Olean Public Library
Why it's listed
Built in 1909 on South Union Street in Olean, this two-story library of yellow-pressed brick with a red pantile hipped roof was funded by Andrew Carnegie, whose gift grew from $25,000 to $40,000. New York City architect Edward L. Tilton, trained in Paris at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, designed it in the Beaux-Arts style. The facade has a central round-arched entrance, terra-cotta moldings, cartouches and a bust of Athena. Inside, four large rooms surround an octagonal atrium with fluted oak pilasters, and original oak woodwork, fixtures and a marble and oak stairway survive. The building replaced a library housed in the law office of George V. Forman, who donated it in 1899. It served as the city's main educational, cultural and social institution until 1973 and has housed a restaurant since 1983. Its architectural integrity and its link to Tilton's library work make it a local landmark.
Significance in brief: It is argued to be architecturally significant as a well-crafted, architect-designed Beaux-Arts building in Olean, with a symmetrical composition and rich classical ornament. It is also a Carnegie library, one of eighty-four costing over $40,000, and an example of the work of Edward L. Tilton, a New York City architect who specialized in libraries. It served as the city's most widely used educational, cultural and social institution from 1909 until 1973.
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 85001498, listed July 11, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 116 S. Union St., Olean |
|---|---|
| County | Cattaraugus County |
| Listed | July 11, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85001498 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1909 |
| Architect / builder | Edward L. Tilton |
| Architectural style | Beaux-Arts |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied; used as a restaurant since 1983. Interior described as virtually intact, with a 1983 rear kitchen and banquet addition and an elevator. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.07682, -78.43021 (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 85001498.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7085969
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.