Goshen's Carnegie Library

Goshen's Carnegie Library was the first one in Indiana. Dave Zollinger photo.

Goshen has a Carnegie Library, as do many towns do. But Goshen has the distinction of of having the first Carnegie Library that was built in the State of Indiana.
Located at the corner of 5th & Washington Streets, the classic building now serves as Goshen's City Hall. The current Goshen Public Library is now located about four blocks to the south at the corner of 5th & Purl Streets.


Historical marker at Goshen's Carnegie Library. Dave Zollinger photo.
Text reads:
Side one:
Indiana's first Carnegie library opened here 1903 with 3, 000 volumes. Goshen Library Association received $25, 000 in Carnegie grants 1901. Public donations, land purchase, and tax levy met Carnegie grant conditions. Architects Patton & Miller, Chicago, designed Beaux-Arts style structure. Library moved 1968; commercial and nonprofit uses followed.
Side two:
Listed in National Register of Historic Places 1983. Renovated building reopened 2001housing city offices. Original features of decorative marble, fireplaces, and domed rotunda retained. One of 1, 679 libraries built in U.S. with funds from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Indiana built more Carnegie libraries than any other state.

For travellers following the Lincoln Highway through Goshen, a visit to the building will require a detour of only 1 block from Lincoln Highway Route (Main Street).


Goshen's Carnegie Library, originally opened to the public in 1903, now serves as Goshen's City Hall. Dave Zollinger photo.


A scan of an old post card from the collection of the Goshen Historical Society showing the Goshen Carnegie Library. Date that the photo was taken is unknown. Postcard has a stamp cancellation date of 1912. Courtesy of the Goshen Historical Society.

Map to Goshen's Carnegie Library:


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Elkhart County Courthouse

Goshen is the county seat of Elkhart County, Indiana. Although the city of Elkhart is considerably larger than Goshen, the latter was probably named the county seat because of it's central location within the county.


View of the Elkhart County Courthouse, Fall 2008. Looking towards the northwest from the intersecton of Main & Lincoln. Dave Zollinger photo.

The Elkhart County Courthouse stands in the center of town, at the intersection of Main Street & Lincoln Avenue. In this particular part of town Main Street is the route of the Lincoln Highway.
The courthouse is a beautiful structure in it's own right. But the grounds also hold the Neptune Fountain (which I did not photograph because it was already sealed up for the winter), and the county war memorial.
Because of it's central location the courthouse is a good place to park and explore downtown Goshen. It's within easy walking distance of the Olympia Candy Kitchen, Sorg Jewelers, the former site of the Alderman Hotel, the old Goshen Police Booth, the Goshen Antique Mall, and a score of stores, coffee shops, and historical buildings.


Historical marker at the Elkhart County Courthouse. Dave Zollinger photo.
Inscription on Marker Reads:
Side one:
Elkhart County was formed by the Indiana General Assembly 1830; the first county seat was located in Concord Township. County commissioners relocated the county seat to Goshen 1831. Jacob Studebaker, Goshen, designed first brick courthouse, completed 1833. Barrows and Garnsey, Chicago, designed second brick courthouse, completed 1870.
Side two:
Patton and Miller, Chicago, redesigned and enlarged Renaissance Revival style structure, completed 1909. Contractor, P. H. McCormick, Columbus, dismantled south end tower and dome, added north and south wings, and built new central dome and tower incorporating original 1870 clock. Listed in National Register of Historic Places 1980.

The Elkhart County Courthouse is a Goshen landmark, and it's located right on the route of the Lincoln Highway.


Elkhart County Courthouse as photographed in 1970. View is same direction as my photo above. Photo by Calvin Beale.


View of the courthouse under construction in 1908. Photo believed to be public domain.

Map:


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