History
The library was dedicated to the memory of Timothy Beach Blackstone, President of the Chicago and Alton Railroad from 1864 to 1899, a period longer than any of his contemporaries. Blackstone, who had died on May 26, 1900, was also the founding president of the Union Stock Yards. He had owned the property on which the Blackstone Library now stands, and 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. Blackstone is 13,794 sq ft (1,281.5 m2) and its original cost was $250,000 ($6,715,385 today).
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. 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 became the first branch library in the Chicago Public Library System. 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. From 1938–1939 the new children's room annex, a Works Progress Administration project, was added at a cost of $68,400 ($1,142,836). During this annexation one of a set of Howard Van Doren Shaw townhouses was razed. From 1977–1980 a major restorative renovation occurred. Blackstone was rededicated on November 18, 1980, in recognition of completion of the three years of work. 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 is a library named "Blackstone Library" in Blackstone, MA. The architect for both the Branford and Chicago libraries was Solon S. Beman.
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