Le Roy Public Library

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 9, 2023

1. Le Roy Public Library Marker

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From the National Register Nomination prepared by Dr. Norene A. Roberts, 3/30/1985:
The Le Roy Public Library building is the only example of the small-town intact Carnegie-type Classical Revival style library building left intact in Mower County since a similar building in Austin, the county seat, was destroyed with additions and alterations which made it all but unrecognizable.
The Le Roy Library is not a Carnegie-funded library. It was built as a result of a grass-roots group of women in Le Roy who called their organization the “Ladies Book Club.” The Ladies Book Club was founded in 1901 with 13 members for the purpose of becoming better acquainted with the best literature of the day and for furthering the educational facilities of the village. Each member bought two books and swapped

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 9, 2023

2. Le Roy Public Library (east/front entrance)

The marker is mounted on the right side of the front entrance.

them with other members. From these small beginnings, the club continued to attract new members and more books.
In 1914, the city council voted an allowance of $10 per month for the up-keep of a small rented building. After the death of Mrs. John Palmer, an ardent worker and club member, her husband donated the ground on which the library stands. A new library building was subscribed to, an effort which involved many fundraising activities on the part of the women members of the club.
With volunteer help, the building was erected in 1915 and dedicated on January 13, 1916. The club donated $100 a year for the purchase of books until this donation was no longer needed when the city of Le Roy levied a mill tax for support of the library. The library association disbanded in 1931.
After a disastrous fire in November 1965, the citizens of Le Roy once again pitched in to raise the money to repair the library and replace the almost 5,000 books destroyed in the fire. The library reopened in 1966 and joined the county library system in 1967. The library today is governed by the Le Roy Library Board under the direction of the Le Roy City Council.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, September 9, 2023

3. Le Roy Public Library (east/front elevation)

From the National Register Nomination:  The library is a small masonry structure of one and a half stories, counting the raised basement. It is faced in reddish, brownish, orangish rough brick with a red grout, limestone trim, and wood portico painted white. It is an intact example of the Classical Revival style. The front facade is symmetrical. The pediment and projecting front gable is wood with dentilled molding on the frieze. Two smooth limestone columns flanking the front door have Tuscan capitals. The original oak front entry door has beveled glass. Above the front door is a limestone header incised with "Public Library." The door transom is divided into lights with crossed muntins in the Greek mode. Original windows are one-over-one double-hung.

Excerpt:  The Le Roy Public Library is public library in Le Roy, Minnesota, United States. It is a member of Southeastern Libraries Cooperating, the library region serving southeastern Minnesota.
Built: 1915
Architectural style: Neoclassical