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An inside look at Anderson Memorial Library

By Mary Ann Redeker maryann@emporia.com
Jul 31, 2017
Jul 31, 2017 Updated Jul 31, 2017
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Gazette file photoThe Anderson Library sits at 1220 C of E Drive. Steve Haught held an open house for the building he bought, along with John and Justin Mallon, so the public could view restoration efforts.

Mary Ann Redeker/GazetteThis wall inside a room in the Anderson Memorial Library showcases the woodwork and stained-glass windows. An open house was held Saturday for those not familiar with the status of the restoration project.

Mary Ann Redeker/Gazette A look inside Anderson Memorial Library showcases restoration efforts to the rooms inside. Pillars were given a new paint scheme and the rooms have complementary carpet and new wall color schemes.

Mary Ann Redeker/GazetteThis large wooden reception desk sitting beyond the front door, greets visitors to the open house at the Anderson Memorial Library Saturday.

Mary Ann Redeker/Gazette From 1901 until it closed, seniors from the College of Emporia wrote their names on the wall of dome inside Anderson Memorial Library. A portion of the wall was painted over in the Way College days, covered with names from that era.

Mary Ann Redeker/Gazette Walking upstairs in the Anderson Memorial Library, gives a view through the large oval windows on the second floor. Some still have the original stained glass, while some have been replaced with standard oval windows.

An open house was held Saturday at the Anderson Memorial Library at 1220 C of E Drive.

John and Justin Mallon, along with Steve Haught, wanted to showcase to the public the preservation efforts taken to restore the library.

The trio purchased the library from Emporia State University to prevent it from being torn down. ESU had previously used the library as an archive. Years of vacancy left the building in need of repairs.

Work has been ongoing to repair water damage to the plaster and wood as well as to bring the building up to ADA compliance. A larger parking lot, wheelchair-accessible entrance and ADA compliant bathrooms were some of the noticeable changes to the building.

“The open house was for people who had never seen the building before — those who said, ‘I’ve got to get into that building and see it,’” Haught said. “I have been besieged around town. It’s one of those things that I thought needed to be done. A college class, SLIM, had toured it early this morning and we got it opened up and aired out. This way people will not poke at me quite as much.”

The building was given a place on the National Register of Historical Buildings in 1987 and holds the distinction of being the first Carnegie library constructed west of the Mississippi River.

Completed in 1901 in a project headed by Emporia architect Charles Squires, the building was named for Colonel John Anderson, a man whom Andrew Carnegie worked for in his youth.

The Mallons and Haught have been working to restore the building to its original 1901 state. The stained-glass windows are the original windows in new sashes and the pillars were given a new paint scheme, along with complementary carpet and wall color scheme.

Mallon’s design company, Evergreen Design-Build, also performed the routine maintenance of replacing boilers and applying fresh plaster.

“We haven’t finished the top floor yet,” Haught said. “It has been de-carpeted, but I haven’t finished those floors. Until someone wants it, we will wait to finish rooms to their desire. The Way College built a lot of the basement structure, so that was the occupant for about a 20-year period.

“While one person interested in the building may want to rip all that under the stacks out... and just have the vaulted brick ceilings, which are very cool — we’ve left that all exposed. Until we have something lined up, we won’t do anything else with it. So, it’s still kind of a construction zone.”

The dome at the top of the building remains in its original state, with the walls of the dome containing the names of the graduating classes of both the College of Emporia and the Way College of Emporia.

“Anything on the white boards or that someone painted white, which has names, is part of the Way College,” Haught said. “I kind of categorize that as the 80s and 90s era. Anything that is located higher up or references the 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s — those names are all College of Emporia. I believe the tradition started much earlier than that, but the names we can see today are those from that timeframe. There is quite a range of names up there, with some being local people.”

Through their efforts to preserve the history of the building, Haught said he and the Mallons will be “picky” with whom they sell the building.

“Because it’s an eclectic building, because it has special circumstances, it’s difficult to just put it up on the market and sell it to just anyone,” Haught said. “It is for sale on the chamber website, but it’s not imminent we sell it. While we have some interest — a local investment firm and an accountant may want to come here — we’re kind of particular. This isn’t just a piece of property to sell; this is something we want to keep access to. It has to be the right fit.

“The Mallons and I are very dedicated to keeping this a property for the community. When we get the right fit, it will be good for us and good for the community.”

Anderson Memorial Library

Space is available for lease or sale.

The building contains up to 10,484 square feet of office space.

For more information, contact John Mallon at 344-2250 or Justin Mallon at 344-2249.