Newton in Harvey County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Newton Carnegie Library
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 4, 2011
1. Newton Carnegie Library Marker
Inscription.
Newton Carnegie Library. . On April 15, 1903 construction began on this site. The Cottonwood stone, red brick facade and Ionic columns combined to provide a striking addition to Main Street Newton. The two story building was designed by W.W. Rose, and constructed by Reikowski and Bartel on land donated by E.C. Lewellen. The site selection process created considerable controversy between the citizens living south of the Santa Fe tracks and those on the north side. The source of funding was a $16000 grant from the philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie. The structure was officially opened March 14, 1904 and was a welcome change from the rented rooms in the Randall Building at 5th and Main. In 1924 a $5000 room was added to the west side and in 1937 the basement was remodeled as a children's section. The building served until April, 1973 when a new library was opened on North Oak and the Carnegie Building deed was tendered to the Harvey County Historical Society.
On April 15, 1903 construction began on this site. The Cottonwood stone, red brick facade and Ionic columns combined to provide a striking addition to Main Street Newton. The two story building was designed by W.W. Rose, and constructed by Reikowski and Bartel on land donated by E.C. Lewellen. The site selection process created considerable controversy between the citizens living south of the Santa Fe tracks and those on the north side. The source of funding was a $16000 grant from the philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie. The structure was officially opened March 14, 1904 and was a welcome change from the rented rooms in the Randall Building at 5th and Main. In 1924 a $5000 room was added to the west side and in 1937 the basement was remodeled as a children's section. The building served until April, 1973 when a new library was opened on North Oak and the Carnegie Building deed was tendered to the Harvey County Historical Society.
Erected 2001 by the Harvey County Historical Society.
Location. 38° 2.651′ N, 97° 20.718′ W. Marker is in Newton, Kansas, in Harvey County. It is at the intersection of Main Street (State Highway 15) and 2nd Street, on the left when traveling north on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 203 Main Street, Newton KS 67114, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Kansas and in Greater Wichita. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Corn Belt, on the prairies, and on the Southern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Louisiana Purchase.
Also see . . . 1. Newton Carnegie Library. National Register of Historic Places nomination (Submitted on June 27, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 4, 2011
3. Newton Carnegie Library Entrance Detail
Credits. This page was last revised on April 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 27, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 691 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on June 27, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
