Exterior view of the Santa Ana Public Library, ca.1910

Photograph of the exterior view of the Santa Ana Public Library, ca.1910. The façade of this Mission Revival style building is symmetric featuring two square towers flanking a multicurved gable. Directly below the gable is a balcony. "Public Library, A.D. 1903" is embossed underneath the balcony and above the arcade-like porch. The windows have ornamental traceries and moldings above them. The lawn is well manicured. A bicycle is parked on the street near the sidewalk in the foreground.; "Although Santa Ana incorporated in 1886, its library history began in 1878 with a subscription library and in 1886 with a WCTU library. These merged in 1887 and in 1891 the City of Santa Ana established a public library with the WCTU library as nucleus. These continuous and combined libraries occupied a total of five locations before Carnegie funding of $15,000 was obtained in 1902. A lot was donated by the city's founder, William Spurgeon. Architects Bither, Dennis and Farwell designed the Spanish Revival style building, which was completed in 1903, at a cost of $16,000. The builders were J.W. Blee and Chris McNeil. The library was considered a fitting complement to the 'majestic courthouse' a block away. It was demolished in 1960." -- unknown author.