Carnegie Building Beginnings
Hermiston was one of 31 Oregon communities to receive a Carnegie Library built with money donated by Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. In all, 1,689 public Carnegie Libraries were built in the U.S. between 1886 and 1929. Carnegie required public support rather than making endowments because, “An endowed institution is liable to become the prey of a clique. The public ceases to take interest in
