By Kathy Krause

The July 14, 1900 fire in downtown Prescott burned all the books the Monday Club ladies had collected for three years for their little library in the Bashford building. It took over a year for the Library Board to get things rolling again for the planned library building. Book donations came in from the community and the insurance money from the fire loss was all held pending the construction of the Carnegie Library. The $4,000 collected locally and equal grant from the Carnegie Foundation were in the bank.

On August 1, 1901 Julia Goldwater, President of the Library Board sent a floor plan and photos of the proposed library to the Carnegie Foundation, noting that construction "was much delayed by the fire which totally destroyed the business portion of the town last July." She also wrote that the estimated cost of the new library was now $14,000 (as opposed to the $8,000 of 2 years prior). She asked for an additional $3,000 from the Foundation. She added, "A smaller building would not meet the needs of the town for even 10 years, while this, with the addition of a balcony in the stack would probably be ample for all time. If you had any conception of how hard we have worked for the last two years, what sacrifice we have made for the cause, and how discouraged we feel that an adequate building will cost so much, you would surely pity us, and would promise us the $3,000. We very much need the library, and $3,000 added to your already generous gift would make a monument worthy of your kind benevolence."

Sadly, nothing more was heard from the Carnegie Foundation concerning additional funds. The Monday Club proceeded with their plans to build with funds available.

In April of 1902, two ladies of the Library Board were appointed to see the Board of Supervisors in Prescott regarding a lot on the southeast corner of the Courthouse Plaza which the ladies had, for a long time, thought the perfect place for their library. At the board meeting on May 3rd, it was reported that there was "no satisfactory answer from the Supervisors."

In May, based on the reply from the Supervisors, the board noted in their minutes that building at the proposed site "was burdened with so many restrictions that the proposition was abandoned."

In June 1902, word came to the Library Board that Mr. Frank M. Murphy had bought the southwest corner of Gurley and Marina streets and would sell a 50 x 125 foot piece to the board for $3,500. The "Fremont House" was currently on that lot and plans were made to move it to Union Street. Negotiations were made with Mr. Murphy and Mr. E. B. Gage, including generous donations from both men as well as from the community and the lot was secured by the Monday Club.

The women continued to work with submitted architectural plans, requesting changes as deemed necessary. Final plans were made with Mr. Millard, the architect and builder in late December. Now, construction could begin.

A temporary library was opened by the ladies in the Miner’s Association building in March of 1903 while the new building was being constructed. They took turns, as before, with library duty. In the months that followed, they worked at setting hours for the new library, hired a janitor for the building, arranged for a new librarian, ordered stacks, tables and chairs and made arrangements to rent out rooms to businesses. Additional books were ordered and preparations made to move into the new building.

Dedication of the rather modest Carnegie Library was November 24, 1903. The shelves held about 1300 books. Periodicals were available and a "quiet room" was central to its operation. People had to ask for the materials through a gate. Browsing was not an option.

The old Carnegie Library was the "crown jewel" of the Monday Club and one of its first major projects. The club managed the library until 1917 when it became too much of a managerial problem and the city took it over as the "Prescott Public Library." The Carnegie Library served Prescott from 1903 to 1975 when the current library was opened on Goodwin Street.

Today, the Carnegie Library building at 125 East Gurley Street is a rental property owned by an out-of-town business group.

Sharlot Hall Museum Photograph Call Number:(bub8082pb) Reuse only by permission.
The completed Carnegie Library, fall of 1903 at the corner of Gurley and Marina streets was the "crown jewel" of the Monday Club.

Sharlot Hall Museum Photograph Call Number:(bub8162pa) Reuse only by permission.
Prescott Public Library (Carnegie Building), 1936. The beautiful stained glass window in the front of the library was the location of the "reading room."

Sharlot Hall Museum Photograph Call Number:(st104p) Reuse only by permission.
Looking west on Gurley Street in spring of 1905. The Carnegie Library at left was dedicated in November of 1903. The Elk’s building was built next to the library a year later and opened in 1905. The ‘elk’ was mounted atop the Elk’s building in June 1905 and is not on this photo.