Front Facade
The main facade of the Forrest City Public Library
Description
The Forrest City Public Library was constructed between 1938-39 and was designed by the Little Rock, Arkansas, firm of Sanders & Ginocchio. The PWA provided a grant of $10,791 for the project, whose total cost was $24,242.
It was the first purpose-built public library in the city and was funded by the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works as Project No. ARK. 1147-F. It has continuously functioned as a library since its completion. The only alteration to the building occurred in 1976, when a rear addition was constructed. The interior still mostly appears the same way it did historically.
Forrest City Library: “The Forrest City Public Library moved to its new home on Washington Street in April of 1939 at a cost of $25,000. PWA funded their 45%, with the rest financed by local bonds with a twenty-year maturity. The building was and still is owned by the city.”
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A photo of the library shortly after completion in 1939.
Historic Photo
A photo of the library shortly after completion in 1939.
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A view of the northwest corner of the Forrest City Public Library
Northwest corner of the building
A view of the northwest corner of the Forrest City Public Library
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A close-up of the dedication plaque on the front facade of the Forrest City Public Library
Dedication Plaque
A close-up of the dedication plaque on the front facade of the Forrest City Public Library
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An interior photo of the central space of the library.
Circulation Counter
An interior photo of the central space of the library.
Source notes
Record Group 135: Public Works Administration; Projects Control Division; Entry 52: Indices to Non-Federal Projects; Report No. 5: Status of All Completed Non-Federal Allotted Projects, page 160.
Forrest City Library: https://forrestcitylibrary.org/library-history (accessed May 2022)
Project originally submitted by Unidentified Submitter and Evan Kalish on May 17, 2022.
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