Steubenville in Jefferson County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919) / Carnegie Library of Steubenville
Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919). Andrew Carnegie was born in Dunfermline, Scotland. He immigrated to Allegheny City Pennsylvania with his family when he was 13. While operating the telegraphs for the Pennsylvania Railroad, Carnegie perceived the great need for steel in the railroad industry. With this insight, he founded the Carnegie Steel Corporation which operated for 35 years before he sold it to J.P. Morgan in 1901. Andrew Carnegie wrote the article, “Wealth” in 1889 in which he said that a responsible person of wealth should help his fellow man. Carnegie’s philanthropy provided 2,509 libraries throughout the world. Carnegie was already familiar with the city when he wrote a letter to offer funds to build the Steubenville library on June 30, 1899.
Carnegie Library of Steubenville. As a young man, Carnegie was sent to a Steubenville telegraph office when a flood destroyed the wires between Steubenville and Wheeling. As part of his offer to build the library, Carnegie stipulated that the city’s citizens would have to provide the site and money to maintain the library. The library was one of the first funded by Carnegie in Ohio and opened on March 12, 1902. Designed by the Pittsburgh architectural firm of Alden & Harlow, the Richardsonian Romanesque building shares its style with a smaller Oakmont Pennsylvania library. Both libraries were designed using features of the 1888 Cambridge Massachusetts city hall. The diagonal brick patterns on the ends of the structure are unique to this building. This library was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.
Erected 2012 by Public Library of Steubenville & Jefferson County Trust Fund and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 10-41.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Industry & Commerce • Man-Made Features. In addition, it is included in the Carnegie Libraries, and the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is March 1780.
Location. 40° 21.306′ N, 80° 37.078′ W. Marker is in Steubenville, Ohio, in Jefferson County. Marker is at the intersection of 4th Street and Slack Street, on the right when traveling east on 4th Street. Located in front of the main entrance to the library. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 407 South 4th Street, Steubenville OH 43952, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Ohio Valley Steelworker Statue (within shouting distance of this marker); In Honor of Those Who Served Their Country (within shouting distance of this marker); Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church (about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line); This Old Federal Land Office (approx. 0.3 miles away); Federal Land Office (approx. 0.3 miles away); North-West Corner of Fort Steuben (approx. 0.3 miles away); Steubenville's Dean Martin (approx. 0.3 miles away); Fort Steuben (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Steubenville.
Also see . . .
1. Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County. Library website homepage (Submitted on February 2, 2013, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)
2. Andrew Carnegie. Find A Grave website entry (Submitted on February 2, 2013, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.)
3. Video - " Andrew Carnegie ". YouTube video (2m 35s):
A "Herald Films" video tribute to Andrew Carnegie's thoughts, photos, and locations. In his day - the richest man in the world "Gave It Away". (Submitted on February 4, 2013.)
Credits. This page was last revised on March 1, 2022. It was originally submitted on February 2, 2013, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,193 times since then and 251 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 2, 2013, by Mike Wintermantel of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.