WLOX.com - The News for South MississippiBiloxi will restore an "architectural treasure"

The city's historic public library took quite the hit during the wrath of Hurricane Katrina. Now Biloxi has plans to completely restore the structure.

When looking at the old Biloxi Library on Lemeuse Street, you are seeing a piece of history. Constructed in 1925, the Biloxi Public Library still bares the attributes of the Spanish Colonial Revival. Its hand crafted features and unique detail work have withstood the tests of time. That's why the city of Biloxi is working to restore it to its full glory.

"The old library is just one of Biloxi's architectural treasures. If you look at the style of the architecture of this building with it's arches and with all of the detail that you see on it. This was done in a period of Biloxi's history when we saw a lot of buildings by a man named Carl Matthes," Biloxi City Spokesman Vincent Creel said.

Matthes, who studied at the Chicago Institute of Art, was responsible for designing the Tivoli Hotel and the Buena Vista.  The impact of his influence is still seen today.

"You can see the influence from his studies in the arches over at the Biloxi Civic Center.  You can also see them in the annex, which is right next to city hall. What we're trying to do is restore this building here and then people will be able to see how that influence still carries today," Creel said.

In the time since its construction, the building has served as the city's library, office space and a casino headquarters.

"Since the storm it has just been going downhill. What the city was able to do was using FEMA money and using department of archives of history money, we're going to be able to step in here, we've already purchased it a year ago. Now what's going to happen is it's going to be a restoration project will be housed in this building," Creel said.

So on the surface it may seem like another restoration project. But for the city, this is a move to save a piece of Biloxi's history.

The city has already negotiated with a contractor to begin the restoration work. The project is expected to complete in four to six months. The restoration project will cost the city about $400,000. Eventually, the building will house the city's finance department.

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