Automobile executive Charles Eckhart financed the ambitious design project. Architecture firm Patton & Miller was hired: the firm had designed prominent buildings in Chicago, southern Indiana, and other parts of the county. The Auburn library is impressive, with 18-inch thick brick walls, four-feet wide concrete foundations, and Spanish green tile on the roof, laid with wide overhangs.
Entrances were made of mosaic tile and marble, and the stairway is heavy iron. One of the most striking features of the library is the array of stained glass windows mentioned above, which were designed by artist Gustav Brand.
The library now includes a campus of buildings, including separate buildings for teens, a genealogy department, and an annex. Children's programs are a highlight, with a beautifully designed "secret garden" space carved out in a basement. The library park features a fountain, terrace, sundial, and sculpture. It's easy to tell patrons and staff are very fond and proud of their library - it certainly is one of the brightest stars in the sweet town of Auburn.
The last place I visited on my local town tour was an art studio where one of its artists works and lives. She has created a lovely, multipurposed space that contains a kitchen as well as a bedroom loft. The artist and an art teacher offer painting parties, art lessons, a kids' club, woodworking projects, and custom work. The studio is in a place over a business in the town square district. The day I visited the studio, a bottle painting class had been conducted the night before - what a beautiful way to repurpose empty glass containers into reusable works of art.
You see me standing in the studio space in the lower photo above. This space on 215 N. Main has housed a lot of businesses since it was built in the late 1800s. One of its most famous occupants was photographer Kelso Davis and his wife Margaret. Beginning in 1938, it is reported this war service veteran, Kelso Davis, ran an Auburn studio for over 60 years, and lived and worked in the upstairs area from 1938 - 1947.
Davis' work is generally well known in the Auburn area. Margaret employed her art background to hand-tint the studio's brown toned prints with oil paints for a distinctive look. One of the Davis' three daughters was available to speak about Kelso's history and work the day of the Auburn walking tours. For more information about The Window Nook Studio, write windownookstudio@gmail.com.
Auburn is a charming place to explore, chock-full of American history. All over the square are businesses, shops and eateries, each one a unique jewel worth visiting. It's just a short drive north of Fort Wayne, with two exits off Highway I-69.
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