Where Should Walla Walla Put Its Carnegie Library?
In 1903 the city weighed a city-owned lot on Palouse Street against the Ward property at Palouse and East Alder for the new Carnegie library.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
The city owns a site that would be desirable for the Carnegie library building. It is the lot on Palouse Street between the Mott Candy Company's new building and Mill Creek. A blacksmith's shop now stands on the lot, which is one hundred feet wide and at least one hundred and fifty feet long. This site is in a good part of the city near the business center and easily accessible. It is near Whitman College and the Carnegie building would add to the attractiveness of that part of the city.
Another desirable site is the Ward property at the corner of Palouse and East Alder, adjoining the Walla Walla hospital grounds. The Statesman is informed that this lot is offered to the city for $10,000, which is $500 less than has been offered for it within the last year. If the city council prefers this site the lot on Palouse Street could probably be sold for enough to pay the price.
The city is growing eastward and it is generally agreed that the library, if not located in the heart of the business district, should go to the east side.
“The city is growing eastward and it is generally agreed that the library, if not located in the heart of the business district, should go to the east side.”
Carnegie libraries were civic status symbols, and siting one could steer development. The argument over whether to use city land or buy a corner lot near the hospital is the same kind of public-land decision cities still make about libraries and civic buildings.
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