Smithfield in Cache County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

Smithfield Carnegie Public Library

Utah Historic Site

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 10, 2024

1. Smithfield Carnegie Public Library Marker

Inscription. On February 3, 1916, the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, along with several other civic groups, presented the idea of establishing a public library to Mayor Joseph J. Richardson and the Smithfield City Council. Constructed in 1921 at a cost of $20,000, the Smithfield Carnegie Public Library is significant as the first public library in Smithfield and is a fine example of Prairie style architecture in Utah adapted to a small public building. It is an example of the work of architect Fred W. Hodgson, a prominent local architect who designed many other buildings in Cache Valley. The Smithfield Public Library was one of more than 1,400 public libraries established throughout the U.S. between 1898 and 1920, primarily through grants from Andrew Carnegie, a multi-millionaire and steel magnate who felt that the rich had an obligation to use their excess wealth for the benefit of mankind. Carnegie hoped to stimulate a community's commitment to establishing a free library program by giving it much, but not all, of the money required to build the library, with the understanding that the community would be responsible for furnishing and maintaining it; this was the case in Smithfield. Continually used as a public library, the building is a key historic resource within the community of Smithfield. A new addition to the building was completed in 2014.

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Marker placed in 2014

Erected 2014 by Division of State History.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Charity & Public Work • Education • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Carnegie Libraries, and the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1921.

Location. 41° 50.22′ N, 111° 49.983′ W. Marker is in Smithfield, Utah, in Cache County. It is on Main Street (U.S. 91) just north of West Center Street, on the right when traveling south. The marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the southeast corner of the subject building, facing Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 25 Main Street, Smithfield UT 84335, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Utah’s Cache Valley.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and in Colorado Plateau.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Veterans Memorial (here, next to this marker); In Memory of Ira Elias Merrill (within shouting distance of this marker); Smithfield Tabernacle (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Douglass General Mercantile Store (approx. 0.2 miles away); Original Settlement of Smithfield (approx. half a mile away); Richard V. Hansen

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 10, 2024

2. Smithfield Carnegie Public Library Marker

The marker is mounted on the southeast corner of the original (1921) Carnegie Library building.

(approx. 0.7 miles away); Steven M. Smith (approx. 0.7 miles away); In Memory Of The Hyde Park Settlers (approx. 2.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Smithfield.

Regarding Smithfield Carnegie Public Library. National Register of Historic Places #81000580.

From the National Register Nomination:
Since the 1860s, Mormon Church wards had maintained small libraries to meet the needs of their members, but Smithfield had no public library. In a special election in 1917, Smithfield citizens approved a one mill levy to fund a public library. Following the election, city officials named a library commission to carry out the establishment of the library. Mayors in their time of office, would act as chairman of the board. In the fall of 1917, a temporary reading room was opened in the Second L.D.S. Ward Tithing Office. It was stocked with books donated by townspeople. While these preliminary efforts were being made, the library commission applied for a grant from the Carnegie Foundation. Local architect Fred W. Hodgson estimated the cost of a suitable building at $20,000. The foundation granted $12,000, with the city pledging the balance.

Also see . . .

Smithfield Carnegie Public Library Detail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 10, 2024

3. Smithfield Carnegie Public Library Detail

(inscription above the front entrance)
Carnegie Public Library
Erected 1921
———
In the education of the people
lies the safety of the home
the state and the nation

1. History of the Smithfield Public Library. Excerpt:

Smithfield citizens have been dedicated to library service since pioneer days when a library was formed by the LDS Church's Smithfield Ward Sunday School in 1868. A temporary reading room was opened in the LDS Church's Smithfield Second Ward tithing office building in 1917, with Hazel Miles as librarian. A local architect, Fred J. Hodgson, gave an estimated cost for a suitable building at $20,000. The Carnegie Corporation made a grant of $12,000, with the city pledging the balance. A prominent site for the new building was chosen at Main and Center, a piece of ground which carries many cherished memories down through the years for Smithfield citizens. This new Carnegie library building was opened on December 3, 1922. After many years of discussing the need to increase the size of the library, Smithfield City broke ground on an addition to the Smithfield Carnegie Library in May 2014. The addition was designed by Skyline, AES Inc and built by Landmark Companies. The addition was completed in November 2014 and dedicated on June 1, 2015.

(Submitted on August 2, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Carnegie library (Wikipedia). Excerpt:

A Carnegie
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 10, 2024

4. Smithfield Carnegie Public Library (1921) (east elevation)
From the National Register Nomination: The facade of the building is symmetrical and has an interlocking arrangement of elements. Horizontal elements include the coping at the roof edge, the projecting concrete sills over the windows and adjoining stripcourse, and the sills of the windows. Vertical elements include the massive piers that frame the projecting entrance, and the smaller piers that are on each side of the front door and those that divide the windows. The facade is divided by a central bay that projects over the roof edge as well as out from the primary wall. The roof edge has coping that has occasional indentations similar to widely spaced crenellation. Four long, narrow windows on each half of the main floor and four half-size basement windows alternate with brick piers capped with simple cornice blocks. A smaller concrete block divides each pier at the break in the window molding of the large windows.
The architect of the building was Fred W. Hodgson, Cache Valley's most prominent architect of that time, and brother of well-known Ogden architect, Leslie S. Hodgson.
library is a library built with money donated by Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. A total of 2,509 Carnegie libraries were built between 1883 and 1929. 1,689 were built in the United States. At first, Carnegie libraries were almost exclusively in places with which he had a personal connection — namely his birthplace in Scotland and the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, his adopted hometown. Later, Carnegie substantially increased funding to libraries outside these areas. As Carnegie's library funding progressed, very few of the towns that requested a grant, committing to his terms for operation and maintenance, were refused.

(Submitted on August 2, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Smithfield Public Library (<i>south elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 10, 2024

5. Smithfield Public Library (south elevation)

The south side of the original (1921) Carnegie Library.

Smithfield Public Library (<i>northwest elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 10, 2024

6. Smithfield Public Library (northwest elevation)

The newer (2014) addition is on the right/west side.

Smithfield Public Library (<i>west elevation</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 10, 2024

7. Smithfield Public Library (west elevation)

The newer (2014) addition, on the back side of the original Carnegie Library, faces west.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 1, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 300 times since then and 41 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on August 2, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.