Program

NYS Historic

Subject

Arts & Culture, People, Site

Location

116 South Union Street, Olean, NY 14760, USA

Lat/Long

42.076986, -78.430385

Grant Recipient

City of Olean

The Olean Public Library in the city of Olean in Cattaraugus County, New York was established in 1871 as the Olean Library Association. Around 1907, the association became a public institution and the library trustees began working to secure funding for a new library building. At that time, the library was located in a building donated by George V. Forman on South Union Street. By July 1908, the library trustees had secured $40,000 in funding from Andrew Carnegie for the new Olean Public Library building, to be located on the site of the former Forman property on South Union Street. New York architect, Edward L. Tilton was employed to create the preliminary plans used to secure the funding from Carnegie.

In September 1908, the Olean Public Library hired a contractor, William Hanley, of Bradford, Pennsylvania, to construct the new library building according to the drawings and specifications prepared by Tilton. During construction, the library temporarily relocated to the second floor of the Olean City Hall. On July 3, 1909, the cornerstone of the new library building was laid, and by May 1910, construction was completed and the new library was open for business. The May 21, 1910 edition of the Olean Evening Herald reported on the opening of the new library building, providing a description of the new accommodations:

“The Olean Public Library is an institution of which the people of this city have a just right to feel proud. From a very small beginning, it has grown to what it is today, a library of over 10,000 volumes, housed in a building that is the admiration of all, conveniently arranged and equipped in the most modern way. As the building and furnishings stand, they represent an investment of almost $50,000, of which $40,000 was given by Andrew Carnegie. The handsome building is of buff pressed brick, with terra cotta trimmings and artistic ornamentation. It is 56×80 feet standing well back from the street line, and in one of the most picturesque parts of the city. The architectural beauty is at once simple and striking.”

The library on South Union Street continued to serve the community until 1973, when the Olean Public Library was relocated to a new location on North Second Street. The former library on South Union Street was eventually repurposed and opened as a restaurant in 1983 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.