Skene Memorial Library
Why it's listed
Built in 1901 on Main Street in Fleischmanns, in the Catskill Mountains, this small wood-frame library combines Queen Anne and Shingle style elements. It is L-shaped, with tall hipped roofs on broad bracketed eaves, wood-shingle walls, an engaged octagonal tower and a gabled porch with Doric posts. Inside, a central reading room flanks a west reading room with a stone fireplace and an east stage, and original hardwood floors survive. Annette Skene promoted the project from 1894 and dedicated it to her first husband, Dr. Alexander Skene, a noted gynecologist and summer resident. Local residents, summer visitors and Andrew Carnegie, who gave $5,000, paid for construction. The architects were Henry George Emery and Marshall Lansing Emery, with Crosby Kelly as builder. The library has hosted fairs, lectures, recitals, theater productions, movies and town meetings, and it still operates as a library with an exterior that retains nearly all of its original design.
Significance in brief: It is a distinctive, intact example of an early twentieth century public library and has served as a center of community life in Fleischmanns for more than a century. Its eclectic late Victorian design combines Queen Anne and Shingle style features typical of resort-era village architecture. It was funded in part by a $5,000 Carnegie gift and dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alexander Skene.
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 01000576, listed May 30, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Main St.-Old NY 28, Fleischmanns |
|---|---|
| County | Delaware County |
| Listed | May 30, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01000576 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1901 |
| Architect / builder | H.G. and M.L. Emory, architects; Crosby Kelly, builder |
| Architectural style | Shingle Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Social History, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Continues to function as a library as originally intended; the exterior retains almost complete integrity, and one rear room is now used as the village clerk's office. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.15525, -74.52892 (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 01000576.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7534567
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.