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Braddock Carnegie Library

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History of the Braddock Carnegie Library

The Braddock Carnegie Library is the very first of the 1,679 public libraries in the United States built between 1889 and 1919 entirely with funds from Andrew Carnegie; it was dedicated on March 30, 1889. By the time his library-building program ended, Carnegie had almost exactly doubled the number of public libraries in the United States, an accomplishment of epic proportions. Still more Carnegie libraries can be found overseas, including 66 in Ireland. Carnegie was a great advocate of self-help, and the overall impact of these libraries was to greatly increase the availability of information to the population in general. Public libraries at that time should be regarded as an early version of the Information Superhighway.

When Andrew Carnegie dedicated the Braddock Library in 1889, he intended it primarily for the benefit of his employees of his first major steel mill, the Edgar Thomson Works, and their families. The Music Hall, Pool, and Gymnasium were added in 1893. At a time when few homes had indoor plumbing and a bath was a rarity, this was the place where employees could come to shower or bathe, take a swim, enjoy a book, play billiards, and get a haircut!

For more than three quarters of a century, the Braddock Library served as an educational and recreational center for Braddock area residents. In 1961 Braddock School District took over operations of the Library. Then, as sub-urbanization changed working and living patterns in the 1960s and 1970s, the Library’s use declined, and it was closed and abandoned in 1974, after having been placed on the National Register of Historic Places the previous year.

In 1975, the department store known as "The Famous”, was demolished to become a parking lot. The Braddock Carnegie Library would have met the same fate had it not been for the vision and determination of David Solomon, the last head librarian when the building closed. Dave had already secured placement of the building on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and was instrumental in forming the Braddock's Field Historical Society, along with others who knew well what this library had meant to them, particularly in their youth, and whose enthusiasm fueled what followed. The Society purchased the building from the General Braddock School District in 1978 for $1. At that time the building was largely open to the elements -- especially pigeons --, the roof leaked badly, and the heating system was broken beyond repair.

Foundations and other contributors joined in the effort to rehabilitate and reopen the building. In 1982, the children’s library opened on Saturdays – heated with kerosene in the winter. The David Solomon Reading Room was next to open in 1986. The first floor restoration was completed in 1989. By 1990 the Charles Van Williams Reading Room, Rotary Reading Room, circulation areas, and offices were completed. Although the Music Hall is still undergoing renovations, it was open for use in 2004.

In 1996 Braddock Library was recognized as a regional asset and began to obtain resources and funding as a public library. Now a member of Allegheny County Library Association and the eiNetwork, Braddock Library provides books, audio materials, video materials, magazines, and newspapers; computers with Internet access; and programs for people of all ages.

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!