Chariton Township in Glasgow in Howard County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Lewis Library

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 16, 2021

1. Lewis Library Marker

Inscription. This library was provided for in the will of Benjamin W. Lewis, whose fortune was made in tobacco, to the extent of $10,000.00. The building of Italian Renaissance architecture was erected in 1866 at a cost of $26,000.00 through the benevolence of his widow, his son, and a brother. This is the second oldest library in Missouri and the oldest building used exclusively for library purposes west of the Mississippi.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Charity & Public Work • Education • Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1866.

Location. 39° 13.571′ N, 92° 50.654′ W. Marker is in Glasgow, Missouri, in Howard County. It is in Chariton Township. Marker is on Market Street just west of 4th Street, on the right when traveling west. Marker is located near the southwest corner of the building, facing Market Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 315 Market Street, Glasgow MO 65254, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. First Methodist Church / Glasgow Methodist Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Evangelical United Brethren Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Brick Portion of 4th Street (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Presbyterian Church

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(about 300 feet away); Baptist Church (about 400 feet away); Saint Mary's Catholic Church (about 400 feet away); History of Glasgow (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Lewis & Clark Expedition Across Missouri (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Glasgow.

Regarding Lewis Library. National Register of Historic Places #69000106, as Glasgow Public Library.

Also see . . .
1. Glasgow Public Library.

It was built in 1866, and is a two-story, Italianate style brick building. It features round-arched windows and doors, and a high bracketed cornice with its broad overhanging roof. It is the oldest Missouri library in continuous use.

(Submitted on February 26, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. The Battle of Glasgow's Best Legacy.

For us now, it is hard to grasp what a rare treasure Lewis Library was during the nineteenth century. The reason is that similar public libraries exist in most cities and towns across America. Most of them, almost 2000, were built with money from Andrew Carnegie, the Pittsburgh steel
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 16, 2021

2. Lewis Library (southwest elevation)
(marker is located at southwest [left] corner of building)
magnate. Like Lewis, Carnegie saw knowledge as the key to human betterment and considered libraries worthwhile philanthropy. The difference is that the Carnegie libraries came later. Most were built after the turn of the twentieth century.

(Submitted on February 26, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

3. Colonel Benjamin Whitehead Lewis of Glascow.

The three brothers, B. W., J. W., and W. J. LEWIS, united their interests under the firm name of B. W. LEWIS & Bros., in Glasgow, and of LEWIS & Bros., in St. Louis. Under this arrangement, their business was carried on with rapidly increasing success. They were annually working up about 4,000.000 pounds of tobacco, and exporting large quantities of plug, fine-cut, etc., to England, and to the continent of Europe, their trade extending to Australia. For many years B. W. Lewis was prominently connected with every public enterprise in which the community where he lived had an interest. He was one of the largest stockholders and a director in the Glasgow branch of the Exchange bank, of Missouri, and, at his death, left a legacy of $10,000 to found a public library in Glasgow, to be under the management of the M. E. church, and, subsequently, his widow, brother, James W., and eldest son.

(Submitted on February 26, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

National Register of Historic Places Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 16, 2021

3. National Register of Historic Places Marker

(mounted on east façade of building)
Lewis Library of Glasgow
has been placed on the
National
Register of
Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior

Benjamin Whitehead Lewis Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 16, 2021

4. Benjamin Whitehead Lewis Marker

(mounted near southeast corner of building)
Benjamin Whitehead Lewis, 1812-1866
Prominent citizen of Glasgow provided funds for this library. In order to preserve its heritage as a library, on Nov 4th 1995, the Lewis family deeded this building to the citizens of Glasgow.

Lewis Library, Erected 1866 image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 16, 2021

5. Lewis Library, Erected 1866

(located above main [south] entrance)

Lewis Library (<i>east elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 16, 2021

6. Lewis Library (east elevation)

(National Register of Historic Places marker is between windows on the right)

Lewis Library Interior image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 16, 2021

7. Lewis Library Interior

Lewis Library (<i>southeast elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 16, 2021

8. Lewis Library (southeast elevation)

(Benjamin Whitehead Lewis Marker is mounted near the southeast corner)

Credits. This page was last revised on February 26, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 25, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 77 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on February 26, 2023, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.