Richmond Memorial Library
Encyclopedia
The Richmond Memorial Library is located on Ross Street in Batavia
, New York, United States. It is an 1880s stone structure in the Richardsonian Romanesque
style designed by Rochester
architect James Goold Cutler
.
His design was strongly inspired by several libraries in Massachusetts that Richardson
himself had recently built. It was commissioned by local philanthropist Mary E. Richmond, wife of Dean Richmond
, in 1889, as a memorial to her youngest son, Dean Richmond, Jr. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1974.
and 33
). The neighborhood, just east of the commercial core area of downtown Batavia, is predominantly residential, with some institutional structures. Resurrection Parish Catholic church is to the southwest and another large brick building is to the northwest. Further to the northeast is one of Batavia's schools; St. James' Episcopal Church
, also on the Register, is a half-block to the east. The terrain is level and some mature trees grow in the front yards and along lot lines.
The building itself consists of the original building and a larger modern addition in its rear. The older section is a one-and-a-half-story L-shaped structure of sandstone
in a random ashlar
pattern, mostly grey with local red Albion stone as trim. Both sections have a steeply pitched gable
d roof, with the projecting main entrance pavilion, off-center to the north, creating a cross-gable. At the northeast corner is an octagonal tower with conical top sheathed in copper and finial
. A chimney rises from the south end.
Steps lead up to the wide round segmental arch on low imposts, a particularly Richardsonian detail, which shelters the recessed main entrance. Inscribed in the stone above are ornate letters reading "Richmond Memorial Library". Above that are three small, narrow round-arched windows with some decorative stonework and a narrower, smaller window in the gable apex. Five deeply recessed sash window
s with leaded glass
transoms
fill out the facade
to the south end. The north gable has a similar set of round-arched windows in its apex.
Inside, the reading room occupies most of the long wing. Behind an arch at the south end is a fireplace. Oak wainscoting extends halfway to the ceiling, from which an iron chandelier
hangs.
, a builder and businessman who had invented the mail chute
and later mayor of Rochester.
Cutler consciously emulated several Romanesque libraries that had been built in recent years by Henry Hobson Richardson
in the suburbs of Boston. Several of those had also been built in memory of a member of the family of a wealthy local philanthropist. Most prominent among those is the Thomas Crane Public Library
in Quincy
, the pattern for the Richmond Library.
Like the Crane Library, today designated a National Historic Landmark
, the Richmond Library employs a similar face of two-toned sandstone in a random ashlar
pattern with a battered foundation
, with a steep gabled roof. The entrance pavilion of both buildings is very similar, with the large arch and tripartite narrow windows. Turrets of similar height are also nearby. Inside, the Richmond has the oblong reading room with fireplace that characterizes Richardson's libraries. The only notable difference is in the front facade
's remaining fenestration
—the Crane Library has what Henry-Russell Hitchcock
described as a "curiously modern" strip of windows, while Cutler's are more conventional for the time.
At the time of its construction, only the east (front) facade of the Richmond Library was done in stone. The north face's exposed brick was covered in matching sandstone when that wing was expanded in 1911, and the rear elevations remained brick until the modern wing was built. Inside, the only significant change was the addition of stacks to the reading room in 1900 as the library expanded.
The library's mission statement
is "to continually assure access to resources and services that meet the educational, informational and recreational needs of its community in a safe and comfortable environment". It is open every day except Sundays and holidays, with earlier closing hours on Fridays and Saturdays. In addition to services for children and teens it offers classes for adults interested in genealogy
.
Batavia (city), New York
Batavia is a city in Genesee County, Western New York, USA, located near the middle of Genesee County, entirely within the Town of Batavia. Its population as of the 2000 census was 16,256...
, New York, United States. It is an 1880s stone structure in the Richardsonian Romanesque
Richardsonian Romanesque
Richardsonian Romanesque is a style of Romanesque Revival architecture named after architect Henry Hobson Richardson, whose masterpiece is Trinity Church, Boston , designated a National Historic Landmark...
style designed by Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
architect James Goold Cutler
James Goold Cutler
James Goold Cutler was a prominent Rochester, New York architect and businessman, and served as the Mayor of Rochester from 1904 to 1907. He was born in Albany, New York, the son of John N. Cutler and Mary E. Cutler. On September 27, 1871, he married Anna Catherine Abbey, and in 1872 he and his...
.
His design was strongly inspired by several libraries in Massachusetts that Richardson
Henry Hobson Richardson
Henry Hobson Richardson was a prominent American architect who designed buildings in Albany, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and other cities. The style he popularized is named for him: Richardsonian Romanesque...
himself had recently built. It was commissioned by local philanthropist Mary E. Richmond, wife of Dean Richmond
Dean Richmond
Dean Richmond was Batavia, New York's railroad magnate, director of the Utica and Buffalo Railroad Company, First Vice President of the New York Central Railroad, and from 1864 to 1866, president of the New York Central. He was born in the town of Barnard, Vermont on March 31, 1804, and was a...
, in 1889, as a memorial to her youngest son, Dean Richmond, Jr. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1974.
Building
The library is located on the west side of Ross Street approximately 200 feet (61 m) north of East Main Street (New York state routes 5New York State Route 5
New York State Route 5 is a state highway that extends for across the state of New York in the United States. It begins at the Pennsylvania state line in the Chautauqua County town of Ripley and passes through Buffalo, Syracuse, Utica, Schenectady, and several other smaller cities and...
and 33
New York State Route 33
New York State Route 33 is an east–west state highway in western New York in the United States. The route extends for just under from NY 5 in Buffalo in the west to NY 31 in Rochester in the east. It is, in fact, the only state highway that directly connects both cities, although...
). The neighborhood, just east of the commercial core area of downtown Batavia, is predominantly residential, with some institutional structures. Resurrection Parish Catholic church is to the southwest and another large brick building is to the northwest. Further to the northeast is one of Batavia's schools; St. James' Episcopal Church
Saint James' Episcopal Church (Batavia, New York)
St. James' Episcopal Church is located on East Main Street in Batavia, New York, United States. It is a stone Neo-Gothic structure built in the early 20th century....
, also on the Register, is a half-block to the east. The terrain is level and some mature trees grow in the front yards and along lot lines.
The building itself consists of the original building and a larger modern addition in its rear. The older section is a one-and-a-half-story L-shaped structure of sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
in a random ashlar
Ashlar
Ashlar is prepared stone work of any type of stone. Masonry using such stones laid in parallel courses is known as ashlar masonry, whereas masonry using irregularly shaped stones is known as rubble masonry. Ashlar blocks are rectangular cuboid blocks that are masonry sculpted to have square edges...
pattern, mostly grey with local red Albion stone as trim. Both sections have a steeply pitched gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
d roof, with the projecting main entrance pavilion, off-center to the north, creating a cross-gable. At the northeast corner is an octagonal tower with conical top sheathed in copper and finial
Finial
The finial is an architectural device, typically carved in stone and employed decoratively to emphasize the apex of a gable or any of various distinctive ornaments at the top, end, or corner of a building or structure. Smaller finials can be used as a decorative ornament on the ends of curtain rods...
. A chimney rises from the south end.
Steps lead up to the wide round segmental arch on low imposts, a particularly Richardsonian detail, which shelters the recessed main entrance. Inscribed in the stone above are ornate letters reading "Richmond Memorial Library". Above that are three small, narrow round-arched windows with some decorative stonework and a narrower, smaller window in the gable apex. Five deeply recessed sash window
Sash window
A sash window or hung sash window is made of one or more movable panels or "sashes" that form a frame to hold panes of glass, which are often separated from other panes by narrow muntins...
s with leaded glass
Lead glass
Lead glass is a variety of glass in which lead replaces the calcium content of a typical potash glass. Lead glass contains typically 18–40 weight% lead oxide , while modern lead crystal, historically also known as flint glass due to the original silica source, contains a minimum of 24% PbO...
transoms
Transom (architectural)
In architecture, a transom is the term given to a transverse beam or bar in a frame, or to the crosspiece separating a door or the like from a window or fanlight above it. Transom is also the customary U.S. word used for a transom light, the window over this crosspiece...
fill out the facade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
to the south end. The north gable has a similar set of round-arched windows in its apex.
Inside, the reading room occupies most of the long wing. Behind an arch at the south end is a fireplace. Oak wainscoting extends halfway to the ceiling, from which an iron chandelier
Chandelier
A chandelier is a branched decorative ceiling-mounted light fixture with two or more arms bearing lights. Chandeliers are often ornate, containing dozens of lamps and complex arrays of glass or crystal prisms to illuminate a room with refracted light...
hangs.
History
Dean Richmond, Jr., died in his youth. His mother chose a piece of property near the family mansion as the site of a library to be built in his memory and donated to the city. She commissioned a design from James Goold CutlerJames Goold Cutler
James Goold Cutler was a prominent Rochester, New York architect and businessman, and served as the Mayor of Rochester from 1904 to 1907. He was born in Albany, New York, the son of John N. Cutler and Mary E. Cutler. On September 27, 1871, he married Anna Catherine Abbey, and in 1872 he and his...
, a builder and businessman who had invented the mail chute
Mail chute
A mail chute is a largely defunct letter collection device used in early multi-story office buildings, hotels, apartment buildings and other high rise structures. Letters were dropped from the upper stories and collected at a central depository by the postal service...
and later mayor of Rochester.
Cutler consciously emulated several Romanesque libraries that had been built in recent years by Henry Hobson Richardson
Henry Hobson Richardson
Henry Hobson Richardson was a prominent American architect who designed buildings in Albany, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and other cities. The style he popularized is named for him: Richardsonian Romanesque...
in the suburbs of Boston. Several of those had also been built in memory of a member of the family of a wealthy local philanthropist. Most prominent among those is the Thomas Crane Public Library
Thomas Crane Public Library
The Thomas Crane Public Library is a city library in Quincy, Massachusetts. It is noted for its architecture. It was funded by the Crane family as a memorial to Thomas Crane, a wealthy stone contractor who got his start in the Quincy quarries. The Thomas Crane Library has the second largest...
in Quincy
Quincy, Massachusetts
Quincy is a city in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. Its nicknames are "City of Presidents", "City of Legends", and "Birthplace of the American Dream". As a major part of Metropolitan Boston, Quincy is a member of Boston's Inner Core Committee for the Metropolitan Area Planning Council...
, the pattern for the Richmond Library.
Like the Crane Library, today designated a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
, the Richmond Library employs a similar face of two-toned sandstone in a random ashlar
Ashlar
Ashlar is prepared stone work of any type of stone. Masonry using such stones laid in parallel courses is known as ashlar masonry, whereas masonry using irregularly shaped stones is known as rubble masonry. Ashlar blocks are rectangular cuboid blocks that are masonry sculpted to have square edges...
pattern with a battered foundation
Foundation (architecture)
A foundation is the lowest and supporting layer of a structure. Foundations are generally divided into two categories: shallow foundations and deep foundations.-Shallow foundations:...
, with a steep gabled roof. The entrance pavilion of both buildings is very similar, with the large arch and tripartite narrow windows. Turrets of similar height are also nearby. Inside, the Richmond has the oblong reading room with fireplace that characterizes Richardson's libraries. The only notable difference is in the front facade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
's remaining fenestration
Building envelope
The building envelope is the physical separator between the interior and the exterior environments of a building. Another emerging term is "Building Enclosure". It serves as the outer shell to help maintain the indoor environment and facilitate its climate control...
—the Crane Library has what Henry-Russell Hitchcock
Henry-Russell Hitchcock
Henry-Russell Hitchcock was the leading American architectural historian of his generation. A long-time professor at Smith College and New York University, he is best known for writings that helped to define Modern architecture.-Biography:...
described as a "curiously modern" strip of windows, while Cutler's are more conventional for the time.
At the time of its construction, only the east (front) facade of the Richmond Library was done in stone. The north face's exposed brick was covered in matching sandstone when that wing was expanded in 1911, and the rear elevations remained brick until the modern wing was built. Inside, the only significant change was the addition of stacks to the reading room in 1900 as the library expanded.
The library today
The library is governed by a five-member board of trustees elected by residents of the Batavia City School District. All serve five-year terms; one is elected a year. The board meets the second Monday of each month.The library's mission statement
Mission statement
A mission statement is a statement of the purpose of a company or organization. The mission statement should guide the actions of the organization, spell out its overall goal, provide a path, and guide decision-making...
is "to continually assure access to resources and services that meet the educational, informational and recreational needs of its community in a safe and comfortable environment". It is open every day except Sundays and holidays, with earlier closing hours on Fridays and Saturdays. In addition to services for children and teens it offers classes for adults interested in genealogy
Genealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
.