On April 30, 1962, the former home of the West Palm Beach Library opened at the head of Clematis Street, replacing the nearby Memorial Library, built in 1923. The 1962 building was demolished in 2009 to make way for a clear view of the waterfront.
Read more about the history of the West Palm Beach Library here.
Tags: buildings, libraries, This Week in History, West Palm Beach
By Michelle Quigley
On Jan. 26, 1924, the first permanent library building in West Palm Beach opened. It was named Memorial Library to honor those who had died in World War I.
The precursor to the permanent library buidling, the Free Reading Room, as viewed from City Park, 1912. Once part of the Palm Beach Yacht Club, this building was brought to West Palm Beach via a barge. (Photos courtesy of Michael Dubiner)
See the West Palm Beach Library Web site for more pictures and information about the history of the library.
Tags: buildings, libraries, This Week in History
TOP: The 1962 opening ceremony for the old West Palm Beach Public Library.
File photo
MIDDLE: The new library at the April 2009 grand opening festivities for the City Center complex.
Staff Photo by Bruce R. Bennett
BOTTOM: Demolition of the old library in May 2009.
Staff photo by Lannis Waters
For more photos of the 2009 library demolition, see this Clematis Flashback slide show from @aGuyonClematis.
Tags: libraries
