The Cornish Library, is a branch of the

Winnipeg Public Library The Winnipeg Public Library (french: Bibliothèque publique de Winnipeg) is a public library system in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Branches provide programming for children, teens, and adults. The Library also contains an Outreach Department which works ...

, located in

Winnipeg Winnipeg () is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba in Canada. It is centred on the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine rivers, near the longitudinal centre of North America. , Winnipeg had a city population of 749 ...

Manitoba , image_map = Manitoba in Canada 2.svg , map_alt = Map showing Manitoba's location in the centre of Southern Canada , Label_map = yes , coordinates = , capital = Win ...

, Canada. Like the St. John's Library, the Cornish is one of two Carnegie libraries in the city. It is a Grade II listed building and a Winnipeg Landmark Heritage Structure. It was gazetted on January 15, 1993. It is named in honour of Winnipeg's first mayor,

Francis Evans Cornish Francis Evans Cornish (February 1, 1831 – November 28, 1878) was a Canadian politician. He served as Mayor of London, Canada West, in the early 1860s, became the first Mayor of Winnipeg in 1874, and was for a time a member of the Legisl ...

History

Designed by the architect S. Frank Peters, the plans had to be approved by Carnegie's personal secretary, James Bertram, to assure money was not wasted on exterior ornamentation at the expense of book shelves and furniture. The library is located at 20 West Gate in Cornish Park on a small piece of land at one of the entrances to

Armstrong's Point Armstrong's Point (informally referred to as The Gates) is a neighbourhood in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It is located in the West End of the city and in a large bend in the Assiniboine River. The land was developed in the late 19th and early 20th centu ...

, near the

Maryland Bridge The Maryland Bridge is a bridge that crosses over the Assiniboine River in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It serves as a major transportation route for Winnipeg. The bridge connects Academy Road with Maryland Street and Sherbrook Street. The current struct ...

. It replaced the Winnipeg Waterworks building. It is situated on the eastern bank of the

Assiniboine River The Assiniboine River (''; french: Rivière Assiniboine'') is a river that runs through the prairies of Western Canada in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. It is a tributary of the Red River. The Assiniboine is a typical meandering river with a sing ...

with the library's west elevation facing the river. The Cornish Baths, Winnipeg's first indoor pool, were formerly located beside the Library. Construction by the National Construction Company of Winnipeg began in 1914. The library opened on June 15, 1915. The foundation was damaged by flooding in 1918 and it was repaired using a $7,000 Carnegie grant. The Library is underwent a renovation in 2019-20 that included the addition of an all-glass reading area and improved accessibility from the main entrance. The renovation came in at $3.74 million, and the Library officially reopened July 29, 2021.

Architecture and fittings

The library, in size, was built in keeping with

Andrew Carnegie Andrew Carnegie (, ; November 25, 1835August 11, 1919) was a Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist. Carnegie led the expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century and became one of the richest Americans in ...

's specifications, being of a simple plan that was characterized by classical details, fenestration and modest interior appointments. Resting on a concrete foundation, it has nearly 4,000 cu. m. (141,074 cu. ft.) of interior space, 75 million bricks, 1,002 superficial sq. m. of plaster, and 229 cu. m. of concrete. The building cost approximately $30,000.

Exterior

The one-storey building is rectangular and has a raised concrete basement. An ornamental, smooth-cut belt encircles both levels. There are red brick walls and limestone details. Sills are made of stone. Windows are tall and rectangular. While the hip roof is low-pitched, a centred front portico and centred rear pavilion have a gabled roof. The main entrance has a pedimented double-door. This is framed by stone columns. An carved entablature includes the words: "PUBLIC LIBRARY", "CORNISH BRANCH", and "A.D. 1914". The pediment on top of the rear pavilion has an oculus with decorative brick and stone detailing. There are block modillions in the pediments and under the eaves. Other features include red brick chimneys with stone caps as well as a brick and stone porch with a gable roof. Cornish Library Interior

Interior

The library has high ceilings and windows. The basement ceilings are , while the main floor ceilings are . The main floor has built-in perimeter bookshelves. Reading areas include partial wall and screened wall areas. The lower level is reached via stairs from the front vestibule. A central hallway in the basement separates lecture rooms. Interior doors are made of oak and glass. Other interior features include solid, wide, oak tables, wood panelling, and tiled fireplaces with oak mantels. The collections are situated on the main floor while the basement has a program room that seats 60 people.

Notable people

The Canadian novelist, prohibitionist, and women's rights and reform movement activist

Nellie McClung Nellie Letitia McClung (; 20 October 18731 September 1951) was a Canadian author, politician, and social activist, who is regarded as one of Canada's most prominent suffragists. She began her career in writing with the 1908 book ''Sowing Seeds ...

lectured at the Cornish Library.

References

{{Authority control Library buildings completed in 1915 1914 establishments in Manitoba Culture of Winnipeg Public libraries in Manitoba Carnegie libraries in Canada Libraries established in 1915