Blackstone Library
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The T. B. Blackstone Memorial Library is a Concord Granite building that is a part of the Chicago Public Library System. It was built in 1902 and marks the beginning of the Chicago Branch Library System as the first dedicated branch in the system. It is also the only branch of the 79 branch Chicago Public Library branch system that was privately funded. It is now known as the Chicago Public Library - Blackstone Branch and commonly referred to as Blackstone Library, or Blackstone Branch. The library was dedicated to the memory of Timothy Beach Blackstone, President of the Chicago and Alton Railroad from 1864 to 1899, a period longer than any of his contemporaries. He was also the founding president of the Union Stock Yards. It was designed by the architect Solon S. Beman and modeled after Beman's Merchant Tailors Building, the domed temple facing the Lagoon in the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition[1] and the Erechtheum at the Athenian Acropolis. It is located at 4904 South Lake Park Avenue in Chicago's Kenwood community area. The branch celebrated its 100th Anniversary of service in 2004.
[edit] Background History
Timothy B. Blackstone had owned the property on which the Blackstone Library now stands. He donated this tract for the construction of the library after his death. The library was built on this tract through a codicil in his will, carried out by his wife, Isabella Norton Blackstone (1838-1928), after his death. It was his contribution to the city where he had made his fortune and stands as a monument to his generosity.
Although the Blackstones lived downtown, they maintained numerous close friendships in the affluent Hyde Park neighborhood, which then included the Kenwood. Also, at the time, the Chicago Public Library System was renting reading room spaces around the city and sought stand alone branches. January 8th, 1904 Isabella Blackstone handed the keys and deed to the Timothy B. Blackstone Library to the city's Library Board members. It is the first branch library in the Chicago Public Library System.
[edit] Design
| Blackstone Library Interior | |
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As stated above, is modeled after the Erechtheum. Greek Mythology teaches that Demeter, the goddess, bestowed agriculture and civilization upon the world during Erechthion's reign. The library's rotunda murals depict labor, literature, the arts and agriculture.
Summary of Building Features
- Tiffany style dome
- Marble column and walls in the rotunda and foyer
- 4 Overhead Rotunda Murals painted by Oliver Dennett Grover, mural painter for the World Columbian Exposition
- 1" square Italian Marble Mosaic Flooring
- Glassfloored Mezzanine
- 2 800 lbs. bronze plate, solid copper core outer front doors
- 2 150 lbs. bronze and glass inner doors
- 12" thick granite walls
- ionic columns
[edit] Trivia
Blackstone Hotel and adjacent Blackstone Theatre (now the Merle Reskin Theatre) were also named after Timothy Blackstone, whose mansion had stood on their site.
The northbound one-way traffic Chicago street South Blackstone Avenue, which ends running north immediately to the west of (behind) the Blackstone Library (see map in external links below), was also named after Timothy Blackstone. Parts of Blackstone Avenue South of 53rd Street accommodate two-way traffic.
Blackstone donated a larger (James) Blackstone Memorial Library (1891, opened 1893), in his father's memory to Branford, Connecticut, Blackstone's birthplace.
The building retains a Lake Park Avenue address although the neighboring section of Lake Park was moved about a half a block east several decades ago.
At least two major renovations have occurred. From 1938-1939 a children's room annex was added. From 1977-1980 a major renovation occurred. There was also a 2004 renovation for the centennial.
[edit] External links
- Timothy Beach Blackstone biography and geneology
- Chicago Public Library History
- www.hydepark.org Blackstone Centenial Commemoration
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps or Yahoo! Maps
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
- Satellite image from Google Maps or Microsoft Virtual Earth
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
- ^ AIA Guide to Chicago, 2nd edition, Alice Sinkevitch, ed., 2004, Harcourt Books Inc., pg. 426.
[edit] Photo Gallery
 Front of Blackstone Library |
 Bronze Doors |
 Children's Annex Plaque |
 Children's Annex Door |
 Rear of Blackstone Library from 49th St. and Blackstone Ave. |
 Rotunda Mural |
 Original Tile Flooring |
