The library building in downtown Paris,
an original “Carnegie Library,” opened in November 1904; it
has welcomed patrons almost continuously for over a hundred years.
Although some renovations have been made along the way, the
classical proportions and features of the original building are
still very much in evidence. This free public library continues to
make a profound cultural impact on an immeasurable number of
children and adults throughout the community.
At the turn of the 19th
century, several local clubs with a strong literary and
self-education focus found their personal libraries inadequate for
the studies they undertook, and so the dream of a public library was
born. All these clubs, with the common
interest of a public library, formed a city federation for the
purpose of raising funds to establish a library. Through
fund-raising events and individual gifts, members raised around
$10,000 -- a considerable sum for that time.
Fortunately, at this time Mr.
Andrew Carnegie was assisting cities in building public libraries.
Several persons wrote to him; at the time he was living in Scotland
at Skibo
Castle. Mr. Carnegie's secretary replied that it was customary
for the Mayor of the town to take the initiative in these matters.
Paris Mayor Benjamin Perry immediately wrote a personal request, and
Mr. Carnegie agreed to give Paris $12,000 for a library, provided
the city would maintain the library at a cost of not less than
$1,200 per year.
Early in 1903, the present site on
the corner of Seventh and High Streets was purchased from the Misses
Annie and Ellen Kelly, "noted tailoresses of the day." The
original building was erected at a cost of $23,000, including
furnishings. Opened in November of 1904, a contemporary account
describes it as a structure of "handsome French flat pressed
brick with trimmings of carved Bedford stone. The interior has
hardwood floors, solid oak woodwork, and paneling. The reading
rooms, being corner rooms, permit the best light effect."
Miss
Celeste Lucas
was the first librarian, replaced a few years later by
Miss Imogen Redmon.
(The
architect for the building was Edwin Stamler (1869-1923), a noted
central Kentucky architect based in Lexington. In Bourbon County,
Stamler also worked on the Courthouse, the Hopewell Presbyterian
Church, and the MMI Junior School Building. Edwin was the uncle of
businessman Raymond Stamler (1902-1960), who founded the W.R. Stamler
Corporation in Millersburg.1)
On May 4, 1967, the library became
a tax-supported institution, freely available to all residents of
Paris and Bourbon County. Soon after, a renovation project was begun
and the former basement was enlarged to become the first floor of
the building. During this period, the original library reading room
was used for library programs, civic meetings, and storage.
Another construction and
renovation project was begun in 1988, adding a two-story addition
and remodeling the entire facility. Also at this time, adjoining
property was purchased to allow for future expansion. The
library’s original collection of 5,484 books now numbers around
40,000
items, including books on tape, videos, and computers. Today’s bar
code scanners, networked computers, free Internet access and
Web-based “card catalog,” area-wide library card privileges, and
subscriptions to major online databases offer services that would
surely astound Andrew Carnegie.
