People’s Free Library of South Carolina
The People’s Free Library of South Carolina is a historic one-room library building located in Lowrys, Chester County, South Carolina. Constructed between 1903 and 1904, it was established by Baltimore physician Delano S. Fitzgerald, who frequented Lowrys for hunting trips. Fitzgerald donated $1,381 worth of books to start the library, which grew to 8,000 volumes by 1924. The library also operated a traveling library service from 1904 until at least 1909, possibly the first such service in the state .
The building is a small, one-story, rectangular structure with a gable roof, weatherboard siding, and stone foundation piers. It features a wooden wraparound porch and a single room layout. Inside, the space includes bookshelves, a wood stove, and historical wooden boxes used for the traveling library service .
The library was closed in 1925 but was reopened in 1936 as part of the Chester County Library System. It was permanently closed in 1954, and the building was transferred to the Zion Presbyterian Church, as per the original deed. In 1972, the local Thursday Afternoon Club restored the building, and it now serves as a museum and community landmark .
The People’s Free Library was added to the National Register of Historic Places on October 29, 1982, recognizing its significance in social history .