Springfield-History.com

This is a photo of the Springfield City Library, taken in 1887. It is from a glass negative that I scanned.

The current Springfield City Library was built in 1912, replacing a structure built just 41 years earlier. It was funded by a $200,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie, the philanthropist well-known for his interest in libraries.

It was designed by architect Edward Tilton in the Italian Renaissance style, and is constructed of granite, marble, and terra cotta.

Springfield's first library building was erected in 1871. It stood on the site of the current library. Prior to this, the City Library Association (a private entity) operated out of space in City Hall.

This is the city library that predates the current Main Branch of the Springfield Library. It was built in 1871 from a design by George Hathorne of New York. The building also included a museum of natural history.

This is a view of the old city hall, which allegedly burned due to a monkey overturning a lantern. It was situated in essentially the same spot as the current city hall.