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ABC Wednesday: Maring Library of Muncie

Maring
another well-known name
in Muncie.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Keiser_Maring_Library
Grace Maring was the wife of Joel Maring, founder of glass factories throughout Muncie, Indiana. A philanthropist and advocate for education, Grace Maring gave the city of Muncie $25,000 upon her death to develop a public library system. In 1930, the Grace Keiser Maring Library was dedicated, and began serving the south side of Muncie. The library was posted to the National Register of Historic Places on September 15, 2005.[2]

Architecture[

The library was designed by architects Herbert Smenner and Charles Houck. The architectural style is a variation of colonial revival, a popular style in the early 20th century. Built from brick and trimmed with limestone, it is the only remaining civic building of this style in Muncie. [3]

This beautiful building is no longer being used as 
the Maring Library.  It was closed some time ago,
as was the Hunt Library.
When our former middle school was closed,
a part of it was dedicated to apartments
and the rest of it became
Maring-Hunt Library, as seen below.
The library in which I spent many an hour 
when I was writing my high school term paper
no longer functions as a lending library.  It is now
a source for local history and genealogy.
Andrew Carnegie donated $55,000 to the city of Muncie
to build this library.  It was dedicated January 1, 1904.
This library and the original Maring Library are on
the National Register of Historical Places.

linking to 
created by Mrs. Nesbitt
and hosted this week 
by the faithful Reader Wil.

Comments

Reader Wil said…
Thanks for this interesting story about the generous Mrs. Maring. The library was housed in a beautiful building.
Wil, ABCW Team.
Hildred said…
How nice to see all the library facilities you have, and have had, in your town. So important!
Gattina said…
Very nice library and interesting story !
Gattina
ABC W
http://gattina-keyholepictures.blogspot.com/
Nonnie said…
thank you, Gattina
Nonnie said…
I agree, Hildred, and thank you. Last year our library brought one of my favorite authors- Tess Gerritsen- to our fair city. I was so thrilled that she visits several libraries in our nation because of how important they were to her in her growing up years.
Nonnie said…
I wish that our city would find a way to use this beautiful building rather than its sitting empty.
Nice library. Albany, NY REJECTED its Carnegie library in 1905 (?) because the upkeep would be too much!
Nonnie said…
I'm glad our city didn't reject it. I have fond of memories of going there as a grade-school child. The children's section was in the basement; I still remember the thrill when I was able to borrow books upstairs!

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