The James Prendergast
Library was a gift to the city from Alexander Prendergast, the city founder's
son and his wife, Mary. They commissioned the building in memory of their
son, James Prendergast, who died in 1879 at the age of 31. The library
was completed at a cost of $60,000 and was furnished with an art gallery
at a cost of $45,000. It opened December 1, 1891 and contained 8,666 volumes.
The original
building occupied an entire city block and was constructed by architect
A.J. Warner of Rochester. The rounded arches, Medina sandstone exterior,
turret on the SE corner and general air of ruggedness label it as Richardsonian
Romanesque. Following Mary Prendergast's instructions, the stone steps
leading to the building from Fifth Street were cut from a single stone
"...to eliminate the havoc that frost works with masonry in this climate."
As library services
and use increased, extensive alterations and additions were planned. These
were completed in 1960 and the original building now houses the Art Gallery,
offices, meeting rooms and storage space. The former Reading Room holds
the permanent art collection and contains the original oak fittings and
red tile fireplace.
In 1960, the
library joined and became the major central library of the two-county regional
Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System. In 1964, the library's public services
were moved to a new addition, whose entrance is on Cherry Street. Much
of the original space is occupied by the Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library
System. Other major building additions were completed in 1968 and 1978.
James
Prendergast Library