Grass Valley Public Library

Infobox_nrhp
name =Grass Valley Public Library
nrhp_type =nhl


caption = Grass Valley Library-Royce Branch
nearest_city= Grass Valley, California
locmapin = California
area =
built =1916
architect=William Mooser
architecture= Classical Revival (Type A)
designated = March 26, 1992
added =
governing_body =Nevada County Library System
refnum=92000267 The Grass Valley Public Library (renamed the Grass Valley Library-Royce Branch) is a Carnegie library and a Registered Historic Place. [cite web |url=http://www.noehill.com/nevada_county_california/nat1992000267.asp |title=National Register #92000267 |accessdate=2008-08-10 |last= |first= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher=noehill.com] Located in Grass Valley, California and a part of the Nevada County Library System, it is open daily except on Sunday,

History

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, [cite news |url=http://www.theunion.com/article/20080713/NEWS/938848687/1045&parentprofile=1058 |title=Emmanuel Episcopal celebrates 150 years |accessdate=2008-08-10 |last=McKinney |first=Gage |coauthors= |date=2008-07-13 |work= |publisher="The Union"] 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".

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.cite web |url=http://www.carnegie-libraries.org/ |title=Grass Valley Library |accessdate=2008-08-10 |publisher=carnegie-libraries.org] [cite web |url=http://www.sierranevadavirtualmuseum.com/docs/specialex/biographies/roycej.htm |title=Josiah Royce |accessdate=2008-08-10 |publisher=sierranevadavirtualmuseum.com]

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

tructure

San Francisco architect William Sebastian Mooser [cite web |url=http://www.sfhistoryencyclopedia.com/articles/m/mooserWilliam.html |title=Mooser, William |accessdate=2008-08-10 |last=Parry |first=David |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher=sfhistoryencyclopedia.com] 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. [cite web |url=http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM4520 |title=Gridley Carnegie Library Building, Gridley, CA |accessdate=2008-08-10 |publisher=waymarking.com]

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

References

External links

* [http://new.mynevadacounty.com/library/index.cfm?ccs=603&cs=430 Official website]