OpenStreetMap (new tab)

Google Map (new tab)

Google Streetview (new tab)

Overview

The Madison, WI-based architectural firm of Claude and Starck designed the Hoquiam Carnegie Library, Hoquiam, WA, a rare Prairie Style example of its work outside the Upper Midwestern states of IL, WI, and MN. Claude and Starck designed approximately forty libraries during its existence between 1896 and 1928. The firm recycled basic aspects of a library design developed for the Eager Free Public Library in Evansville, WI (1908), in the Hoquiam building and at least six other small-town libraries erected in the Midwest between 1911 and 1915.

Building History

Residents of Hoquiam, WA belonging to the Women's Club and the Young Men's Progressive Club began promoting the idea of founding a public library in 1907, and influenced the passing of city resolution to obtain a residence at 7th and K Streets to house books and periodicals accumulated the following year. This house was used as the first Hoquiam Library for approximately two years, when it was removed to make way for a new permanent building financed by a $20,000 grant from steel magnate Andrew Carnegie's Carnegie Endowment Fund. (The charitable organization founded for the disbursement of Carnegie money to libraries was renamed in 1911, "The Carnegie Corporation of New York.") The work on this new facility was completed in 1911.

The City of Hoquiam obtained the services of the architectural firm of Claude and Starck of Madison, WI, to design it. The firm had a proven track record designing about 40 libraries in WI, IL and MN, beginning with the Baraboo, WI, Public Library in 1903, the Wilmette Public Library (1904), Kaukauna, WI, Public Library (1905). Louis W. Claude (born 1868 in Devils Lake, WI) studied civil engineering at the University of Wisconsin, where he graduated in 1891. For five years, he worked with several important firms, included Burnham and Root, Adler and Sullivan and Schlacks and Ottenheimer, before partnering with Edward Starck in 1896.

According to the State of Washington's Survey-Inventory Form Community Cultural Resource Survey for the Carnegie Library of Hoquiam: “The architect was the firm of Claude & Starck of Madison, Wisconsin. This firm was apparently selected at the suggestion of the town’s first librarian, Maude MacPherson Russell [sic], who had previously worked at the library in Evansville, Wisconsin, also designed by Claude & Starck.” (See James H. Vandermeer, "Survey-Inventory Form Community Cultural Resource Survey for the Carnegie Library of Hoquiam,” accessed via WISAARD, 03/17/2020.) Claude and Starck worked with the local building contractors Tiefenthaler and Miglierini of Aberdeen, WA.

The librarian, Maude R. MacPherson (born c. 1874 in Ottawa, ON, Canada-d. 05/29/1961 in Salem, OR) came to the US c. 1897 (according to the 1910 US Census), and resided in Watertown, WI, as per the Wisconsin State Census of 1905, where she worked as a librarian. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Wisconsin Historical Society; Madison, Wisconsin; Census Year: 1905, accessed 03/17/2020.) While she worked as Watertown's first public librarian, the town decided to apply for a Carnegie Endowment grant to build a larger facility. This $20,000 grant was received and the new Neo-classical building, also designed by Claude and Starck, opened in 1907. (See “Twenty-five Years of Service, Watertown Public Library, 1903-1928,” Wisconsin Library Journal, 04/1928, pp. 98-101.)

Presumably, MacPherson subsequently took a position as librarian in Evansville, 56 miles from Watertown, just before or after the new library was built there in 1907-1908.) She relocated to Hoquiam, WA, by 1910, and remained as librarian there until 1912 at least. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: Hoquiam Ward 1, Chehalis, Washington; Roll: T624_1654; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 0027; FHL microfilm: 1375667,accessed 03/17/2020.) In 1910, she resided in the Hotel Graystone in Hoquiam. (See Grays Harbor, Washington, City Directory, 1910, p. 413.) After Hoquiam, she lived in the State of Oregon. She last lived in Monmouth, OR, and worked in Salem, OR, where she passed away in 1961 at the age of 86.

The design of the Hoquiam Library was strongly reminiscent of the Eager Free Public Library of Evansville (dedicated on 06/09/1908), and bore a strong family resemblance to Claude and Starck's Prairie Style designs for the T.B. Scott Free Library in Merrill, WI, (1911), Rochelle-Flagg Township Public Library, Rochelle, IL, (1912), Detroit Lakes Public Library, Detroit Lakes, MN, (1913), Barron Public Library, Barron, WI, (1913), Shawano City-County Library, Shawano, WI, (1914) and Tomah Public Library, Tomah, WI, (1915). (In addition, the Chatfield Public Library, Chatfield, MN, [1914] had strong similarities to the Evansville prototype design. See Steinerag.com, “The Wright Library: Claude & Starck,” accessed 03/18/2020.) The Hoquiam design appears to have been slightly simpler (and perhaps less expensive) than that of Evansville, lacking its projecting bay windows on either side of the main entrance.