Tampa in Hillsborough County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Tampa Free Public Library
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, May 19, 2017
1. Tampa Free Public Library Marker
Inscription.
Tampa Free Public Library. . Built with a $50,000 grant from industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, the Tampa Free Public Library opened its doors in April 27, 1917, becoming the City of Tampa's first public library. This venture was the result of a sustained community effort led by the Tampa Woman's Club and the Tampa Board of Trade, a tax approval by citizens for annual operating costs, a 4,000-book donation by Mr. and Mrs. L.H. Lothridge, and the dedicated work of head librarian, Helen V. Stelle (1917-1947). Designed by architect Fred J. James and constructed in 1915 at 102 E. 7th Avenue by Aulic, Bastes and Hudnell, the 35,212-square-foot Classical Revival building features brown and yellow brick, rusticated granite, a barrel tile roof, and 16-foot ceilings. It served as the main library for Tampa Public Library for 50 years. The Tampa Free Public Library closed its doors on April 6, 1968, when a newly-built, modern, central library at 900 N. Ashley Drive in downtown Tampa opened. The Tampa Free Public Library building is designated as a City of Tampa Local Historic Landmark; it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.
Built with a $50,000 grant from industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, the Tampa Free Public Library opened its doors in April 27, 1917, becoming the City of Tampa's first public library. This venture was the result of a sustained community effort led by the Tampa Woman's Club and the Tampa Board of Trade, a tax approval by citizens for annual operating costs, a 4,000-book donation by Mr. and Mrs. L.H. Lothridge, and the dedicated work of head librarian, Helen V. Stelle (1917-1947). Designed by architect Fred J. James and constructed in 1915 at 102 E. 7th Avenue by Aulic, Bastes & Hudnell, the 35,212-square-foot Classical Revival building features brown and yellow brick, rusticated granite, a barrel tile roof, and 16-foot ceilings. It served as the main library for Tampa Public Library for 50 years. The Tampa Free Public Library closed its doors on April 6, 1968, when a newly-built, modern, central library at 900 N. Ashley Drive in downtown Tampa opened. The Tampa Free Public Library building is designated as a City of Tampa Local Historic Landmark; it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.
Erected 2015 by Hillsborough County Historical Advisory Council, Friends of the Library of Tampa-Hillsborough County, Inc.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these
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topic lists: Architecture • Education. A significant historical date for this entry is April 27, 1917.
Location. 27° 57.632′ N, 82° 27.648′ W. Marker is in Tampa, Florida, in Hillsborough County. Marker is at the intersection of East 7th Aveune and North Tampa Street (Business U.S. 41), on the right when traveling west on East 7th Aveune. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 102 East 7th Avenue, Tampa FL 33602, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Also see . . . Tampa Free Public Library. (Submitted on December 1, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.)
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, May 19, 2017
2. Tampa Free Public Library with marker on corner
Credits. This page was last revised on December 2, 2017. It was originally submitted on December 1, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 447 times since then and 56 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on December 1, 2017, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
