The Cornish Library a branch of the Winnipeg Public Library

Winnipeg Public Library

The Winnipeg Public Library is a public library service that is provided by the municipality of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Most branches provide programming for children, teens, and some to adults. The Library also contains an Outreach Department which works with the community, as well as people...

, is located in Winnipeg

Winnipeg

Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...

, Manitoba

Manitoba

Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...

, Canada. Like the St. John's Library, the Cornish is one of two Carnegie libraries

Carnegie library

A Carnegie library is a library built with money donated by Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. 2,509 Carnegie libraries were built between 1883 and 1929, including some belonging to public and university library systems...

 in the city. It is a Grade II listed building, a Winnipeg Landmark Heritage Structure, gazetted in January 15, 1993. It is named in honor of Winnipeg’s first mayor, Francis Evans Cornish

Francis Evans Cornish

Francis Evans Cornish, QC was a politician in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Manitoba. He served as Mayor of London, Ontario, in the early 1860s, became the first Mayor of Winnipeg in 1874, and was for a time a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba.Cornish was born in London,...

.

Designed by the architect S. Frank Peters, the plans had to be approved by Carnegie's personal secretary, James Bertram, to assure money was not wasted on exterior ornamentation at the expense of book shelves and furniture. The library was built at 20 West Gate in Cornish Park on a small parcel of land at one of the entrances to Armstrong’s Point

Armstrong’s Point

Armstrong’s Point is a large bend in the Assiniboine River, just west of downtown, in West End, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada...

 near the Maryland Bridge

Maryland Bridge

The Maryland Bridge is a crossing over the Assiniboine River in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Serving as a major transportation link for metropolitan Winnipeg along Highway 70, three bridges have born the same name...

, replacing the Winnipeg Waterworks building. It is situated opposite the Shaare Zedek Synagogue

Shaare Zedek Synagogue, Winnipeg

Shaarey Zedek Synagogue is the oldest synagogue in Winnipeg, Canada. Formed in 1880, the congregation's first building was constructed by Philip Brown and several others in 1890. Charles Henry Wheeler designed the original Synagogue on King Street...

 on the eastern bank of the Assinboine River with the library's west elevation facing the river. The Cornish Baths, Winnipeg's first indoor pool, were at one time located beside the Library.

History

Construction by the National Construction Company of Winnipeg began in 1914; and the library opened on June 15, 1915. The foundation was damaged by flooding in 1918, and strain from the public baths; its repair occurred with a $7,000 Carnegie grant.

Architecture and fittings

The library, 4600 square feet (427.4 m²) in size, was built in keeping with Andrew Carnegie

Andrew Carnegie

Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...

's specifications, being of a simple plan that was characterized by classical details, fenestration and modest interior appointments. Resting on a concrete foundation, it has nearly 4,000 cu. m. (141,074 cu. ft.) of interior space, 75 million bricks, 1,002 superficial sq. m. of plaster, and 229 cu. m. of concrete. The building cost approximately C$30,000.

Exterior
The one-storey building is rectangular and has a raised concrete basement. An ornamental, smooth-cut belt encircles both levels. There are red brick walls and limestone details. Sills are made of stone. Windows are tall and rectangular. While the hip roof is low-pitched, a centred front portico and centred rear pavilion have a gabled roof. The main entrance has a pedimented double-door. This is framed by stone columns. An carved entablature includes the words: "PUBLIC LIBRARY", "CORNISH BRANCH", and "A.D. 1914". The pediment on top of the rear pavilion haas an oculus with decorative brick and stone detailing. There are block modillions in the pediments and under the eaves. Other features include red brick chimneys with stone caps as well as a brick and stone porch with a gable roof.

Interior
The library has high ceilings and windows. The basement ceilings are 12 feet (3.7 m), while the main floor ceilings are 18 feet (5.5 m). The main floor has built-in perimeter bookshelves. Reading areas include partial wall and screened wall areas. The lower level is reached via stairs from the front vestibule. A central hallway in the basement separates lecture rooms. Interior doors are made of oak and glass. Other interior features include solid, wide, oak tables, wood paneling, and tiled fireplaces with oak mantels.

The collections are situated on the main floor while the basement has a program room that seats 60 people.

Notable people

The Canadian novelist, prohibitionist, and women's rights and reform movement activist Nellie McClung

Nellie McClung

Nellie McClung, born Nellie Letitia Mooney , was a Canadian feminist, politician, and social activist. She was a part of the social and moral reform movements prevalent in Western Canada in the early 1900s...

lectured at the Cornish Library.