History of the Braddock Carnegie Library
Architects of the Braddock Carnegie Library
The structure was built in two parts, the original 1889 building and the 1893 "addition" which more than doubled its size. The original 1889 library was designed by William Halsey Wood of Newark, New Jersey, often described as "short-lived but brilliant." Wood's credits also include the Church of the Ascension in Oakland, Good Shepherd in Hazelwood, St. Luke's in Smethport, St. Michael's in Alabama, St. Matthew's Cathedral in Wyoming, and Yaddo Mansion (currently an artists' retreat) in upstate New York. Wood was also a finalist in the competition for the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. It is likely that his credits would have included more libraries had he not died in 1896 -- public libraries were relatively uncommon when the Braddock Library opened, totaling under 400 in 1889.
The 1893 addition is credited to Longfellow, Alden and Harlow of Boston and Pittsburgh, often regarded as successors to the preeminent architect of the era, H. H. Richardson who died in 1886 and whose credits include the Allegheny County Courthouse, a National Historic Landmark. Longfellow, Alden and Harlow were all MIT graduates. The former two apprenticed with Richardson, while Harlow apprenticed with another renowned firm of the era, McKim, Mead and White. Longfellow, Alden and Harlow's addition to the Braddock Library includes the octagonal tower, gymnasium, duckpin alley, Music Hall, and swimming pool.
Today you can distinguish the 1889 structure from the 1893 addition from the exterior -- the 1889 building has the red-banded stonework that mostly faces Library Street and the darker yellow brick on the alley side. The 1893 addition has uniform-colored stonework, mostly facing Parker Avenue.
Pittsburgh is the city that "invented public philanthropy," according to Paul Mellon in "Reflections in a Silver Spoon." The inventor was Andrew Carnegie. Although the Carnegie Foundation still exists, its support of libraries has ended. Fortunately, Pittsburgh is still home to a large number of major public philanthropies, most of which have contributed at one time or another to bringing this building back from the brink of demise to its present state or to supporting the activities inside. However, these funders consistently ask whether we have community support. Be counted among the many individuals supporting our mission to continue Andrew Carnegie's vision that the Braddock Carnegie Library be a "Center of Light and Learning." We thank you for your support!
© 2004 Braddock's Field Historical Society/Braddock Carnegie Library
History of the Braddock Carnegie Library
Architects of the Braddock Carnegie Library
The structure was built in two parts, the original 1889 building and the 1893 "addition" which more than doubled its size. The original 1889 library was designed by William Halsey Wood of Newark, New Jersey, often described as "short-lived but brilliant." Wood's credits also include the Church of the Ascension in Oakland, Good Shepherd in Hazelwood, St. Luke's in Smethport, St. Michael's in Alabama, St. Matthew's Cathedral in Wyoming, and Yaddo Mansion (currently an artists' retreat) in upstate New York. Wood was also a finalist in the competition for the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. It is likely that his credits would have included more libraries had he not died in 1896 -- public libraries were relatively uncommon when the Braddock Library opened, totaling under 400 in 1889.
The 1893 addition is credited to Longfellow, Alden and Harlow of Boston and Pittsburgh, often regarded as successors to the preeminent architect of the era, H. H. Richardson who died in 1886 and whose credits include the Allegheny County Courthouse, a National Historic Landmark. Longfellow, Alden and Harlow were all MIT graduates. The former two apprenticed with Richardson, while Harlow apprenticed with another renowned firm of the era, McKim, Mead and White. Longfellow, Alden and Harlow's addition to the Braddock Library includes the octagonal tower, gymnasium, duckpin alley, Music Hall, and swimming pool.
Today you can distinguish the 1889 structure from the 1893 addition from the exterior -- the 1889 building has the red-banded stonework that mostly faces Library Street and the darker yellow brick on the alley side. The 1893 addition has uniform-colored stonework, mostly facing Parker Avenue.
Pittsburgh is the city that "invented public philanthropy," according to Paul Mellon in "Reflections in a Silver Spoon." The inventor was Andrew Carnegie. Although the Carnegie Foundation still exists, its support of libraries has ended. Fortunately, Pittsburgh is still home to a large number of major public philanthropies, most of which have contributed at one time or another to bringing this building back from the brink of demise to its present state or to supporting the activities inside. However, these funders consistently ask whether we have community support. Be counted among the many individuals supporting our mission to continue Andrew Carnegie's vision that the Braddock Carnegie Library be a "Center of Light and Learning." We thank you for your support!
© 2004 Braddock's Field Historical Society/Braddock Carnegie Library
History of the Braddock Carnegie Library
