Alta Public Library
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox NRHP
| name = Alta Public Library
| image = Alta Public Library.jpg
| caption =
| location = 12510 Mayfield Road, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
| locmapin = United States Cleveland#Ohio#USA
| architect = George B. Post & Sons
| architecture = Neoclassical
| added = October 4, 2005
| coordinates = {{coord|41|30|31.17|N|81|35|45.81|W|display=inline,title}}
| refnum = 05001143{{NRISref|2007b}}
}}
Alta Public Library is a historic library building in Cleveland, Ohio, in the United States. Designed by noted New York City architect George B. Post, the building (completed in 1914) was an addition to the existing Alta House, a settlement house for the Italian American community in Cleveland. Although Alta House burned in 1980 and was demolished in 1981, the library survived undamaged.
The Alta Public Library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 4, 2005.{{cite web |url=http://landmarkhunter.com/142489-alta-public-library/ |title=Alta Public Library |website=Landmark Hunter |access-date=September 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110503183356/http://landmarkhunter.com/142489-alta-public-library/ |archive-date=May 3, 2011}}
Construction of Alta House and the Alta Public Library
In 1895, billionaire oilman John D. Rockefeller, Sr. agreed to fund the construction of a settlement house consisting of a kindergarten and day care nursery in the Little Italy area of Cleveland, Ohio. It was named Alta House, in honor of Rockefeller's daughter, Alta.{{cite book|last=Mitchell|first=Sandy|title=Cleveland's Little Italy|location=Charleston, S.C.|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|date=2008|isbn=9780738552132|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=laqrFtLh9ucC|page=19}} Charles W. Hopkinson, a noted local architect, was commissioned to design the building, which opened in 1899.{{cite book|last=Gregor|first=Sharon E.|title=Rockefeller's Cleveland|location=Charleston, S.C.|publisher=Arcadia Publishing|date=2010|isbn=9780738577111|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UAAkW1XBXFAC|page=77}}
In 1910, Rockefeller agreed to fund the expansion of Alta House to include a gym, library, and swimming pool.{{cite news|last=Litt|first=Steven|title=Historic Alta House in Little Italy springs to full life as a Montessori school|work=The Plain Dealer|date=January 21, 2016|accessdate=June 7, 2017|url=http://www.cleveland.com/architecture/index.ssf/2016/01/historic_alta_house_in_little.html}} George B. Post designed the Neoclassical addition to Alta House as well as the library. The library opened on February 10, 1914.{{cite news|title=Central West|work=Library Journal|date=September 1914|pages=712–713|accessdate=May 15, 2017|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iPAOAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22Cleveland+Public+Library%22+alta+branch+architect&pg=PA713|last1=Dewey|first1=Melvil|last2=Bowker|first2=Richard Rogers|last3=Pylodet|first3=L.|last4=Leypoldt|first4=Frederick|last5=Cutter|first5=Charles Ammi|last6=Brown|first6=Karl|last7=Weston|first7=Bertine Emma|last8=Wessells|first8=Helen E.}}
Fire and loss of Alta House
A fire struck the Alta House portion of the complex on June 22, 1980, doing $40,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|40000|1980|r=-5}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars) in damage. A second fire on July 1 caused $8,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|8000|1980|r=-5}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars) in damages. Both fires were later believed to be arson,{{cite news|title=City Condemns Alta House After a Series of Fires|work=The Plain Dealer|date=November 13, 1980|page=7}} although over time an electrical fault was found to be the cause of the first fire.{{cite news|last=Miller|first=William F.|title=Alta House Has Risen From Ashes|work=The Plain Dealer|date=May 31, 1982|page=D10}} Arsonists struck the building again twice more in the following weeks, although each blaze was small. The cumulative effect of the fires was to force Alta House programs to use the Alta Public Library building for programming.{{cite news|last=Joyner|first=L'Tanya|title=Hough, Alta Houses Survive to Help Others|work=The Plain Dealer|date=August 24, 1980|page=4}}
City officials determined that the damage to Alta House was too extensive, and condemned the structure on November 12, 1980. Alta House officials decided to tear down the structure after determining that the cost of repairs would be more than $1 million (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|1000000|1980|r=-5}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars), and that no company would insure the structure.{{cite news|last=Littleton|first=Jane M.|title=Shed a Tear for Alta House|work=The Plain Dealer|date=November 21, 1980|page=15}} Only the main building was razed, saving the Alta House swimming pool and gymnasium. The Alta Public Library was undamaged.
A new structure to house Alta House opened in May 1982. This consisted of a much smaller building (essentially a wing of the library), two stories in height. Bocce courts replaced much of the site of the old building.
In 2016, the Alta Public Library received a major refurbishment. Overseen by Cleveland architect Joseph Linek, the $1.6 million (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|1600000|2016|r=-5}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars) renovation (partially funded by $240,000 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|240000|2016|r=-5}}}} in {{Inflation-year|US}} dollars) in historic preservation tax credits) included conservation, restoration, and refurbishment of the original oak floors, window wells, windows, and cornice brickwork. The Cleveland Montessori School joined the library in taking up residence in the renovated structure.
References
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External links
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{{National Register of Historic Places in Ohio}}
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Category:Buildings and structures in Cleveland
Category:Public libraries in Ohio
Category:Libraries on the National Register of Historic Places in Ohio
Category:National Register of Historic Places in Cleveland, Ohio