{"nrhp_refnum":"83001247","name":"Orosi Branch Library","other_names":["Orosi-Cutler Branch Library"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"12662 Ave. 416","address_restricted":false,"city":"Orosi","county":"Tulare County","state":"CA","lat":36.54498031700007,"lon":-119.29046153699994,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1983-08-25","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Education","Social History"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A small frame Carnegie library in the form of a bungalow at 12662 Avenue 416 in Orosi, Tulare County, California, built in 1921 by builder Fred Hill on its original lot.","why_significant":"The nomination argues it is one of the few wood-frame Carnegie libraries and one of the last built in California. It is also one of only 48 of the original 142 California Carnegie libraries still serving as public libraries. It has been in continuous use for 62 years and is a source of community pride.","narrative":"Orosi Branch Library is a small wood-frame bungalow in an inverted T shape, set on a raised basement with a random stone foundation. Built in 1921 by Fred Hill, it follows the floor plan for the smallest building in a Carnegie leaflet of 1911 by James Bertram. The interior includes a former meeting room with a random stone fireplace and a book room with original wood bookcases. Orosi's library began in 1910 in rented rooms. The Orosi Improvement Club raised money for a lot in 1914, and a $3,000 Carnegie grant was obtained in 1917. World War I delayed construction until 1921, making it one of the last Carnegie grants used in California. Most Carnegie libraries were masonry, so a frame example is unusual. It is one of 48 of California's original 142 Carnegie libraries still serving as public libraries, and it remains on its original site, largely unaltered.","period_of_significance":"1900-","architect_builder":"Builder - Fred Hill; design based upon \"Notes on Library Buildings,\" by James Bertram","architectural_style":"Simple California bungalow","criteria":[],"status_note":"Described as in excellent condition, unaltered, on its original site, and occupied as a public library.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:54:27.613151-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_CA/83001247.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/83001247/314a1ee108-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/83001247/314a1ee108-1600.webp","licence":"CC BY 3.0","author":"Bobak Ha'Eri","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2009-0725-CA-Orosi-library.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Bobak Ha'Eri</a>, <a href=\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0\" rel=\"license noopener\">CC BY 3.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2009-0725-CA-Orosi-library.jpg"},"district":{"nrhp_refnum":"16000468","name":"Big Creek Hydroelectric System Historic District","url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/districts/california/big-creek-hydroelectric-system-historic-district-16000468/"},"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/123862237","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orosi_Branch_Library","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q14683581"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/california/tulare-county/orosi-branch-library-83001247/"}