The old Philadelphia Library was built in 1933 as a project of the Twentieth Century Club with funding from the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. Originally constructed on the lot just north of Philadelphia’s white public school on Byrd Street, the simple one-story Rustic-style log cabin was built with materials donated by various local civic, business, and religious organizations, and the Neshoba Democrat noted that the building was "made completely of local materials." The stone for the massive chimney was quarried from the nearby Deemer community and hauled by volunteers with trucks. During and after its service as the public library, the building was also used for parties and as a student hangout. In the 1970s, the high school expanded and a new larger public library was built; at this time, the log cabin was moved intact to its current site at Northside Park, on old Highway 15. Here it continued in public use as a community meeting house for 40 years until the severe damage inflicted on the building by falling pine trees during the tornado of April 27, 2011. The old Philadelphia Library was designated a Mississippi Landmark on June 21, 2011. It was awarded a $112,276 Mississippi Landmark Grant in 2011 to assist with reconstruction costs. The reconstruction was completed soon thereafter. |