{"nrhp_refnum":"86000526","name":"McMillan, Reuben, Free Library","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"305 Wick Ave.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Youngstown","county":"Mahoning County","state":"OH","lat":41.10286111800008,"lon":-80.63872867999999,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1986-03-27","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A two-story Classical Revival public library building at 305 Wick Avenue, at the corner of Wick and Rayen Avenues in Youngstown, Ohio, built in 1909-1910 to designs by Owsley and Boucherle.","why_significant":"It is a fine example of early 20th-century institutional Classical Revival architecture and a major work of the Youngstown firm Owsley and Boucherle. It was the first and only building erected to house Youngstown's main public library. It is also notable as a Carnegie-funded library that carries the name of local library founder Reuben McMillan rather than Carnegie's.","narrative":"Built in 1909-1910 at the corner of Wick and Rayen Avenues, this two-story Classical Revival library was the first building constructed specifically for Youngstown's main public library. Designed by Owsley and Boucherle, with Charles F. Owsley taking the lead, it is faced in smooth Indiana limestone with terra cotta detailing, Ionic pilasters and a modillioned cornice. Inside, a two-story entrance hall features Doric columns of French Caen marble and a plaster replica of the Parthenon frieze, while a bronze and marble staircase leads to the upper floor. Andrew Carnegie contributed $50,000, one-third of the cost, yet the building bears the name of Reuben McMillan, first president of the Youngstown Library Association. The library moved here after its earlier home was cleared for the new county courthouse. A 1954 renovation lowered the entrance to ground level, but the building's character remains intact, and it still serves as the main library.","period_of_significance":"1900- (specific dates 1909-10)","architect_builder":"Owsley and Boucherle, Architects; Niedermeier and Restle, Heller Bros, Contractors","architectural_style":"Classical Revival","criteria":["C"],"status_note":"Occupied and in use as the main public library; rated excellent condition, with the exterior and interior described as essentially intact despite replaced windows and a 1954 entrance renovation.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:53:14.603478-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_OH/86000526.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/86000526/ffa2867ed3-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/86000526/ffa2867ed3-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Nyttend","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:McMillan_Library_from_southwest.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Nyttend</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:McMillan_Library_from_southwest.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71990124","wikipedia":null,"wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q138568485"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/ohio/mahoning-county/mcmillan-reuben-free-library-86000526/"}