Cortland Free Library
Why it's listed
Cortland Free Library is a Georgian Revival public library at the corner of Church and Court streets in Cortland, New York. Opened in May 1928, it was designed by local architect Carl W. Clark and modeled on the West Roxbury branch of the Boston Public Library. The seven-bay building is faced in tan tapestry brick laid in Flemish bond above a stone basement, with a four-column stone portico marking the entrance. Inside, the main reading room is divided by Doric piers, and a rear wing holds a marble-and-brass staircase, a gallery and glass-floored book stacks. The library grew out of a subscription library whose charter was amended in 1925 to open it to everyone. Industrialist Charles Wickwire donated the site of the former courthouse, and a fund drive raised $110,000. The building is recognized for its role in Cortland's early twentieth-century development and as a well-preserved example of Georgian Revival library design.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues significance under Criterion A for its role in Cortland's early twentieth-century history and development, and under Criterion C as an early-twentieth-century library in the Georgian Revival style. It replaced a subscription-only library with a free public one. The building retains a high degree of its original character inside and out.
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 08000469, listed May 30, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 32 Church St., Cortland |
|---|---|
| County | Cortland County |
| Listed | May 30, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08000469 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1928 |
| Architect / builder | Carl W. Clark, architect |
| Architectural style | Late 19th & 20th Century Revivals: Georgian Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Community Planning and Development, Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a library. The original front staircase was replaced in 1976 with a smaller stair and a ramp, and the library board has expressed interest in restoring the original stair. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.60167, -76.17787 (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 08000469.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5173345
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.