Magness Community House and Library

McMinnville, Tennessee's William H and Edgar Magness Community House and Library was constructed in 1931 in downtown McMinnville. The building replaced a structure located on the same lot, at the corner of Main and Chancery Streets. The building is constructed of limestone, in the Classical Revival architectural style. A brick addition has since been added to the building's rear elevation. The building features two stories, with a basement underneath. The building has and continues to serve as a library and community meeting place. Historically, the building's basement served as a "Rest Room" (no not what you are thinking). The "Rest Rooms" in this building served as a safe place for women and children who were down on their luck and had no place to go. The Magness Community House and Library staff also handed out clothing and food to folks in the McMinnville and surrounding areas that were down on their luck. The first floor of the building historically and currently serves as the library. William H. and Edgar Magness were staunch supporters of education and they wanted to make sure that residents of McMinnville and surrounding communities had access to books and educational materials. Mary Steakley Cunningham served as the Magness Library's librarian from 1931 until here death in 1954. The second level of the building historically and currently serves as overflow for library materials, and community meeting rooms. A large auditorium is also located in this portion of the building. In 1993, the Magness Library was listed in the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion A (overall history), B (association with significant people), and C (architectural significance). It is one of twenty-two National Register properties in Warren County. The Magness Library continues to serve the same purpose that it was built for in 1931.

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