{"nrhp_refnum":"02000464","name":"Paris Carnegie Public Library","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"207 S. Main St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Paris","county":"Edgar County","state":"IL","lat":39.61128647400005,"lon":-87.69524916999995,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"2002-05-09","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Education","Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A one-story red brick Carnegie library with a raised basement at 207 South Main Street in downtown Paris, Edgar County, Illinois, built in 1903-1904 to designs by Charles Henry and Son and constructed by H.B. Newman.","why_significant":"The nomination argues local significance under Criterion A for education, because the library provided library services to Paris residents, and under Criterion C as a local example of Classical Revival architecture. It is one of only four Classical Revival buildings still standing in Paris, per a 1982 survey, and fits the Carnegie Library property type from the Illinois multiple property documentation.","narrative":"Located at 207 South Main Street in downtown Paris, Illinois, this one-story red brick library with a raised basement was built in 1903-1904 with $18,000 donated by Andrew Carnegie. Charles Henry and Son designed it, and local contractor Henry B. Newman built it. The library was dedicated on June 24, 1904. Its temple-front portico with paired Ionic columns, brick pilasters and decorative parapet reflect the Classical Revival style, though stone construction and a dome were left out, probably because of cost. Inside, original dark oak woodwork, wainscoting, a stained glass skylight and a basement fireplace survive. A rear addition was completed in 1991, and some interior changes were made in the 1970s. Earlier library efforts in Paris, including a subscription association, a YMCA collection and a Women's Club circulating library, led to the first public library in 1902. The building is significant for its educational role in the community and as one of only four Classical Revival buildings remaining in Paris.","period_of_significance":"1904-1951","architect_builder":"Henry, Charles & Son, architect; Newman, H.B., builder","architectural_style":"Classical Revival","criteria":["A","C"],"status_note":"Still used as a library; a rear addition was built in 1991 and the original windows have been replaced with vinyl windows.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:55:37.575942-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/80/8910/28891080/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_IL/02000464.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/02000464/6c44e99ca2-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/02000464/6c44e99ca2-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Nyttend","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paris_Carnegie_Public_Library.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Nyttend</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paris_Carnegie_Public_Library.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/28891080","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Carnegie_Public_Library","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7137260"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/illinois/edgar-county/paris-carnegie-public-library-02000464/"}