{"nrhp_refnum":"95000992","name":"Smith, A. Herr and E. E., Public Library","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"105 Adams St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Loda","county":"Iroquois County","state":"IL","lat":40.519188402000054,"lon":-88.07036377699995,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"1995-08-04","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Education","Social History"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A one-story red brick and stone public library at 105 Adams Street in Loda, Iroquois County, Illinois, built in 1896-97 in the Romanesque Revival style to designs by architect Paul O. Moratz and built by Fred E. King.","why_significant":"The nomination argues the library is locally significant under Criterion A in education and social history. It has operated continuously since opening in 1897, supplying books to students and residents and hosting local social and reading groups. It was also the culmination of decades of effort by the Loda Literary Society to establish a library.","narrative":"Loda's public library at 105 Adams Street is a one-story red brick and stone building in the Romanesque Revival style, measuring about 42 by 30 feet. Designed by Bloomington architect Paul O. Moratz and built by Chicago builder Fred E. King in 1896-97, it cost $3,118.57. Its front gable shelters an open arched entrance with memorial inscriptions. Inside are a vestibule, reading room, fireproof stack room and librarian's room, with original oak woodwork and a fireplace. The library was funded by Eliza E. Smith of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in memory of her brother A. Herr Smith, and it followed decades of effort by the Loda Literary Society to secure a permanent home for its books. It has operated continuously since 1897, serving students when the local schools had no libraries and hosting groups such as the Loda Historical Society. Its importance lies in education and community social life.","period_of_significance":"1897-1945","architect_builder":"Moratz, Paul O., Architect; King, Fred E., Builder","architectural_style":"Romanesque Revival","criteria":["A"],"status_note":"Has been in continuous use as a library since 1897; exterior remains essentially as built, with some interior and material alterations.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:55:37.422715-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/opastorage/live/2/8930/28893002/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_IL/95000992.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/95000992/fbe0e6e855-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/95000992/fbe0e6e855-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Nyttend","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A._Herr_and_E.E._Smith_Public_Library.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Nyttend</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:A._Herr_and_E.E._Smith_Public_Library.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/28893002","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._Herr_and_E._E._Smith_Public_Library","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q20710281"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/illinois/iroquois-county/smith-a-herr-and-e-e-public-library-95000992/"}