Uncovering Washburn's Carnegie Library

Libraries are an important part of any community, but in Washburn this attachment is perhaps even greater.

"Probably everyone that was born in Washburn from 1905 till now or lived here for any length of time has probably been in this building," Washburn Public Library Director Darrell Pendergrass said.

The city's only library, made possible by Andrew Carnegie, has been standing strong since 1905.

"A lot of the library is original and this desk is something that really stands out for the library," he said.

Right when you walk in, the main desk is in front of you, in the same place it's always been.

"[People] come up and they always put their hands on this desk and they also always comment about how much shorter the desk seems now because they're grown up," Pendergrass said.

And if you look closely, much of this furniture is actually original.

"We have chairs that are original to the building, we have tables that we still use," Pendergrass said. "There's a librarian's chair over there that May Greenwood sat in."

It's true: May Greenwood served as librarian here from the time it opened until 1964.

At the age of 94, she was known as oldest librarian in the country.

For much of the community, this library brings back memories of their childhood.

"On the outside of the building there's a ledge," Pendergrass explained. "This town has always walked that ledge. All the little kids after school they walk that ledge and I’ll say ‘you gotta get down, you're gonna get hurt.’"

While walking the ledge isn't advised, taking a visit here certainly is.

After all, this place is about a whole lot more than checking out books.

"Nobody ever talks about 'hey should we let this building go and build a new one,'" Pendergrass said. “I think this building, people want to keep it here."