Havana Public Library
Why it's listed
Havana's public library sits at the corner of Plum and Adams Streets, one block south of downtown. Built of blond brick and finished in 1902, it is a one-and-a-half-story Classical Revival building with stone Ionic pilasters, palladian windows and stepped gables. It was funded by an $8,000 grant from Andrew Carnegie, offered after the town agreed to provide a site and a tax to support the library. Havana's library service had begun in 1898 in a small room in city hall, shared with the police court, fire department and jail. A 1937 rear addition lengthened the building and moved the entrance to the Adams Street side. Builders reused the original brick manufacturer and copied the windows and design. Inside, the open main-floor plan remains, though the fireplace, marble baseboards and terrazzo floor were removed or covered. The library was recognized for its role in the town's social and educational life from 1902 to 1943, and as an early example of Carnegie library philanthropy in Illinois.
Significance in brief: The library resulted from Andrew Carnegie's grant program for public libraries and was an early Illinois recipient. It has served as a public institution playing an integral role in the town's social and educational life. It meets Criterion A in social history and education.
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 94000014, listed February 16, 1994. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 201 W. Adams St., Havana |
|---|---|
| County | Mason County |
| Listed | February 16, 1994 |
| Reference number | 94000014 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1902 - 1943 |
| Architect / builder | Hair, C.E.; Deal and Ginzel (1937 addition) |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History, Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and continuing to serve a growing population as a library. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.29918, -90.06263 (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 94000014.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5683094
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.