Postcard from the Duluth Carnegie Library
This undated postcard, published circa 1910, shows the Carnegie Library in Downtown Duluth at 101 W. Second St. The building was designed by Edwin S. Radcliffe and Charles Willoughby Adolph Rudolf. It opened in April 1902, serving as Duluth’s main library until 1980. Since then it has functioned as an office building.
Okay, well, as the newly self-appointed expert on Edwin Radcliffe I feel somewhat compelled to note that Radcliffe and Willoughby did design a Duluth Public Library building, but it was never built. The design we see in that postcard is courtesy of a Mr. Adolph Rudolf. As noted in my Deep Dive from last month:
When Andrew Carnegie nearly doubled his donation for the new library, the city council wanted a new plan. The library board argued they had the sole authority to issue contracts, but a judge ruled that they did not. Radcliffe & Willoughby were eventually awarded $750 for their efforts and the contract for the Carnegie Library building that still stands at 101 W. Second St. was awarded to A.F. Rudolph.
Doh!