Drake Public Library

The Drake Public Library is locally significant for its association with the introduction of a free public library in Centerville; as one of the most important examples of Francis Marion Drake's benevolence in the community; and, as a good example of Neo-classical design used for a public building.

Until the late 19th century if you wanted to borrow a book from a library in an Iowa community you needed to be a member of the Library Association or pay a subscription fee to the library. It was the women who usually took the lead in establishing a library in their community. They would hold fundraisers and staff the library reading rooms. In the 1880s millionaire, Andrew Carnegie began giving money to towns for the construction of a library building if they would provide a site, provide annual maintenance funds of at least 10% of the Carnegie amount, and if they promised it would be a free public library, open to all. The first Carnegie-funded library outside of his home state of Pennsylvania was built in Fairfield, Iowa in 1892-93. In the following 30 years, Carnegie funded the construction of 1679 libraries in 1412 towns across the United States. 101 of these were built in the state of Iowa (Sioux City and Waterloo each had two). Again, it was often the women in a community who made the initial contact with Carnegie concerning library funding, and they usually provided the 'swing vote" to establish a public library. There were several perceived benefits of a free public library: that it would help provide a democratic education for all; that it would provide a good moral example; and, there was always a strong sense of basic civic pride. In 1900 when the Iowa Library Commission was established there were 48 free public libraries in Iowa. By 1903 that number had grown to 73, an increase of 25 in just three years.

Although Carnegie played a key role in the free public library movement, he was not the sole source of funds. In many communities, local philanthropists offered funds to assist with construction costs. Two Iowa examples are the Carnegie-Evans Library in Albia and the CarnegieEllsworth Library in Iowa Falls. In other instances, a local benefactor provided all of the money needed for such a facility. This was the case in Centerville.

In 1896 the ladies of Centerville decided to mount a campaign to establish a public reading room. Several months later they were told that they would receive $1,000 from the estate of an early settler in the county, Brazilian Bowen, if they raised a like amount. They immediately began a series of entertainments, suppers in church parlors, etc. to raise the $1,000. Through generous contributions of citizens and school children, the goal was achieved and they were able to establish a Library and Reading Room on the second floor of the Lane Building on the west side of Courthouse Square. The new semi-public library was so successful that the books accumulated rapidly with no adequate space in which to keep them, and the reading rooms proved too small for the library patrons. Former Governor Francis M. Drake recognized the problem and in 1901 he submitted a proposition to the City of Centerville,

To the Honorable Mayor and the City Council of the City of Centerville, Iowa: The undersigned having long recognized the beneficial influence of education on the moral and intellectual development of people as well as their happiness and welfare, and believing that no greater good can come to the public of the city of Centerville than through the influence of a well equipped and permanent free public library, and desiring at this time of my life to show the love for the city in which I have lived so long, and to evince my earnest desire for its future good, I have decided to make the city, through its common council the following proposition for the establishment and maintenance of a free public library for the said city and its people.

The rest of the proposition basically said that he would convey to the city a library building and grounds to cost not less than $25,000 on the condition that the voters of the city approve the establishment of a free public library and approve a tax of two mills on the dollar to maintain the library and pay annual expenses. In a special election on May 5, 1901, a total of 1,528 ballots were cast, all but 65 being in favor of the proposition. Drake went far beyond his original promise by grading and seeding the grounds, having Bedford stone approaches laid, frescoing and decorating the interior of the building, and providing the furnishings. As the library was preparing for its opening he realized that there were relatively few books on the shelves and provided an additional $1,000 for the purchase of more books. It is believed that his total investment in this free public library was around $30,000.

Francis Marion Drake (1830-1903) was a revered figure in his home community. In the 1903 Biographical and Genealogical History of Appanoose and Monroe Counties, Iowa said,

...it is here fitting....to give a prominent place to the life and career of ex-Governor Drake. No fulsome tributes of praise will be here attempted, and none are needed; his deeds speak for themselves. As a businessman, as a soldier, as a statesman, as the highest executive officer of his state, as the founder of a great university, and, above all, as the exponent of true, noble Christian manhood, he deserves to take rank among the leaders of men and makers of history.

Drake was born in Illinois and was raised in Davis County, Iowa, and in 1859 he moved to Appanoose County. He served in the Civil War, being wounded at the battle of Mark's Mills. Before leaving the service he was honored with the brevet commission of brigadier general. Following the war, he entered the practice of law in Centerville. Drake saw the future of the railroad industry, organized a company, and built what became the Keokuk and Western Railroad from Keokuk to Centerville in 1872. He was also involved with the Albia and Centerville Railway, several branches of the Iowa Central, and the Indiana, Illinois & Iowa (familiarly called the "Three 1'). He organized the Appanoose County State Bank and was the president of the Centerville National Bank and two banks in Albia. As the Republican party's candidate, Drake was elected governor in 1895. The major achievement of his governorship was the major revision of state laws.

He chose not to run for re-election in 1897, returning instead to his home in Centerville. In later years Drake devoted time and money to promoting education and building institutions of learning. "He founded and was the most liberal supporter of the university in Des Moines which bears his name." He provided funding for the building of a new Christian Church in Centerville, as well as being the benefactor of the Drake Public Library. A major north/south street in Centerville was renamed in his honor. Drake appears to have been a shrewd businessman who made his money in railroads and banking and cared enough about his community to give something back to it.

When the library was dedicated on January 15, 1903, the expected crowds were so large that two dedication services had to be held, one next door to the library in the Armory-Opera House, and one at the Presbyterian Church a block west of the library. The dedicatory address was given by Iowa Governor A.B. Cummins. Cummins and approximately 525 other people, mostly Drake University students (including the complete University band and glee club), arrived from Des Moines on a special train of thirteen coaches. Cummins noted that 'a public library was one of the great factors for good in a community, to be rated with schools, churches and other institutions that advance humanity and raise it to a higher plane and he congratulated the people of Centerville ' on having a man in their midst who exerted an influence that grows with the years and who also had the discrimination to give the community a gift that would be a center of moral influence the extent of which no man could define and that so long as the structure stood, so long would that influence be felt."

The Drake Public Library was designed by Des Moines architect C.E. Eastman in the style considered most appropriate for public buildings, Neo-classical. This interest in classical design can be traced to the buildings of the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The fluted columns, monumental porticos, and domes that graced those buildings became a part of the streetscape in almost every town in America. The turn of the century was a period when communities across the country were beginning to construct impressive public buildings, symbols of their civic pride. The Neo-classical style gave them a sense of history while also being visually impressive. In southeast Iowa, there were three public libraries under construction during 1901-02, and all three exhibited characteristics of the style: Centerville; Oskaloosa, designed by Frank E. Wetherell; and, Ottumwa, designed by Smith and Gutterson. Two of these (Oskaloosa and Ottumwa) were funded by Andrew Carnegie. It is important to note that all of these are located in county seats. Although smaller communities might have a public library, it was usually of the reading room variety and did not occupy an impressive building of its own. On rare occasions Carnegie funded libraries in noncounty seats, if they were progressive towns in their own right (Iowa Falls is an example). Large county seats such as Ottumwa and Iowa City had libraries of limestone construction, while smaller towns like Centerville and Oskaloosa had brick structures. The common thread is the symmetrical Neo-classical facade with monumental columns and broad steps leading up to the entrance. The Centerville library is unusual in that it is two stories above the basement, making it taller than most others, though it is not as large in terms of square feet per floor.

The interior plan is one commonly used for libraries, with the center, or rotunda, used as public space and for the circulation desk. The stack area is located in a wing to one side, with the reading room on the opposite side. A special room for the children's library was considered an important part of the overall design. The public rooms in the library are spacious, with high ceilings and fine woodwork. All possible modern conveniences were included in the plans (central heating, electricity, large retiring rooms, etc.). The Drake Public Library was truly a public building of which the City of Centerville could be proud.

This building retains a high level of integrity on both the interior and exterior. The Library Board of Trustees is aware of its significance and is determined to preserve the structure. It has had and continues to have, an important place in the life of the community.