Orosi, Tulare County
San Joaquin Valley/South area, Central Valley region
Orosi/Cutler Branch Library
12646 Avenue 416
Orosi, CA 93647
opened 1921
Orosi Branch Library from 1921-1978
Orosi Cutler Branch Library 1978-present
currently a public library
grant amount: $3,000
architectural style: Bungalow/Craftsman
architect: Ernest J. Kump
The last Carnegie library to be completed in California was built as the
Orosi Branch Library but now serves both Orosi and Cutler in northern Tulare
County near the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. It is one of only three
frame California Carnegies, and one of only three remaining of the Craftsman
style, the others being Yolo and Riverbank. Random stone work of the
exterior chimneys and basement, and interior chimneys and fireplaces,
distinguish the small library. It was placed on the National Register of
Historic Places in 1983.
The small farming community of Orosi was founded in 1888 but its first
library dates from 1910 when Tulare County initiated its county library
system. Its several locations included Ryan's Cyclery and the John Klika
residence; photographs of the latter are sometimes assumed to be the
Carnegie. The county obtained a $3000 Carnegie grant in 1917 and pledged the
required tax support. The women of Orosi raised an additional $2000 for the
building, designed by Ernest Kump, but construction was postponed until after
the war. In nearby Cutler, the small branch library was housed in a variety
of locations including stores until it united with Orosi in 1978.
Sort listings by...
City |
Area |
Region |
Style |
Architect |
Use
Home |
About |
History |
Styles |
Listings |
Resources
Contact Information