Historian Gary Kremer shares how Jefferson City provided reading opportunities for all.

In the fall of 1899, the Rev. John Fenton Hendy, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Jefferson City, and Mr. Arthur M. Hough, a local attorney, had the idea of asking famous philanthropist Andrew Carnegie for a donation to allow Jefferson City to build a public library. They both knew Carnegie had begun funding grants for free public libraries for local communities in 1881.

Hendy and Hough drafted a letter to Carnegie and had it signed by prominent citizens. In 1900, Carnegie offered $25,000 to the City of Jefferson under two conditions. First, Carnegie wanted the city to purchase a suitable site for the library on its own. Second, he wanted the city council to “obligate itself by resolution to expend the sum of$3,000 annually to maintain the library.”

Hendy and Hough were disappointed with Carnegie’s offer. They feared the city council would not commit to spending $3,000 annually. Thus, the two traveled to New York, hoping for a personal audience with Carnegie so they might persuade him to reduce the annual commitment. Unable to meet with Carnegie, the men were told by his secretary that the philanthropist would be unyielding; if the community would not spend $3,000, Carnegie would give nothing to the project.

Hendy and Hough returned to Jefferson City and lobbied the city council to commit the funds in accordance with Carnegie’s wishes. The city council proposed a tax of one mill, which was one-tenth of one penny, on every dollar of assessed valuation, with the money raised to be used for the library maintenance fund. On June 19, 1900, Jefferson City residents approved it by a vote of 839-42. Two weeks later, the city council voted to set aside $3,000 for annual library maintenance and began searching for a site. Local property owners offered 15 different sites for the library. Fred Binder, a local contractor, offered to donate a lot, but the land was at the corner of Madison and Dunklin Streets, on the city’s south side. The library’s board of directors wanted to build the library closer to the downtown area. The initial site chosen was at the southeast corner of Madison and McCarty Streets. The owners of the land, however, wanted $6,000. The library board tried to raise the money by private subscriptions, but they failed. A cheaper site had to be found.

The next site selected was in the 200-block of Adams Street. It was owned by Dr. I. N. Enole and Thomas F. Roach, who were willing to sell the property for $4,350.

Eventually, the selling price was lowered to $3,600, the money was raised, and the land was purchased. On August 4, 1900, Carnegie approved the board’s plan and authorized the construction. The architectural firm of Miller & Opel submitted the winning design, proposing a classical style building extending 66 feet along Adams Street on the front and 78 feet back along the alley that bisected the block between High Street and modern-day Capitol Avenue.

Henry J. Wallau was awarded the construction contract with the lowest bid of $21,500. He was allowed an additional $150 to remove the old building already there. Wallau agreed to complete the building by February 1, 1902, and to use Cole County limestone for the foundation and Carthage and Blue Bedford stones in the upper story. There were multiple delays in the construction, including one caused by a shortage of available Cole County limestone. Eventually, Blue Bedford stone was used as a substitute. A severe winter in 1900 and a hod-carriers’ strike in the fall of 1901 also slowed construction; the hod-carriers were laborers who assisted by carrying materials on a hod, a three-sided box on a long pole. As a consequence, the completion of the building was delayed by more than 10 months.

The Carnegie Free Public Library of Jefferson City was formally dedicated on December 23, 1902. Hundreds of local citizens came out for the ceremony, held in the library auditorium. The auditorium had been added, with Carnegie’s approval, for literary and educational purposes and held approximately 450 people.

Local businessman Hugh Stephens delivered the keynote address at the gathering. Music for the dedication was provided by a chorale group known as the St. Cecilia Club and by the Jefferson City Orchestra. Library board president Arthur M. Hough presented the building to Mayor A. C. Shoup, and the library became part of the city’s cultural and educational landscape.

Residents of the city over the age of nine years could use the library free of charge. County residents were required to pay a $2 annual fee. The library rules stated, “The use of tobacco, all conversation, and other conduct not consistent with the quiet and orderly use of the reading room are prohibited.”

The Carnegie Library became a county library in 1947, the same year the popular Bookmobile program was established. The original Carnegie Library was replaced by the Thomas Jefferson Library building, located at the corner of High and Adams Streets, known since 1994 as the Missouri River Regional Library.