McNair School and Original Site of Wilkinsburg Public Library

On the site currently occupied by Ferguson Playground, was once a school named after one of Wilkinsburg's founders, Dunning McNair. McNair School was built in 1895.

In 1899, Professor Shives of the Wilkinsburg Schools, had a far sighted vision of the future needs of Wilkinsburg, and asked Walter Crane, librarian of the Braddock Carnegie Library, to open a branch library in Wilkinsburg.

On September 11, 1899, Fred S. Evans, opened a branch in one room in the McNair School with about 1,500 books. The response was instantaneous. Despite the small collection, 58,225 books circulated in the first year.

The McNair school building was later torn down in 1950.