Harriman Public Library

Harriman's Carnegie Library was a result of the efforts of Mrs. Robert F. Armstrong, president of the Library Board, and Mayor Claude E. Hendrick and the City Council. Together they obtained a $10,000 grant from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation in 1909. The Greek Revival building's interior has gilt embossed columns, oak archways and woodwork. The picture of Andrew Carnegie over the fireplace, and the words "Carnegie Building" in the tiled entry, acknowledge the authenticity of the building.

LIBRARY CORNERSTONE LAYING
APPROPRIATE EXERCISES HELD WEDNESDAY FORENOON
The Speech of Gen. Harvey H. Hannah the Event of the Exercises

The laying of the cornerstone of the Carnegie library building was held Wednesday forenoon. The event called out the people of Harriman to the number of over two thousand. One interesting feature of the audience was the presence of about six hundred school children who marched from the public school to the grounds headed by the band. Marching double file and in close order the column stretched out over two blocks in length.

The proceedings were opened by R.B. Cassell, president of the library board, who stated the object of the meeting and called upon Rev. L.R. Robinson for invocation. Mr. Robinson was followed by Mayor Hendrick and he by Harriman's first Mayor, W.H. Veazey of Norfold, Va., who, with Mrs. Veazey, chanced to be in the city. Mr. Veazey was followed by Gen. Harvey H. Hannah, who entertained the audience for over an hour with one of the most eloquent addresses ever delivered in the city. Gen. Hannah outdid his own best efforts on this occasion. Pen could not reproduce even an idea of the magnificence of his speech which was entirely extempore.

Gen. Hannah was followed by the invitation to the various fraternal societies, the city authorities, the newspapers and others to make deposits in a copper receptacle to be placed in the cornerstone. Rev. W.T. Wells closed the exercises with benediction.

Because of failure on the part of the Knoxville firm which cut the cornerstone to do its part, the stone had not arrived Wednesday, and did not arrive until Thursday morning.

The event was an important one in the history of the city. The library building will be a distinctive monument to the enterprise of the people of the city for many years to come.