Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish immigrant to the United States in the mid-19th Century. He was poor and was working full-time at the age of twelve. Despite his poor background and the discrimination he faced as an immigrant, he built an industrial empire based on the manufacturing of steel and when he sold his business empire and retired he was worth almost an estimated 400 million dollars. His rags to riches story led him to believe that America was a meritocractic society where anyone who worked hard and smart with a little luck could be successful.
Andrew Carnegie believed strongly in what he called the "Gospel of Wealth." Macleod (1968) summarized this in his book on Carnegie Libraries in Wisconsin. Basically, Carnegie believed that accumulation of wealth by a few was inevitable in any capitalistic society. Further, this concentration of wealth in the hands of a few was necessary for democracy and freedom to prevail and for the whole of society to be prosperous. Any attempt to circumvent this system would lead to anarchy and tyranny. However, Carnegie believed that those who did make it had a moral obligation to give their fortune away before they died to benefit society. In particular, this money was to be spent in a way that did not encourage laziness (charities that only dealt with symptoms and not the problem) but that created institutions that made opportunities for anyone with the right character to be successful and rich.
This philosophy of Carnegie was translated into a wide variety of areas. He gave away $333 million of his fortune on various activities including an attempt to simplify spelling, helping churches, endowing (and in some cases founding) institutions of higher education, and supporting the arts. However, his largest gifts were reserved for libraries. Carnegie gave money to build 2,509 libraries throughout the English speaking world including the British Isles, Australia, and New Zealand. Of these libraries, 1,679 of them were built in the United States and in American possessions that were later incorporated into America proper (Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands). He spent over $55 million on libraries alone and he is often referred to as the "Patron Saint of Libraries." (Bobinski, 1969)
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The three steps involved in this cache will take you to all three of the libraries that were once the in Carmel Public Library. It is called "Bridging The Centuries" because of a display of library history in the current library during May of 2004.
The distance between steps 2 and 3 is easily walkable, but there is plenty of free parking if you wish to drive. We hope that you enjoy it!
This first step of will take you to Carmel's oldest library which is a Carnegie Library. The above picture is what it looked liked in its day. If you are thirsty or hungry, you might be able to find food and drinks there. At the given coordinates, you will need to find the address of this building. It use to be on the sign out front but is no longer. So look around or ask inside.
Here is a formula to get the coordinates from the address at stage 1 to stage 2:
N. 39* 58.646
W. 086* 0(ADDRESS MINUS 33).192
So the final coords should be something like:
N. 39* 58.646
W. 086* 0X.192
(X being the address.)
The next stop will lead you to the second library in Carmel. The cache is not inside. The above picture is what it looked like when it was still in use. We can still remember checking out some great books and videos here. The books were pulled out in 1999, when the newest library was erected nearby. This step is a mystery cache that may prove a challenge. If you need any help, the hint should set you right on course. On the second cache is written the information you will need to reach your final destination.
The third step is inside of the current, big and magnificent Carmel Clay Public Library. We have permission from the Library Staff (Thanks Mrs. Baugh and all others that helped!) to place a cache there. You can find an entrance to the building at N. 39* 58.634 W. 086* 07.326.
Library hours are as follows:
Monday-Thursday 9A.M.-9P.M.
Friday 9A.M.-7P.M.
Saturday 9A.M.-5P.M.
Sunday 1P.M.-5P.M.
Even though the coords for the third library are given here, you will not be able to find the cache without first going to the first and second steps. You will need to figure out how to use the information on the back of cache #2 to find cache #3. Don't forget to sign the log.
Good luck, and enjoy "Bridging The Centuries" at the libraries of Carmel!