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Carnegie Library

Built in 1903, and designed by John Scott and Co. of Detroit (the same architects who designed the Boer War Memorial), Windsor had the first Carnegie Library approved in Canada, although delays caused it to be the second one to open…

The building opened October 16, 1903, and was demolished in the early 1970’s following the opening of the new main branch in 1973 (designed by Johnson & McWhinnie).


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The site of the former library at Victoria and Park, is home today to a high rise apartment building.

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Andrew

View Comments

  • Andrew, have you documented the Carnegie Librarie in A'burg?

    It's still functioning as a library, but it's future is not guaranteed... My hope is that it is mainitained and any improvements/addtions can be made on the public property immediately south.

    It would be a shame for another carnegie to outlive its purpose.

  • I've got a desk from that library. Always wanted to see a picture of the old building, thanks for the post Andrew :)

  • I was just talking to my boss about the amount of 'good' he did across NA. He remembers that building, I'm a Windsor import, so I never got to see it although I see the current site every day

  • When I turned 12, I was allowed to take the bus ( I lived near the Airport) to the Carnegie Library. I went every week and came home with an armful of books. I loved books and I loved that place. It was comfortable and welcoming and a great place to go if you loved to read. When they tore it down and built the new one on Ouellette, I lost interest because it was different - seemed cold and unfamiliar. Then I discovered the Book Store at the front and loved that place. Then that was gone. Carnegie was a Library. The new one is a place where they loan books. Maybe if I had grown up not knowing Carnegie I would appreciate the new one more.

    Accessibility was part of the issue , but it was also that the library had outgrown its space. The aisles were close and the books were jammed in there. I loved it.

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