Ballard Carnegie Library

Coordinates: 47°40′8″N 122°23′0″W / 47.66889°N 122.38333°W / 47.66889; -122.38333
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Ballard Carnegie Library
MPS
Carnegie Libraries of Washington TR (AD)
NRHP reference No.79002535
Added to NRHPJune 15, 1979

The Ballard Carnegie Library is a historic

Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, United States. The institution was preceded by a freeholders' library in the 1860s, which was eventually replaced in 1901 by a reading room organized and funded by a women's group. Various funds including a $15,000 grant were used to create a new library for Ballard, then an independent city. The library opened to the public on June 24, 1904.[1][2] It was the first major branch of the Seattle public library system
after Ballard was annexed by Seattle in 1907, and also employed one of the first African American librarians in Seattle.

The Ballard Carnegie Library remained in use until 1963, when a newer and more modern facility replaced it. After its sale, the old library building housed a variety of private commercial enterprises, including an antique shop, a restaurant and a kilt manufacturer.[1][2] In 1976 it was nominated for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places by Seattle architect Larry E. Johnson, and formally added to the list in 1979.[3][4]

History

The library's check-out desk, c. 1907

In the late 1860s, when Ballard was a new settlement along the edge of

philanthropist Andrew Carnegie for a grant to help underwrite the construction costs.[5]

The library was built on a lot of 100 feet (30.5 m) square, which was purchased for $2,100. The costs for the building were raised by local businesses and citizens, with support from the earlier fundraising and book collections of the women's union and a $15,000 grant from Carnegie.[1][5] When construction was completed, the building included facilities such as a 500-seat auditorium and a men's smoking room (the latter of which was later converted into a reading room). Part of the construction work was done by a chain gang.[1]

Rear of the library in 2007

Initially, the library had a cache of books provided by local residents and schools on standby for the completion and grand opening, as Carnegie's grant did not cover the initial costs of new books.[5] An appeal was made to citizens to donate books and expand the collection. In 1907, the Seattle Public Library took control of the Carnegie library, when Ballard was annexed by the neighboring city. Early Scandinavian immigrants to the region made up a large proportion of the new facility's users (the Ballard area is noted for its significant historical presence of Scandinavian people).[6] Early in the library's existence, it had a turnstile at the entrance to its book stacks, to count the number of book borrowers that passed through.[7]

Following the start of

African American librarians in Seattle, Lucille Smith, was assigned to the library.[5]

Entrance to the library in 2007

In 1956, Seattle voters approved a municipal bond to replace what was by then considered the "inadequate and impractical" library.[8] The Ballard Carnegie Library was closed in 1963, when a new and larger public library was built in the area. The former library became an antique store.[1] One of the cited reasons for the closure and sale of the library building was a number of expert claims that the building would not be able to withstand earthquakes (which have taken place in the Seattle area at numerous points in its history; the building has in fact survived several quakes in the meantime).[2]

From 2003 to 2010 the old library building was home to Carnegie's, a

mental health professionals; and Root Integrative Health, a holistic wellness center. The building is currently owned by Karoline Morrison and her husband, Dennis Beals, and has been occupied by the Kangaroo and Kiwi Pub since 2012.[10][9][11]

At the public meeting held on November 7, 2012, the

Seattle Landmark.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Susan Paynter, Seattle P.I. "Earthquake stirs a sense of appreciation". March 5, 2001. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
  2. ^ Larry E. Johnson, AIA, The Johnson Partnership, Preservation Seattle, "My Favorite Seattle Landmarks" Archived 2007-12-10 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
  3. ^ National Register of Historic Places.com, "WASHINGTON (WA), King County" Archived 2006-06-15 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 9, 2007.
  4. ^ a b Seattle.gov Department of Neighborhoods, "Summary for 2026 NW Market ST NW / Parcel ID 276700960 / Inv # BA003" Archived 2011-05-20 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved October 9, 2007.
  5. The Library Journal, "The Library Journal" Archived 2023-04-25 at the Wayback Machine
    , October, 1907, Page 466. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
  6. ^ Kathy Mulady, Seattle P.I., "West Seattle Library closing -- but just until fall", December 31, 2002. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
  7. ^ a b Todd Bishop, Seattle P.I. "New shops line Market Street in Ballard". December 13, 2002. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
  8. ^ "Kangaroo and Kiwi is moving to Ballard – My Ballard". www.myballard.com. April 24, 2012. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  9. ^ Nancy Chaney, Next chapter for a landmark library building in Ballard Archived 2011-04-10 at the Wayback Machine, Seattle Times, 1 April 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2011.
  10. ^ City of Seattle, Landmarks Preservation Board, "Report on Designation", November 7, 2012. Archived 2017-02-18 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved April 24, 2025.
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