Mount Pleasant Carnegie Library

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Mount Pleasant Carnegie Library Description continued: the building terminate in capital-like elements at the cornice. Particularly distinctive are the inset tile geometric decorative elements that are symmetrically arranged on the building below the concrete band that divides the long window segments from the short window segments. The only alteration made to the exterior of the library is the addition of a small brick structure to the north side of the building (n.d.). It was built as a vestibule for an entrance to the basement. The brick has been sensitively matched with that of the original building, and it has a hip roof so that the addition is not intrusive and in no way affects the original integrity of the building. Mount Pleasant Carnegie Library History continued: and a small traveling collection. The old Armory (Hansen) Hall (apparently demolished) served as the home of the library until about 1915, when it was combined with the public school library and relocated in a room in the Hamilton School Building (demolished). By that time the number of books had increased to over 1000. Soon after the formation of the combined library, a committee was appointed to petition Andrew Carnegie for a $10,000 library grant for the city. Land for the building was donated by the local organization of the LDS church, and a library tax proposal to provide the $1,000 annual maintenance fee was approved by a three to one majority in a special election. The building was designed by the architectural firm of Ware & Treganza and was built by Bent R. Hansen, August Larsen, and John Stansfield, local builders and contractors. The library building was dedicated on February 15, 1917. The Mount Pleasant Carnegie Library is one of the important works of the Salt Lake City based architectural firm of Ware & Treganza, one of the most prolific and successful architectural firms in Utah during the first two decades of the twentieth century. Although best known for their residential designs, they also designed numerous commercial and institutional buildings in Salt Lake City and throughout the state. Ware & Treganza designed at least three other Carnegie library buildings in Utah, including those in Lehi, Springville, and American Fork. The styling of each of their Carnegie libraries was different, and the Mount Pleasant Carnegie Library is the only one they designed in the Prairie Style.