Built 1823 Architectural style Neoclassical Opened 1823 Added to NRHP 14 September 1977 | Architect Bragdon, Claude NRHP Reference # 77000947 Area 3,642 m² | |
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Location 200 Main St., Dansville, New York Part of Dansville Downtown Historic District (#07000485) | ||
Dansville Library is a historic library located at Dansville in Livingston County, New York. It is a large two story Neoclassical style frame structure. It is dramatically enhanced by a pedimented, giant portico covering its full width. The portico features four Doric columns, an elaborate frieze with triglyphs and rosettes, a modillion cornice, and a semi-ellipical fan decoration in the cornice. The earliest section was built in 1823 as a private home for Joshua Shepard (1780–1829). The Shepard family donated the house for use as a library in 1923.
In 2011 a renovation of the building was undertaken in order to bring the facilities of the library up to modern expectations of technological ability and handicap access. A new wing was added to the southeast end of the building, dubbed the Saunders wing after the beneficence of local business mogul E. Philip Saunders and his wife Carol. The interior of the original Shepard building was fully remodeled while the exterior received needed repair and upkeep.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 and it is a contributing property in the Dansville Downtown Historic District.