Cresco Public Library
Location
Current street address: 320 North Elm Street Cresco, IA 52136-1452
Carnegie address: 320 North Elm Street Cresco, IA 52136-1452
Original building still standing: Yes
Still in use as a library: Yes
Carnegie Grant Information
Date of Grant: February 13, 19131
Amount of Grant: $10,000.00 (initial) + $7,500.001
Cornerstone Date: 0000-00-00 00:00:00
Opening Date: Wednesday, February 20, 1915, Methodist church, evening2
Carnegie Correspondent: D. T. Robertson, Secretary of Library Building Committee
Librarian, at Dedication: Miss Abbie J. Converse
Architect: J. H. Howe, Cresco
Contractor: L. F. Parkinson, Iowa City
Building Style: Classical Revival
Building Size: 70 ft. x 36 ft.
Town & County
City: Cresco
County: Howard County
Population in 1900: 2,806
Population in 1910: 2,658
Population in 1920: 3,195
Population in 2020: 3,868
Town/County Images:
Sources:
Twelfth Census of the United States 1900. p. 449.
Thirteenth Census of the United States 1910. 2,658.
Cresco is the county seat of Howard County, which was established on January 15, 1851. The county was named for General Tilghman A. Howard (1797-1844), who was prominent in Tennessee and Indiana. In 1856, the county seat was located in Vernon Springs, then it was moved to Howard Center, and New Oregon. In 1859, a court house was built on Pike’s Peak between Vernon Springs and New Oregon. In 1867, the county seat moved to Cresco, and it finally became official in 1879.
(Source: Pratt, LeRoy G. “The Counties and Courthouses of Iowa.” Mason City, Ia; Klipto Printing & Office Supply Company, 1977, p. 156-157.)