Blackstone Library
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| Blackstone Library | |
 Front of Blackstone Library |
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| Building information | |
|---|---|
| Town | 4904 South Lake Park Avenue Chicago, IL, Illinois |
| Country | United States |
| Architect | Solon S. Beman |
| Construction start date | 1902 |
| Completion date | 1904 |
T. B. Blackstone Memorial Library is a building that is part of the Chicago Public Library System and is named after Timothy Blackstone. It is now known as the Chicago Public Library - Blackstone Branch and commonly referred to as Blackstone Library, or Blackstone Branch and sometimes Blackstone for short. The Concord Granite building's two-year construction started in 1902, and it was dedicated on January 8, 1904.[1] Blackstone Library marks the beginning of the Chicago Branch Library System as the first dedicated branch in the system.[1][2] Blackstone is also the only branch of the 79-branch Chicago Public Library branch system that was privately funded.[2] The building is located in Chicago's Kenwood community area in Cook County, Illinois, United States and serves the Hyde Park, Kenwood, and Oakland community areas. The branch celebrated its 100th anniversary of service in 2004.[3]
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[edit] History
The library was dedicated to the memory of Timothy Beach Blackstone, President of the Chicago and Alton Railroad from 1864 to 1899,[4][1] a period longer than any of his contemporaries. Blackstone, who had died on May 26, 1900,[1] was also the founding president of the Union Stock Yards.[1] 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 the tract through a codicil in his will, carried out by his wife, Isabella Norton Blackstone (1838-1928), after his death. Blackstone Library 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 what is now called the Kenwood community area. Prior to the donation of the Blackstone Library, the Chicago Public Library System had been renting reading room spaces around the city and had been seeking stand alone branches.[2] On January 8, 1904, Isabella Blackstone handed the keys and deed to the Timothy B. Blackstone Library to the city's Library Board members. Blackstone Library is the first branch library in the Chicago Public Library System.[2] 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 three renovations have occurred, which have expanded, renovated and updated the library.[2] From 1938-1939 the new children's room annex, a Works Progress Administration project,[2] was added at a cost of $68,400.[3] During this annexation one of a set of Howard Van Doren Shaw townhouses was raised.[5] From 1977-1980 a major restorative renovation occurred.[4] Blackstone was rededicated on November 18, 1980 in recognition of completion of the three years of work.[4] There was also a 2004 renovation for the centennial.
Blackstone donated a larger (James) Blackstone Memorial Library (1891, opened 1893), in his father's memory to Branford, Connecticut, Blackstone's birthplace. In addition to the James Blackstone Library in Branford, there exists a library named "Blackstone Library" in Blackstone, MA.[6] The architect for both the Branford and Chicago libraries was Solon S. Beman.
[edit] Service
As one of the 79 Chicago Public Library branch libraries, Blackstone Library serves the Hyde Park, Kenwood, and Oakland community areas. These communities include 17 elementary schools and 4 high schools.[3] The 2000 census service area population was 50,084.[3] Anne Keogh was named branch manager in October 2004.[3]
In 2003, the "Friends of Blackstone Branch Library" was formed, making the Blackstone Branch one of approximately 34 branches to have such a support group. The volunteer support group attempts to "serve as an advisory council for Chicago's first branch library, promote use and improvement of the library, and provide volunteer and fundraising services for Blackstone".[3]
The Blackstone Library participates in most Chicago Public Library programs and partnerships, including Great Kids Museum Passport Program, the Monthly Adult Book Club Discussion as well as many annual events and activities.[7] The branch also partners with neighborhood institutions such as the Hyde Park Art Center and the Smart Museum for programs and workshops. Like all branches, the library provides both free wi-fi access and free terminals with both internet access and printing network connections. Blackstone has 5 internet terminal requiring reservations for each session of up to one hour and 1 express terminal that does not require reservations for sessions of up to 15 minutes. Currently, patrons can use the terminals for up to 2 free internet terminal sessions per day and print up to 10 free pages per day anywhere in the Chicago Public Library system.[8]
[edit] Design
The building 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,[9] and the Erechtheum at the Athenian Acropolis.[1] Greek Mythology teaches that Demeter, the goddess, bestowed agriculture and civilization upon the world during Erechtheus's reign.[1] The library's rotunda murals have thematic titles: "Labor", "Literature", "Art" and "Science".[10]
Blackstone is 13,794 sq ft (1,281.5 m²) and its original cost was $250,000.[11][3] The following is a summary of the building's features:[2] 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 in (2.5 cm) square Italian Marble mosaic flooring; glassfloored mezzanine; 2,800 pounds (1,270 kg) bronze plate, solid copper core outer front doors; 2 150 pounds (68 kg) lbs. bronze and glass inner doors; 12 inches (30 cm) thick granite walls; and ionic columns.
The building's adult reading rooms is equipped with mahogany furniture specifically designed for the space.[3] It also contains matching built-in shelving and custom-made bronze lamps.[3] The circulation desk area has two-tiered bronze-trimmed book stacks.[3] The mezzanine floor is composed of glass blocks.[3]
[edit] Related structures and ways
The northbound one-way traffic Chicago street South Blackstone Avenue, which runs north along the 1436 east block and ends immediately to the west of (behind) the Blackstone Library at 4900 south (see map in external links below and picture to the right), was also named after Timothy Blackstone well after the library was built.[2][12] The Blackstone Library does not bear a Blackstone Avenue address, despite its proximity. Also, parts of Blackstone Avenue south of 53rd Street accommodate two-way traffic. Blackstone Hotel and adjacent Blackstone Theatre (now the Merle Reskin Theatre) were also named after Timothy Blackstone, whose mansion had stood on their site.
[edit] Photo gallery
 Children's Annex Plaque |
 Children's Annex Door |
 Original Tile Flooring |
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b c d e f g Blackstone Branch Library: 100 years (Highlights). Chicago Public Library (2004). Retrieved on April 7, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Blackstone Branch, Chicago Public Libraries. Celebrating its Centennial. Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference (2004). Retrieved on April 7, 2007.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Friends of Blackstone Branch Library. Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference. Retrieved on April 9, 2007.
- ^ a b c History of the Chicago Public Library. Chicago Public Library (2000). Retrieved on April 7, 2007.
- ^ Howard Van Doren Shaw in Hyde Park. Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference. Retrieved on April 7, 2007.
- ^ Blackstone Public Library. Blackstone Public Library. Retrieved on April 7, 2007.
- ^ Ongoing Programs and Partnerships. Chicacgo Public Library (March 2007). Retrieved on 2007-05-04.
- ^ Computer Use at the Chicago Public Library. Chicacgo Public Library (November 2006). Retrieved on 2007-05-04.
- ^ AIA Guide to Chicago, 2nd edition, Alice Sinkevitch, ed., 2004, Harcourt Books Inc., pg. 426.
- ^ Pickerill, Carl (2005-05-10). Local library offers Hyde Park a smaller alternative to the Reg. Chicago Maroon. Retrieved on April 9, 2007.
- ^ Blackstone Branch Library: 100 years (Profile). Chicago Public Library (2004). Retrieved on April 7, 2007.
- ^ Hayner, Don and Tom McNamee, Streetwise Chicago, "Blackstone Avenue", p. 12, Loyola University Press, 1988, ISBN 0-8294-0597-6
[edit] External links
- Timothy Beach Blackstone biography and genealogy
- Chicago Public Library - Blackstone Branch (official website)
- Blackstone Library is at coordinates Coordinates:
