Pulaski County Public Library - Winamac (Winamac, Indiana)

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www.pulaski-libraries.lib.in.us/Winamac/index.html

121 S. Riverside Drive
Winamac, IN 46996
Phone: (574)946-3432

Prior to the 20th century, several attempts had been made to develop a systematic method for circulating books in Winamac. Through the efforts of William H. Kelly and the Woman's Club, the Reading Room was opened in September 1905, with Miss Josie O'Connell serving as the first hired librarian.

In 1914, as the Reading Room outgrew its four walls, the officials of the Winamac Library requested, and received, funds from the Carnegie Foundation to construct a library on Front Street (later re-named Riverside Drive). The Starr Family, who lived just north of the 1892 Winamac Public School, donated the land; board president Moses Dilts broke ground; and construction began. The new Carnegie building was ready for occupancy in November, 1916.

At that time, the library served only the town of Winamac. On July 6, l953, the library began serving all of Monroe Township and became known as the Winamac-Monroe Public Library. Alma Doyle Zanger was the librarian.

In the late 1950's, under the direction of library director, Sarah Davidson Baker, the library began exploring the possibility of bringing library service to the un-served townships in Pulaski County. A branch was opened in Medaryville in 1965 (see Medaryville history); the library began serving nine townships and the library became known as the Pulaski County Public Library.

The Carnegie building served the community well for over 60 years, but as the collection grew and library services expanded, the need for a larger building became apparent. In September, 1978, the architectural firm of Kennedy (Bob)-Brown (Gene) of Indianapolis was hired to plan an addition to the original Carnegie. The Winamac Elementary School and Gymnasium, which were damaged by fire in 1980, were both demolished to make room for the 6,000 square foot addition. Board President Kenneth Gardner and the library board broke ground on March 28, 1983 and VanKeppel Brothers began construction.

In l997, architect Troy Thompson of Halstead, Thompson, & Kennedy Architects was hired to plan a renovation to the library to install a computer lab. Larson-Danielson of LaPorte were the general contractors.

--written by Sarah Baker and Katherine Scott