\nAlternative Name: Portage Lake District Library, Carnegie Cultural Museum
\nLocation: 105 Huron St., Houghton
\nCompleted: 1910
\nContractor: John Michels<\/p>\n
![\"hplearly\"](\"http:\/\/ss.sites.mtu.edu\/cca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/cs_HPLEarly.jpg\")
<\/a>In 1908, John Doelle, Superintendent of the Portage Township School District, successfully led an effort to establish a public library in Houghton. The Houghton Public Library was constructed using a $15,000 grant provided by steel tycoon Andrew Carnegie, and was operated by the Portage Township School District for many years. More recently known as the Portage Lake District Library,1<\/sup>\u00a0the building was used as a library until the summer of 2006.<\/p>\n The Classical-Revival style building is brick on a Jacobsville Sandstone foundation. The flat roof has a parapet above a molded cornice. The pedimented central entrance dominates the fa\u00e7ade. The doorway surrounds and window lintels and sills are smooth-faced Jacobsville sandstone. The 60\u2019x 37\u2019-8\u201d building is essentially one story, but the steep slope of the street reveals a basement level on the downhill side.<\/p>\n The main floor, which served as the reading room, has a rubble-stone fireplace and oak woodwork. The basement was dominated by a community room with a stage; this room was turned into a children\u2019s room full of books and videos. There was also a \u201chistorical room\u201d and a magazine room in the basement.2<\/sup><\/p>\n![\"hpllate2\"](\"http:\/\/ss.sites.mtu.edu\/cca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/cs_HPLLate2-300x200.jpg\")
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