National Register of Historic Places

Alden Public Library

Alden, Hardin County, Iowa
Listed
March 17, 1981
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
81000241

About this property

Alden Public Library is located in Alden, Iowa, United States. Alden was one of the smallest communities to receive a Carnegie library. The community's first library association was formed in 1882, and they acquired 225 books. The annual membership fee to use the library was $1. It was discontinued within two years, and Alden's second library association was formed in 1885 by women in the community. In time they were able to build their own building in 1892 and convince the city government to take over its support. Shortly after the city took over they contacted the Carnegie Foundation, who funded the construction of a new building with a $9,000 grant. The chief factor in Alden's success in obtaining a Carnegie grant was that its library served the large farming area around it. It was designed by the Des Moines architectural firm of Wetherell & Gage, and shows Beaux Arts styling. The new building was dedicated on August 26, 1914. It is believed to be one of the smallest Carnegie libraries ever built. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. More space for the library became necessary, and plans were made to double its size. A bond issue was passed in 1997, and fundraising included $250,000 from the Dr. Grace O. Doane Foundation. The new addition was dedicated on June 17, 2000, and the library's name now honors Dr. Doane.

Location

1012 Water St.
Alden, Hardin County, Iowa
42.51850, -93.36724

Categories

SOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Native Heritage
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Settlement
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The Community
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Nearby Historic Sites

Alden Bridge
Industrial
0.5 mi
Carnegie-Ellsworth Public Library
Industrial
3.4 mi
Slayton Farms-Round Barn
Industrial
3.9 mi
Kurtz, Glenn and Nell, Lustron Home and Garage
Modern
4.3 mi
Washington Avenue Bridge
Industrial
4.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Alden Public Library listed on the National Register?

Alden Public Library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 17, 1981.

What type of historic resource is Alden Public Library?

Alden Public Library is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Alden Public Library?

The period of significance for Alden Public Library is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Alden Public Library?

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