Fargo College Library

The Fargo College Library was one of three libraries funded by Andrew Carnegie in Fargo. The cornerstone for the library was laid on September 5, 1910. The principal speaker at the event was President Theodore Roosevelt. When he arrived at the Northern Pacific Depot at 5:45 PM over 10,000 people thronged Front Street and Broadway in an effort to catch a glimpse of him.

While waiting for Roosevelt to arrive, speeches were given at the library site by Congressman Louis B. Hanna (who was instrumental in obtaining funding for the library), Fargo College President C. C. Creegan, Governor Burke, and members of the Board of Trustees. The Rt. Rev. Bishop Mann gave a prayer.

As part of the ceremony, a box was placed in the cornerstone. The 17 items in the box included portraits of Carnegie, Roosevelt, President Taft, copies of local newspapers, a history of the college, and similar items.

The library was razed in 1964 to make way for a new Western States Life Insurance Co. building, which later became Clarica. The cornerstone (pictured above) remained on the site until September 14, 2001, when it was moved to Bonanzaville and a plaque was placed near the original site.