Early Beginnings

In June of 1912, Herbert A. Adamson presented a petition signed by 67 individuals to the Richmond City Council about constructing a library in Richmond. An election was held about its construction and was in favor 95-12. The city appointed a Board of Directors for the library. Members were Charles Z. Harris, President; Mayor Samuel W. Hendricks, Vice-President; George G. Hendricks, Secretary, with other members James W. Funk, George M. Thomson, Thomas H. Merrill, and Herbert A. Adamson. The Board sent a letter to receive a grant to construct the library,1 asking for $10,000, but received only $8,000 for its construction, and was approved.2

The land for the Library was purchased from Mary J. Andrus Hendricks for $800. Architectural firm Watkins & Birch was commissioned to design the library, and Richmond citizen August S. Schow was awarded the construction contract. "The Carnegie Corporation would not grant funds for the building of the Library in Richmond until those interested submitted plans that met with the Corporation's building specifications. Two or three plans were submitted before approval was obtained."5 The Richmond Carnegie Library was constructed in 1914, and Lulu Burnham was appointed librarian.2

Library Construction

The original interior of the library was different than today. On the lower floor was a club room and kitchen which one could access through the west entrance outside the building or through the interior stairs. The clubroom measured 23 feet by 30 feet with a stage on the east end and an adjoining kitchen to the north. The remains of the stage are still visible. On the southeast corner was a Marshal's Office that had a telephone and "meager police equipment."5

During the 1962 earthquake, the library sustained minor injuries to its bricks and was in good condition after the quake. The library was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. 

Recent History

In 2020, the Richmond Library became a member of the Northern Cache Library Consortium (NCLC). This allows individuals who register an account at the Richmond, Smithfield, Newton, or Lewiston libraries can check out books from any of those libraries.3 In 2021, the Richmond Library finally started giving out library cards. In 2021, the Bear River Head Start preschool located in the Richmond Committee Building uses the back of the library as a playground. 

Today, the Richmond Carnegie Library is one of 10 Carnegie Libraries in service in Utah and one of two in Cache Valley, the other library being the Smithfield, Utah Carnegie Library.4

Andrew Carnegie