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Oregon Public Library
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Oregon Public Library | |
|---|---|
| (U.S. National Register of Historic Places) | |
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| Location: | Oregon, Ogle County, Illinois, USA |
| Coordinates: | |
| Area: | Oregon Commercial Historic District |
| Built/Founded: | 1909[1] |
| Architect: | Allen Pond, Irving Pond |
| Architectural style(s): | Arts & Crafts[1], Classical Revival |
| Added to NRHP: | May 9, 2003[2] |
| Reference #: | 03000352 |
| MPS: | MPL015 - Illinois Carnegie Libraries Multiple Property Submission |
| Governing body: | Oregon Public Library |
The Oregon Public Library is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building is located in the Ogle County, Illinois county seat of Oregon. It is one of six Oregon sites listed on the Register. Though it is listed individually, the library is also part of Oregon's listed historic district. Other Oregon sites include the Burlington Chicago and Quincy Railroad Depot and the Pinehill Inn. The library joined the Register in 2003 and is one of three Oregon sites to gain listing on the Register since the 21st century began.[2]
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The Oregon Public Library's history is a key part of the history of Oregon, Illinois. While the library building today dates to the early 20th century the move toward intellectual outreach in the Oregon community started years before.
The first Oregon library was organized in 1872, though it had no building of its own. Early on library books were stored in a drug store and then in the County Treasurer's office. Eventually the Oregon library occupied rented office space in the First National Bank building. This situation persisted until 1905 when Oregon voters voiced their collective opinion on the library's future.[3]
The citizens of Oregon were faced with a dillema in 1905, either allow Oregon's library to remain, truly, Oregon's city library, or, by referendum, allow Oregon's library to make the shift into a township library. This change would allow the library one distinct advantage, it would qualify it for a grant from Andrew Carnegie for the construction of a new building. Initially, Carnegie promised $7,000 for the new library but once voters approved the change the grant amount was upped to $10,000. The grant, aside from requiring the library to hold "township library" status, required a site to be selected prior to the grant application process. A site, at the corner of Oregon's Jefferson and Third Streets, was selected.
Even before the library was built members of the Eagle's Nest Art Colony were pushing for the new building to include a second-story art gallery.[3] The colony, founded in 1898 by sculptor Lorado Taft, was based on the bluffs flanking the east bank of the Rock River, overlooking Oregon.[4] Later in Carnegie's philanthropy his secretary James Bertram laid out strict requirements, including requirements which discouraged multiple uses for Carnegie libraries. Another requirement stipulated that Bertram approve library plans prior to grant approval and construction.[5] The Oregon library, however, was constructed before Bertram's requirements were published and includes the gallery.[5]
The art colony at Eagle's Nest was populated by Chicago artists, all members of the Chicago Art Institute or the University of Chicago art department, who gathered in Ogle County to escape the summer heat of Chicago.[5] Two of the charter members of the art colony were the architects, Allan and Irving Pond, who designed the Oregon Public Library building.[5] It was the Pond's association with the Eagle's Nest Art Colony that led them to design the library in Oregon.[5]
The building was constructed, after the Carnegie grant approval, and its first use came in October 1908 by Leon A. Malkielski, a colony member, for an exhibition of 100 paintings.[3] The library proper did not begin providing its services until 1909. The colony tried to contribute to area culture by requiring its members to give art shows, lectures and other exhibitions throughout the early 20th century. With the library complete it began to play a role in those exhibitions. Hamlin Garland, a 1921 Pulitzer Prize recipient for literature, spoke at the Oregon library while he was a member of the Eagle's Nest Colony.[3]
The gallery on the second floor of the library building was not formally dedicated until July 4, 1918.[3] That date marked the beginning of the library's permanent collection, which started with additions from members of the Eagle's Nest Colony. Members donated twelve statues, twenty oil paintings and four portraits to the permanent collection of the art gallery.[5] One of the statues in the collection is a four foot plaster study of The Eternal Indian by Lorado Taft. It was completed in 1908 as he began to prepare to create the Black Hawk Statue at the original site of the Eagle's Nest Colony. The entire permanent collection consists of 32 paintings and 32 sculptures.[3] A citizen left the library the Currier and Ives lithograph collection which contains 46 Currier and Ives lithographs and 14 lithographs by Nathaniel Currier. The two collections have been appraised at over $700,000.[3]
In addition to the substantial historical art collection held by the library gallery the collection consists also of numerous works by local artists. One Oregon resident has donated artwork from the annual Grand Detour Art Show regularly. Other area residents have donated pieces as well. In all, the library holds about 30 contemporary works by local artists.[3]
The library is designed with an eye toward late 19th century and early 20th century American movements in architecture. While it contains many elements common to Classical Revival architecture its asymmetry and playfully creative style are distinctly characteristic of the Arts and Crafts Movement. [3]
- ^ a b National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, (PDF), Oregon Commercial Historic District, HAARGIS Database, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Retrieved 30 January 2007.
- ^ a b NRIS Database, National Register of Historic Places, retrieved January 23, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, (PDF), Oregon Public Library, HAARGIS Database, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. Retrieved 31 January 2007.
- ^ Lorado Taft Campus, Regional History Center, Northern Illinois University Libraries. Retrieved 4 March 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f Illinois Carnegie Libraries - Multiple Property Submission Form, (PDF), National Register of Historic Places, NRIS Database. Retrieved 4 March 2007.