Corbin’s Carnegie Library is a piece of history that should not be forgotten. The building was built and opened in 1916, so it is now 109 years old. It served the local community by being the only library in town until the mid-1960s, when a library tax was passed and a new library was built across the street.
In 2015, the Carnegie Center of Corbin, Inc. was formed to raise funds and to preserve and maintain the historic Carnegie Library. One of the founding members of the board, Rob Miller, was quoted saying, “Our group would love to see the building in full use again as a community center for the arts, such as recitals or art displays, for a historical and genealogy resource, for a meeting space for civic clubs and other local events.”
After working with the Cumberland Valley Area Development District (CVADD) to obtain a grant that provided for a study of the building to ensure its suitability for undergoing the restoration process, he board received a $5,000 National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) grant that was matched with local funds to conduct an architectural and engineering assessment, as well as come up with initial design plans.
The building was purchased from First Baptist Church of Corbin, and a new roof was fitted in 2019 alongside historically accurate masonry repairs to the top section of the building. Grant funding has also been utilized in recent years for the restoration of the windows and doors in the building. Local donors who have supported the project are being given the opportunity to honor the memories of their loved ones by having their names inscribed on plaques in the building.
The plan is to continue forward with restoration by restoring the masonry exterior in a way that is cost-effective and faithful to the history of the building by making use of historically accurate methods and materials. The main motivating factors behind the restoration are the building’s age and national registry status. Only a handful of structures exist on the registry in Corbin.
“The style and workmanship of these structures is unique and needs to be saved,” said Miller when asked about the importance of the ongoing restoration efforts. “Once these structures are lost then they are gone forever.”
Miller said that Carnegie Center of Corbin, Inc. has applied for another NTHP grant to begin work on the front of the building, and that the group is continuing to fundraise in an effort to match the grant if they are successful in receiving it.
Preserving these gems of local history is important not only because of the legacy of the structures themselves, but also to make use of the space that they occupy currently in order to better serve the community for future generations.
Miller and his sister, Diane Mitchell, first began the Carnegie Library restoration efforts together. Prior to her passing in 2024, Mitchell spoke to the News Journal about those efforts, as well as the overall importance of preserving history in her hometown of Corbin. To read that story, search for “Keeping Memories Alive” on thenewsjournal.net.
Written by Trevor Sherman and Bella Morin
