Andrew Bayne Memorial Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bayne |
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| Established | May 1914 |
| Location | 34 N Balph Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15202 |
| Coordinates | 40°29′47″N 80°3′15″W / 40.49639°N 80.05417°W |
| Collection | |
| Size | approx. 14,000 |
| Access and use | |
| Population served | 8,770 (Bellevue borough, 2000) |
| Website | www.baynelibrary.org |
The Bayne is a public library located in Bellevue. This town is a suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the United States. The library sits on a four-acre (1.6 ha) piece of land. This land was given to Bellevue in 1912. It was a gift from the daughters of Andrew Bayne. He was a sheriff in Allegheny County. The library today holds about 14,000 printed books.
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History of the Bayne Library
The building where the library is now was once a home. It belonged to Amanda Bayne Balph. She was the daughter of Andrew Bayne. The library is named after him. Andrew Bayne was an important person in Pennsylvania. He was part of a special meeting in 1837-1838. This meeting helped create the state's rules. He was also the Sheriff of Allegheny County in 1838.
His daughters, Amanda Balph and Jane Teece, gave their family home and the four acres around it to Bellevue. They wanted it to be used as a library and a park. Amanda's husband, James Madison Balph, was a famous architect. He designed and built their Victorian-style home in 1875. Each room in the house has a marble fireplace. You can even see James Balph's initials. They are carved into the glass above the front door. Mrs. Balph lived in the house until she passed away in 1912. After that, the house became property of the town.
In May 1914, a special group announced the library was open. Two rooms in the old home were ready for use. Paths were built in the park. In 1916, a swimming pool was added to the park. This pool was later removed. Now, a basketball court is in its place. In the early 1920s, a group of women called the Bellevue Federation cleaned and furnished the upstairs rooms. They also built tennis courts on the property.
On Memorial Day in 1927, the town officially opened the park and library. They dedicated it to the people of Bellevue. Today, the Andrew Bayne Memorial Library is still next to a park. This park has a playground for kids. It also has a large field. People often play football and ultimate frisbee there. Near the field is the Jim Porch Gazebo. This gazebo can be reserved for parties and family gatherings. During the summer, the library shows movies and hosts concerts. These events happen on Wednesday evenings. All year long, the library offers activities for children. They also have various holiday celebrations.
World War I Memorial Statue
On May 29, 1920, a group called the Mothers of Democracy honored twelve trees in Bayne Park. These trees were memorials. They honored "those boys whose lives were given to the cause of our always-loved freedom." Later, on November 29, 1921, a bronze sculpture was revealed. It was made by Giuseppe Moretti. The statue is on the corner of North Balph and Teece Avenues.
The monument shows a soldier. He looks like a worker, but also a brave hero. He fought only when needed. He fought well and helped bring victory. The soldier, called a doughboy, stands with his left foot on an anvil. He holds a winged figure. This figure represents liberty. The statue is 10 feet (3 meters) tall. It stands on a 4-foot (1.2 meter) high granite base. An inscription on the base says: "Erected by the loyal citizens of Bellevue to their patriotic sons who served in the World War. They loved peace, but dared to fight."
The "Lone Sentinel" Tree
The "Lone Sentinel" was a very old elm tree. It was an Ulmus americana. This tree stood in Bayne Park for about 400 years. In 1983, it was named the largest American elm tree east of the Mississippi River. The tree's branches spread out 320 feet (98 meters). It reached a height of 110 feet (34 meters).
Sadly, the tree became very weak. It suffered from a sickness called Dutch elm disease. In May 1998, a strong windstorm hit. It tore a huge branch, weighing tons, from the tree. Losing so much of its weight caused the tree's trunk to split. Because of this, the "Lone Sentinel" had to be cut down in 1998.
Alleged Haunting at the Library
Some people believe the Andrew Bayne Memorial Library is haunted. According to a book called The World's Most Haunted Places, there have been stories of a female "ghostly presence" for many years. People say this spirit is Amanda Bayne Balph. The stories say she became more active when the old "Lone Sentinel" elm tree started to die.
When Amanda and Jane gave their father's land to the town, they had four rules. The streets around the property should be named "Balph" and "Teece." The mansion had to be used as a library. The four-acre estate could not be built on. And the elm trees on the property could not be removed. Over the years, all the elm trees died from Dutch elm disease. The "Lone Sentinel" lost a big branch in a 1998 windstorm. It had to be removed because it was a danger to nearby buildings. The library director said the ghost "seemed to be very active right around the time that our Lone Sentinel was dying."
Visitors have reported seeing a woman in a window. She was wearing a large hat when the library was closed. The ghost is also said to play with light switches, ceiling fans, and the library's computers.
Library Resources Today
When the library first opened, it had about 3,000 books. Some of these books were gifts from Mrs. Teece and Mrs. Balph's own collections. The first librarian, Mrs. W.R. Newell, gave out 954 library cards. These cards were for people living in Bellevue. The collection was organized and updated in December 1962.
Today, the renovated building has more than 14,000 books. It also offers several magazine subscriptions. You can find reference materials there too. And, of course, there is Internet access. The library is part of the Access PA statewide library system. It is also a member of the Allegheny County Library Association.
