Dale Carnegie Library ~ 211 West 3rd Street

The steelmaker and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie gifted the city in 1905 with a library. Opened to the public February 14, 1906. His philanthropic program donated $60 million for building libraries in the United States.

The Renaissance Revival exterior of the building has seen little change through the years, with bracketed eaves, arched windows and Doric columns flanking the front entrance. A ring of clerestory windows, now covered, once let in daylight from beneath the overhanging eaves.

The Winston Library, known to its patrons as simply, “the Carnegie,” opened for business with 3,000 books. The library was the hub of the social scene.

Over time the library outgrew it's space. A wealthy group of individuals and companies stepped forward to build a new library. In 1953, the Central Library was open at 660 West Fifth Street.

The Carnegie Library building was sold to the Catholic Church and transformed into Our Lady of Fatima by the end of 1954.

* Did you know?  The land where the Central Library opened once stood the home of RJ and Katharine Reynolds. The tree lined street was named "Millionaire Row". Many prominent families of Winston lived on Fifth Street until "Country" homes were popular. RJ's brother, William Neal, lived with them until he married Catherine Smith. Will and Kate moved two doors down from them. Will later became the President of RJ Reynolds Company when his brother died.

Agnew Hunter Bahnson, President of Arista Mills, lived across the street at the corner of Fifth and 450 Spring Street. It was built where the tennis court and garden was for the Reynoldshouse. Other prominent families were James A. Gray, A.H. Galloway, P.H. Hanes and John Wesley.

Ralph Hanes was the main contributor raising the money for the library. The ground breaking took place December 2951 and was dedicated in March 1953. 

*This concludes your "Talk".

Walk back up to Fourth Street and continue down the block. The next stop is at the top corner, the Nissan Building - 310 West Fourth Street.