Hamilton County Carnegie Libraries Wherigo Cache
Hidden : 9/15/2014
Difficulty:
2.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

This 6 zone Wherigo will take you to all 5 Carnegie libraries in Hamilton County and then a newer library somewhere in Hamilton county to find the final. This cache, from start to finish, requires you to drive a total of 41 miles and change and will take 1 - 1 1/2 hours to do. EVERY stage is wheelchair accessible, including the final. Hours to access the final are restricted (listed below), so NO NIGHT CACHING! PLEASE read the entire cache page.

Hours to access the final location are as follows.
Monday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Tuesday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Wednesday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Thursday 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Friday 10:00 am – 5:30 pm
Saturday 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
Sunday Closed

The cartridge will give you more specifics about what to do once you reach the final, but there will be a simple question to answer before you're given the next zone at EACH of the stops. At the final location, you'll need to find the final and sign it in order to answer the last question to complete the cartridge. I've been told that the question will remain on your screen even if you leave the zone to find what you need so please let me know if that's truly the case when you play it. When I tested it myself, that's exactly what happened. MAKE SURE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THE FINAL INFORMATION SCREEN BEFORE CLICKING OK TO GET YOUR QUESTION TO ANSWER! As an added bonus, each library you'll visit, with the exception of the final location (as far as I know), is a Waymark, providing you with 6 Waymarks you can log. I'll include individual links underneath each picture so you can log each Waymark. You'll need to include a picture of the library in order to "log" it. Waymarks do NOT count toward your find total, but there are some challenges out there that require you to have logged some Waymarks. Finally, there is a FTF prize, but it won't be anything physical for the cacher to take. Instead, a donation will be made to the local library with the cacher's name as the name of record.

Permission has been granted from the library director, Steve Martin (yes, that's his name!), and all employees, unless they're new and haven't been told yet, are in on the game. Thanks to them for their assistance in making this cache possible.

In order to get started, you'll need to click on the Related Web Page link beneath the D/T rating or click here.

Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish American industrialist who made a fortune in the steel industry. He sold his company in 1901 for about $480 million (today's equivalent would be roughly $13 billion) and spent the last 18 years of his life focusing on large-scale philanthropy projects, eventually donating almost 90% of his accumulated wealth to charities and foundations by the time of his death. There are many things he did that benefitted society, but there was one project that touched more people than I believe even he realized he would touch.

By the time the the last grant to build a Carnegie library was given in 1919, Andrew Carnegie, through his Foundation, was responsible for over 2,500 libraries, including over 1,600 in the United States, which at the time was almost half of the entire number of libraries in the United States.

Initially, the libraries built were in locations where Andrew Carnegie had personal attachments. The very first one built was where he was born, in Dunfermline, Scotland. The first and second libraries to open in the United States were in Pennsylvania where he had his steel mills. The first library where he had no personal connection to the location was in Fairfield, Iowa in 1892 and it initiated the funding model for the rest of the libraries his foundation was responsible for building.

The dramatic increase in public libraries at this time was tied to the rise of women's clubs that formed after the Civil War and became increasingly socially active duing the industrial revolution. They were instrumental in securing the funding for about 75% of the libraries funded by the Carnegie Foundation. He also built libraries for African-Americans as segregation was still in effect in the southern states.

The community made the final decision on what type of library they wished to be built in their town. Because of this, most of the libraries were unique in design, but there were thematic elements incorporated into each one. Architecturally, they were rather simple, yet elegant and formal in design and almost all featured a prominent welcoming doorway, accessible by climbing a set of stairs. The staircase represented the elevation of the individual through education. There was also, usually, a lantern or lamppost outside to represent enlightenment. By the time they were completed, they were usually the largest and most imposing structures in town.

In order to receive funding from the Carnegie Foundation, the town had four requirements it needed to meet. The first was usually the easiest and it involved showing the foundation that a library was needed. The second requirement was to provide a building site. The third requirement was that the town had to provide 10% of the annual cost of the construction and operation once it opened. Finally, the library had to provide free service to all. If the town met all 4 requirements, money was distributed gradually instead of in one lump sum to ensure that all moneys granted would be used to complete the library and NOT for some other project of the town. On average, the grant was equivalent to $2 per resident of the town and based on the most recent US Census numbers.

The very first Carnegie library built in Hamilton county was located in Westfield and it opened in 1911 at 104 W. Main St. By 1917 it needed to expand to meet the demand of the town. Finally, in 1983, it was closed as a new public library in Westfield opened, to better meet the needs of its citizens. The building does still exist but it is no longer used as originally intended and currently houses a local business.



If you'd like to log this Waymark, please click here. Make sure you're logged in to be able to click on the "Visit Waymark (Post Log) link on the right side of the page.

Sheridan was the next town to build a Carnegie Library and it opened shortly after Westfield's library, in 1912, at 214 S. Main St. Like Westfield, Sheridan eventually outgrew the library and built a new one, consigning this library to an alternate use as well. It still exists and it also currently houses a local busines.



If you'd like to log this Waymark (it has two you can log!), please click here and here. Make sure you're logged in to be able to click on the "Visit Waymark (Post Log) link on the right side of the page.

Noblesville was the next town to build a Carnegie Library. Construction began in May 1912 and the library officially opened on May 5, 1913 at the corner of 10th and Conner St. In 1971 the library size was doubled and finally in 1986 it closed its doors to the public, Noblesville outgrowing the structure due to the expanding population. The original building no longer exists in its original state, but portions of it have been incorporated into the Noblesville City Hall building, which was opened in 1987. You can still see the original building walls (and the cornerstone!) that once made up the Carnegie library.



If you'd like to log this Waymark, please click here. Make sure you're logged in to be able to click on the "Visit Waymark (Post Log) link on the right side of the page.

Carmel was the 4th Hamilton county town to construct a Carnegie Library, officially opening its doors on June 6, 1914 at 40 E. Main St. Like the others so far, it too was deemed inadequate enough to meet the needs of its citizens and relegated to a different use, this time in 1972. It served as the Town Hall for awhile and currently is in use by a local business. Unlike the others above, there is a plaque that details the timeline of this particular Carnegie Library and gives the visitor some great information.



If you'd like to log this Waymark, please click here. Make sure you're logged in to be able to click on the "Visit Waymark (Post Log) link on the right side of the page.

Our last Carnegie library resides in Atlanta. It opened in 1917, with the cornerstone being put in place in 1916 (and still visible and in great shape today!). Unlike the other four Carnegie libraries, this one is still used for its primary purpose, albeit with MUCH restricted hours. The best day to visit this one is on Wednesday as it's open from 10-7. It was renamed in 1997, changing to Hamilton North Public Library.



If you'd like to log this Waymark, please click here. Make sure you're logged in to be able to click on the "Visit Waymark (Post Log) link on the right side of the page.

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