Darlington, WI. – The Wisconsin Historical Society announces the listing of the Darlington Carnegie Free Library in Darlington, Lafayette County, on the State Register of Historic Places.
The Darlington Carnegie Free Library is a fine and intact example of a free-standing public library building, a type erected during of the boom period of library construction in the early twentieth century. The Darlington Library is one of 64 built in Wisconsin communities with the support of philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who financed the construction of libraries across the United States. The library is also significant for the 95 years it served as an educational center for Darlington.
The Darlington Library represents the work of master architects Louis W. Claude and Edward F. Starck, noted for designing many fine small public libraries erected throughout the upper Midwest. Darlington’s library is Tudor Revival in style, with steep roofs, diamond-paned windows, and a prominent chimney inspired by sixteenth century English building.
The Fuldner Heritage Fund paid for the preparation of this nomination. This endowed fund, created through a generous donation by the Jeffris Family Foundation and administered by the Wisconsin Historical Society, supports the nomination of historically and architecturally significant rural and small-town properties.
The State Register is Wisconsin’s official list of state properties determined to be significant to Wisconsin’s heritage. The State Historic Preservation Office at the Wisconsin Historical Society administers both the State Register and National Register in Wisconsin.
Additional information for this house is available at https://wisconsinhistory.org/
To learn more about the State and National Register programs in Wisconsin, visit www.wisconsinhistory.org.
