Fulton Public library
Why it's listed
Built in 1905-1906 on a steeply sloping lot beside the Oswego River, this Carnegie-funded library in Fulton, New York, is two stories high on the street side and four stories on the river side. Its buff pressed-brick walls rest on a sandstone base, with cast stone trim, a slate hipped roof and a central pavilion with Tuscan Doric columns and a cartouche bearing Andrew Carnegie's initials. Syracuse University architecture professors Frederick Revels and Earl Hallenbeck designed it, and Fulton contractor Daniel Wadsworth built it for $14,109.45. Carnegie provided a $15,000 grant on the condition that the city supply the lot and support the library. The building was dedicated in February 1906. It was recognized for its symmetrical, classically inspired Beaux Arts design, for typifying Carnegie's library program, and for its role in Fulton's civic life. It is one of 107 Carnegie libraries in New York State and still serves as a public library.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the library is a distinctive example of a Beaux Arts Carnegie library, representative of the dozens built with Andrew Carnegie's philanthropy in small cities. It was designed by Syracuse architects Frederick Revels and Earl Hallenbeck, and is one of only three surviving public or quasi-public Beaux Arts buildings in Fulton. It remains in use as a public library, which is true of only 14 of 40 Carnegie libraries outside New York City in the state.
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 98001616, listed January 15, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 160 S. First St., Fulton |
|---|---|
| County | Oswego County |
| Listed | January 15, 1999 |
| Reference number | 98001616 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1905-1906 |
| Architect / builder | Frederick William Revels, architect; Earl Hallenbeck, architect; Daniel E. Wadsworth, contractor |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Archeology, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a library; the form lists current function as education/library. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | New York State Barge Canal |
| Coordinates | 43.31956, -76.41608 (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 98001616.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5508455
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.