Carnegie Library of Moultrie
Why it's listed
Built in 1908 at 39 North Main Street, this two-story red brick building served as the first public library in Moultrie, Georgia. Andrew Carnegie's $10,000 donation paid for construction, and the community supplied the site and committed annual city funds for upkeep, staff and books. G.W. Milligan of the Cement Construction Company was the builder; the architect's name was never found. The nearly square building has a projecting central stair tower, quoins, fanlights and a modillioned cornice, with Georgian Revival details. Inside, a central hall is flanked by two reading rooms, a plan consistent with good small-town library design, and an upstairs auditorium was used for community events and later by the school system. It was among the first ten Carnegie libraries in Georgia. The library operated until a new facility opened in 1964, then served as a branch from 1965 to 1970. In 1973 it was converted to law offices, with some cosmetic changes.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant in architecture, education and social/humanitarian history. It is one of Moultrie's oldest public buildings and one of the first ten Carnegie libraries in Georgia. It housed Moultrie's first public library from 1908 and is tied to Andrew Carnegie's $10,000 gift.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82002397, listed July 15, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 39 N. Main St., Moultrie |
|---|---|
| County | Colquitt County |
| Listed | July 15, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82002397 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1908 |
| Architect / builder | G.W. Milligan, Cement Construction Company, Builder; Architect, Unknown |
| Architectural style | Late-Victorian building with Georgian Revival features |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Converted to law offices in 1973 with cosmetic exterior and interior alterations; the second floor is unaltered and presently unused. Form lists the property as occupied. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Within district | Moultrie Commercial Historic District |
| Coordinates | 31.18075, -83.78914 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82002397.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q29092822
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.