Andrew Carnegie’s Dickinson Public Library, North Dakota

Born on November 2, 1835 in Scotland, Andrew Carnegie migrated to the Pittsburgh area in 1848 with his family and found work as a bobbin boy at a cotton factory. He left the factory in favor of other jobs, to include secretary and telegraph operator for the superintendent of the Pennsylvania Railroad’s Pittsburgh division. Carnegie surpassed his boss and went on to make lucrative investments in the oil, coal, and steel industries. He created his own steel company in the 1870’s and amassed a fortune over the next 2 decades, eventually selling the company to John Pierpont Morgan in 1901 for $480 million. The sale of Carnegie Steel propelled Andrew Carnegie to become one of the richest men in the world.   

After selling off his company, Carnegie retired from the business world and turned his attentions to giving back to the community. He was a firm believer that the rich had a moral obligation to use their money to promote the welfare of the common man and published an essay on the matter titled The Gospel of Wealth. As an avid reader, one of his philanthropic activities included opening more than 2500 libraries world-wide, one of which was the Dickinson Public Library in North Dakota.

Original library

Planning for the Dickinson library began in 1908 when original board members John F. Davis, Dr. V. H. Stickney, Father Robstenick, R.H. Johnson, and W.L. Richards drafted a proposal to Carnegie for the library. They estimated the cost at $15,000, but that amount was reduced to and funded from a grant of $12,500. To pay the difference, a tax was submitted to the townspeople and passed. Butler & Soules won the contract to build and the library opened on January 3, 1910, with Josephine Hargrave the 1^st librarian, earning $60 each month. The Commercial Club donated most of the books that made up the library’s original collection.

Original sign

In 1939, a west wing, to include a full basement, was added. At the same time, the interior received a new floor and light fixtures. The library was again renovated in 1956, and in 1975, an east wing was added. In 2007, after years of planning and raising money due to voters nixing a tax increase for upgrades and continual restoration, ground was broken to again expand the library. Original woodwork and tin ceilings were transformed back to their original beauty, with the historic entrance featuring the original cast stone steps, cast stone lettering above the door referencing the 1908 construction date, and the original ‘Public Library’ sign. The Dickinson Library was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. 

Interior

Interior 

*** Some photos provided by my good friend, Mike Pursley