Parlin Library

Parlin Library is a historic library building at 210 East Chestnut Street in Canton, Illinois. Constructed in 1893–1894, it was established after two earlier library associations in Canton had failed, leaving the city without a public library. The project was funded chiefly through a bequest from William Parlin, Sr., a prominent Canton industrialist and founder of the Parlin & Orendorff Company. His estate contributed $8,000 toward the building and its collection, while a further $5,000 was raised through a municipal library tax. The building was designed by the Peoria architectural firm Richardson & Salter in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. Its original civic purpose combined library services with cultural functions: the collection contained approximately 1,000 books when the building opened and had grown to about 8,000 volumes by 1908. The premises also included a large art gallery, making the institution more than a reading room and positioning it as an important cultural facility for the local community. Parlin Library operated as Canton's library until 1958, when a new library building opened. The historic structure was then repurposed as Canton City Hall, preserving the building as a civic landmark while ending its original use as a public library. The later conversion illustrates the building's continuing municipal importance, even after the library service moved elsewhere. Parlin Library was added to the United States National Register of Historic Places in 1994. It is one of four Canton sites identified in the reference material as being listed on the Register. The other listed sites are the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Station, the Ulysses G. Orendorff House, and the Orendorf Site. As a subject, Parlin Library is therefore best understood as a historic civic institution and building rather than as a commercial consumer brand. Its significance rests on local philanthropy, public-library development, nineteenth-century architecture, and adaptive civic reuse.

Canton, Illinois, had previously supported two library associations, but both organizations failed. By the time the Parlin Library project was developed, the city did not have a public library. William Parlin, Sr., a leading local industrialist and founder of the Parlin & Orendorff Company, provided the principal philanthropic foundation for a replacement institution through his estate. When he died in 1890, he left $8,000 for the construction of a library building and the acquisition of books and other collection materials. The project also received $5,000 from a library tax, combining private bequest funding with public support. Construction took place in 1893–1894. The Peoria architectural firm Richardson & Salter designed the building in the Richardsonian Romanesque style, a form associated with heavy masonry, strong architectural massing, and Romanesque-inspired detailing. The completed structure served as both a practical library and a cultural venue. It opened with approximately 1,000 books, providing Canton residents with an organized public collection after the collapse of the earlier library associations. The facility also contained a large art gallery, broadening its role within the community beyond lending and reading. The collection expanded substantially during the institution's first years. By 1908, it reportedly held about 8,000 books. This growth indicates that the library became an established civic resource rather than remaining a small memorial or limited subscription collection. Its presence reflected the period's wider development of public libraries as institutions for education, self-improvement, cultural access, and municipal identity. Parlin Library remained in its original function until 1958. That year, Canton opened a new library, and the historic building was converted for use as Canton City Hall. The change ended the building's direct role in library operations but retained it as a public civic property. Its adaptive reuse also allowed the structure to remain part of Canton's municipal landscape rather than being abandoned after the library service moved. In 1994, Parlin Library was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The designation recognized the building's architectural and historical importance and placed it among Canton's documented historic resources. The building is one of four Canton sites identified in the reference material as appearing on the Register. Its history links local industrial philanthropy, the institutional development of public education and culture, Richardsonian Romanesque architecture, and the continuing reuse of historic civic buildings. Because the subject is a historic library building and former public institution, information about commercial ownership, corporate management, product lines, and financial performance is not applicable or not documented in the supplied sources.

• 1994

  Added to the National Register of Historic Places

  [1]Parlin Libraryen.wikipedia.org

  Parlin Library received recognition as a National Register of Historic Places property.

• 1958

  Library service moves to a new building

  [1]Parlin Libraryen.wikipedia.org

  A new library opened in Canton, and the historic Parlin Library building was repurposed as Canton City Hall.

• 1908

  Collection reaches approximately 8,000 books

  [1]Parlin Libraryen.wikipedia.org

  The library's holdings had grown from about 1,000 books at opening to approximately 8,000 volumes.

• 1894

  Library building completed

  [1]Parlin Libraryen.wikipedia.org

  The Richardsonian Romanesque library designed by Richardson & Salter was completed and opened with approximately 1,000 books.

• 1893

  Construction begins

  [1]Parlin Libraryen.wikipedia.org

  Construction of the Parlin Library building began in Canton, Illinois, using estate funding supplemented by a $5,000 library tax.

• 1890

  William Parlin, Sr. leaves a library bequest

  [1]Parlin Libraryen.wikipedia.org

  Following William Parlin, Sr.'s death, his estate provided $8,000 for a library building and its collection.

A locally significant public library and cultural institution established through private philanthropy and public taxation, later preserved as a historic civic building.

• Library service · 1894

  Public library collection

  The institution's principal service was its public book collection. The library opened with approximately 1,000 books and expanded to about 8,000 books by 1908, providing Canton residents with access to a growing civic educational resource.

• Cultural facility · 1894

  Art gallery

  Parlin Library included a large art gallery as part of its original facilities. The gallery extended the building's role beyond book lending and reading, supporting its function as a local cultural and educational venue.

• 1958

  Conversion of the historic library into City HallStrategy

  Background

  Canton opened a new library, making the original Parlin Library building available for another civic use.

  Action taken

  The historic library building was repurposed as Canton City Hall.

  Aftermath

  The building ceased operating as a library but remained in public civic use and was later recognized on the National Register of Historic Places.

  Source

1. 1Parlin Libraryen.wikipedia.org