Richmond Memorial Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Richmond Memorial Library
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West elevation, 2009
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Batavia, NY |
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| Built | 1887 |
| Architect | James Goold Cutler |
| Architectural style | Romanesque, Richardsonian Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001239 |
| Added to NRHP | July 24, 1974 |
The Richmond Memorial Library is a special building located on Ross Street in Batavia, New York, United States. It was built in the 1880s and is made of stone. The library's design follows the Richardsonian Romanesque style, which was popular at the time. A famous architect from Rochester named James Goold Cutler designed it.
Cutler's design was inspired by other libraries built by a well-known architect named Henry Hobson Richardson. The library was paid for by Mary E. Richmond, a kind person from Batavia. She wanted to create a memorial for her youngest son, Dean Richmond, Jr., in 1889. Because of its unique history and architecture, the library was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
Contents
What Does the Library Look Like?
The Richmond Memorial Library is on the west side of Ross Street. It is about 200 feet north of East Main Street. This area of Batavia is mostly homes, but there are also some other important buildings nearby. For example, a Catholic church is to the southwest, and another large building is to the northwest. One of Batavia's schools is also close by.
The Building's Design
The library has an older part and a newer addition at the back. The original building is shaped like an "L" and has one and a half stories. It is built with sandstone in a pattern called random ashlar. Most of the stone is grey, but there is also some red stone from Albion used for decoration. Both parts of the building have a roof that slopes steeply, called a gabled roof.
The main entrance sticks out from the building and has its own roof, making a cross-gable shape. On the northeast corner, there is an eight-sided tower with a pointy, cone-shaped top. This top is covered in copper and has a decorative finial at the very top. A chimney rises from the south end of the building.
Entrance and Windows
Steps lead up to the main entrance, which has a wide, round arch. This type of arch is a special detail often seen in Richardsonian style buildings. Above the entrance, the words "Richmond Memorial Library" are carved into the stone. Above that, there are three small, narrow windows with round tops and some fancy stonework. A smaller window is at the very top of the gable.
On the front of the building, there are five windows that are set back deeply. These windows have leaded glass transoms, which are small windows above the main ones. The north gable also has similar round-arched windows at its top.
Inside the Library
When you go inside, the main reading room takes up most of the long part of the building. At the south end, there is a cozy fireplace under an arch. The walls are covered halfway up with oak wood, called wainscoting. From the ceiling, an iron chandelier hangs down, lighting up the room.
How the Library Started
Dean Richmond, Jr., Mary E. Richmond's son, passed away when he was young. His mother decided to build a library in his memory. She chose a piece of land near her family's home and gave it to the city. She asked James Goold Cutler to design the building. Cutler was a builder and businessman who also invented the mail chute and later became the mayor of Rochester.
Inspired by Other Libraries
Cutler looked at several other Romanesque libraries that had been built recently by Henry Hobson Richardson near Boston. Many of these libraries were also built to honor family members of wealthy people. The Thomas Crane Public Library in Quincy was a major inspiration for the Richmond Library.
Like the Crane Library, which is now a National Historic Landmark, the Richmond Library uses two-toned sandstone in a random ashlar pattern. Both buildings have a strong base and a steeply sloped roof. The entrance areas of both libraries are very similar, with a large arch and three narrow windows. They also have towers of similar height nearby.
Inside, the Richmond Library has a long reading room with a fireplace, which was a common feature in Richardson's libraries. One main difference is in the other windows on the front of the building. The Crane Library has a unique strip of windows, while the Richmond Library's windows are more typical for its time.
Changes Over Time
When the library was first built, only the front (east) side was made of stone. The north side was brick, but it was covered with matching sandstone in 1911 when that part of the building was made bigger. The back parts of the building stayed brick until the modern addition was built. Inside, the biggest change was adding more bookshelves to the reading room in 1900 as the library grew.
The Library Today
The Richmond Memorial Library is managed by a group of five people called a board of trustees. These people are chosen by the residents of the Batavia City School District. Each person serves for five years, and one new person is elected each year. The board meets on the second Monday of every month.
The library's main goal is to make sure everyone in the community can find resources and services. These services help with learning, getting information, and having fun in a safe and comfortable place. The library is open every day except Sundays and holidays. It closes earlier on Fridays and Saturdays. Besides offering services for children and teens, the library also has classes for adults who are interested in learning about their family history, known as genealogy.
