States — 1910. 2,658.
Cresco is the county seat of Howard County, which was established on January 15, 1851. The county was named for General Tilghman A. Howard (1797-1844), who was prominent in Tennessee and Indiana. In 1856, the county seat was located in Vernon Springs, then it was moved to Howard Center, and New Oregon. In 1859, a court house was built on Pike’s Peak between Vernon Springs and New Oregon. In 1867, the county seat moved to Cresco, and it finally became official in 1879.
(Source: Pratt, LeRoy G. “The Counties and Courthouses of Iowa.” Mason City, Ia; Klipto Printing & Office Supply Company, 1977, p. 156-157.)
Carnegie/Bertram/Franks Correspondence
Architectural Blueprints
Architect/Builder/Contractor Documents
Construction Documents
Images
Library History Documents (Reports, Newspapers, etc.)
Library Board Materials (Meetings, Forms, etc.)
Facilities (Building Maintenance)
Operations (Library Service Expenses)
Librarian & Accession Books
Townspeople
History
Help us write this history!