ARCHITECTURAL HISTORY

BUILDING
Constructed of bedford stone and buff-pressed brick, with a red tile roof. The expansive lawn is shaded by sycamore, elm and buckeye trees.

FICTION ROOM
Formerly the Children's Room.

NONFICTION ROOM
This room has remained the same for years. It has always been the Nonfiction Room.

REFERENCE ROOM
Above the fireplace, a mural painting of Learning, a woman in flowing robes holding the literature of the world on her arm. In a niche in the all is a beautiful marble statue of History with an open book and pen in her hand. Brought from Italy by Mr. and Mrs. St. Clair. On a pedestal beside the fireplace was another Italian marble statue, the Muse of Music, Polyhymnia, donated Brigadier General Sigafoos. Between the Reference Room and the Biography/900 Room is a stained glass window showing William Shakespeare. Next to the fireplace is a stained glass window showing Henry St. Clair.

BIOGRAPHY/900 ROOM
Formerly the public reading room which contained current magazines and history books.

Formerly Public Reading Room (Currently Biography / 900 Room)

MAIN LOBBY
There was a skylight in the ceiling, which consisted of a stained glass panel over a white background. Incandescent lighting was available but seldom used. When renovation to the attic was done, the skylight was unfortunately covered. To this day, staff members still wonder what happened to the stained glass panel. Was it left in place, covered by a wood panel and paint, waiting to be rediscovered by future generations? We may never know….

The walls were originally frescoed in tans and brown. In the arches, these words were written:

• "I have taken all knowledge to be my province." -- Bacon
  (over entrance to Non-Fiction Room)
• "In everything you do consider the end." -- Solomon
  (over windows into Fiction Room)
• "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." -- Old Testament
  (over the windows into the Biography/900 Room)
• "In books lies the soul of the whole past time." -- Carlyle
  (over entrance to the Reference Room)

MAIN FLOOR MEETING ROOM

Underneath the off-white paint lies a fascinating Egyptian motif on the upper walls and ceilings.

The room is now used for Children's Story Hours, Teen Advisory Board Meetings, library programs and public meetings, but has had many functions in the past. Over the years it has served as the Director's Office, Genealogy Room, and a Book Sale Room.