Paw Paw Township in Van Buren County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Carnegie Library - 129 S. Kalamazoo St.

Built 1920

— Historical Walking Tour —

Photographed by Craig Doda, October 12, 2024

1. Carnegie Library - 129 S. Kalamazoo St. Built 1920 Marker

Inscription. Nearly 1700 libraries were built in the US between 1883 and 1929 using funds donated by businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. In January 1917, the widow of Rev. H.E. Harvey offered to donate his extensive private library if a building could be found to house his collection. The Coterie Club, like many women's organizations in communities across the country in those days, organized efforts to fund the library. The Carnegie Foundation was approached and $10,000 was secured to build the library. The Paw Paw Library occupied this building for 71 years, after which time ownership reverted back to the Village. The building reopened on June 11, 1995 as the Carnegie Community Center.

Erected by Paw Paw Historical Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Charity & Public Work • Education. In addition, it is included in the Carnegie Libraries series list. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1917.

Location. 42° 13.017′ N, 85° 53.45′ W. Marker is in Paw Paw, Michigan, in Van Buren County. It is in Paw Paw Township. It is at the intersection of South Kalamazoo Street and East Paw Paw Street, on the right when traveling north on South Kalamazoo Street. Touch for map

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. Marker is at or near this postal address: 129 S Kalamazoo Street, Paw Paw MI 49079, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Michigan

and specifically in one of the Lake Michigan Shore counties. It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Paw Paw Public Library (here, next to this marker); The Coterie Club - 200 S. Kalamazoo St. (within shouting distance of this marker); Service Gun (within shouting distance of this marker); First National Bank of Paw Paw (within shouting distance of this marker); Van Buren County Courthouse - 212 E. Paw Paw St. (within shouting distance of this marker); Van Buren County / Van Buren County Courthouse (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Paw Paw Trees (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named Service Gun (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Paw Paw.

Paw Paw Carnegie Library image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Doda, October 12, 2024

2. Paw Paw Carnegie Library

Credits. This page was last revised on July 9, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 23, 2024, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 271 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 23, 2024, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.