Grass Valley Public Library

The Grass Valley Public Library (renamed the Grass Valley Library-Royce Branch) is a Carnegie library and on the National Register of Historic Places.[2] Located in Grass Valley, California and a part of the Nevada County Library System, it is open Tuesday through Saturday.

Grass Valley Public Library
Grass Valley Library-Royce Branch
Grass Valley Public Library is located in California
Grass Valley Public Library
Grass Valley Public Library is located in the United States
Grass Valley Public Library
Location207 Mill St,
Grass Valley, California
Coordinates39°12′58″N 121°3′50″W
Built1916
ArchitectWilliam Mooser
Architectural styleClassical Revival (Type A)
MPSCalifornia Carnegie Libraries MPS
NRHP reference No.92000267
Added to NRHPMarch 26, 1992[1]

History
Plaque added in 2005 at the library's entrance when it was renamed in honor of Josiah Royce

There were several early attempts to establish a library in the California Gold Rush town of Grass Valley. The first was in 1860, followed by another in 1869, but neither survived. The Emmanuel Episcopal Church was established in Grass Valley in 1858,[3] but it wasn't until 1901 that the non-denominational Emmanuel Church Library opened to provide library services to "the Atheist and the Buddhist if such there be".[4]

A decade later, the city became the library's governing body. It requested a Carnegie grant in 1914 and received $15,000 the following year. The chosen building site, at 207 Mill Street, near the intersection of Mill and Neal Street, had been the birthplace and early home of philosopher Josiah Royce.[4][5]

In 2005, the library, now a branch of the county library system, was renamed to honor Royce.

Structure

San Francisco architect William Sebastian Mooser[6] was selected over William Weeks to design the new library. The builders were Welch Bros. and Hannemann from Oakland who also built the Gridley Carnegie Library.[4][7]

The building is of Neoclassical architecture (also known as "classical revival" style). Its exterior includes red brick and white pilasters.[4]

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. "National Register #92000267". noehill.com. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  3. McKinney, Gage (2008-07-13). "Emmanuel Episcopal celebrates 150 years". The Union. Archived from the original on 2011-05-24. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  4. "Grass Valley Library". carnegie-libraries.org. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  5. "Josiah Royce". sierranevadavirtualmuseum.com. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  6. Parry, David. "Mooser, William". sfhistoryencyclopedia.com. Archived from the original on 2005-03-14. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
  7. "Gridley Carnegie Library Building, Gridley, CA". waymarking.com. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
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