Old library building in Akron Ohio

Akron Public Library, Akron Ohio

Date added: July 22, 2023 Categories: Ohio Library

Historical photo, Market St. elevation - showing original conditions (1915)

The former Akron Public Library is the best example in downtown Akron of Beaux Arts Classicism in the French Renaissance mode and it is one of the most highly regarded buildings that Frank O. Weary, a major turn-of-the-century architect, designed in his long career; it was the first permanent home of the city's first general circulation library (1904-1942) and the first permanent home of the Akron Art Institute (1948-1981).

Frank Orlando Weary (1849-1921) practiced architecture in Akron from 1875 until shortly before his death. He specialized in the design of public and business buildings and churches, Among his major commissions were Ohio court houses in Hancock and Carroll counties, While serving as architect for Oberlin College, he designed three stone buildings; Peters Hall, Baldwin Cottage and Talcott Hall.

During the period of his partnership with George W, Kramer of Akron (1886-95) Mr. Weary saw his reputation grow rapidly and his practice attain what local historian Samuel A, Lane described as "phenomenal success." Weary & Kramer started out as highly skilled interpreters of the High Victorian Gothic style. In later work, they added the most Gothic elements of Richard Norman Shaw's style.

By the time Mr. Weary did the Akron Public Library he had fully embraced the Neo-Classical style that had been popularized by: the Columbian Exposition of 1893. In designing the Library he took great pains to complement the newly erected (1899) Akron Post Office building that was directly across the street and, if possible, even surpass it. In a letter to the Library's Board of Control dated March 22, 1902, he noted that "the design of our building is 30 feet high from grade line to sidewalk which, we learn, is just about the height of the Government Post Office building opposite."

He added: "I would take great pride in giving this building the benefit of much closer personal attention than is possible on other new structures being built at more remote and inaccessible localities, to the end that this shall be the ideal piece of construction ever attempted in our City."

The Library is, strictly speaking, a Beaux Arts/French Renaissance building. The French elements include the mansard roof, the projecting central pavilion and the grotesque mask above the entry. The colossal columns flanking the entry, enframed windows, rusticated ashlar basement, enriched entablature and parapet are all reflective of the Beaux Arts style generally.

The only other Beaux, Arts/French Renaissance structure in downtown Akron is the Akron Armory. Two blocks south at 161 S, High Street and less ornate than the Library, it has been demolished so that an office building could be erected on the site.

Building Description

The former Akron Public Library is a monumental single-story block (of piano nobile and basement delineation) with a central projecting pavilion, surmounted by a mansard-roofed attic behind a blind parapet. The entire structure, in the style of Beaux Arts Classicism, is faced with smooth-dressed, coursed ashlar of Ohio buff sandstone, with the basement of rusticated blocks forming a projecting water table.

The interior layout is suggested by the components of the facade, a projecting center pavilion and flanking bays defined by wide piers. The centers of the side bays are unornamented, the original fenestration having been replaced by stone carefully matched to the facing.

The double side-ramped stairs of the center pavilion ascend to the double-doored entry, which is framed by an architrave with crossettes, The dentilled cornice, supported by a pair of elongated modillions set beyond the crossettes, is centered with a prominent scrolled and foliated cartouche.

The motto "Open to All" is cut into the frieze. The entry is set between fluted Ionic columns in antis, Each anta is emphasized by rusticated quoins flanking two narrow windows, one above the other, treated as a unit within an elongated round arch, the whole resting on a heavy sill with corbels.

The keystone is extended upward to connect with a drop ornament from a foliated cartouche in the building's frieze, Similar cartouches with an open book device are set into the frieze above the piers at the far ends of the facade, Engirdling the structure is a robustly modillioned cornice, on which rests a blind parapet, raised over the center pavilion, with tableted plinths defined by the quoined piers below. Each tablet bears the names of authors.

In the center of the pavilion parapet is a dramatic trophy ornament: a large festooned and garlanded escutcheon enriched by a mascaron under an open book which bears the date of construction. Above the book, set in an enscrollment projecting beyond the parapet coping, is an Athenian lamp of knowledge, The mansard-roofed attic, once covered in red tile but now tarred sheeting, is raised at the pavilion.

The building has undergone exterior alteration three times. The entry staircase, originally providing steps facing East Market Street, has been altered twice, The first alteration was necessitated by the widening of East Market and involved replacing the original stairs with a new set providing side entry. The second alteration involved facing the facade of the staircase with stucco. The third change resulted in the removal of a colossal tripartite tabernacle window from each of the side bays to accommodate the requirements of the Akron Art Institute (1948). After the Art Institute occupied the building, the interior was substantially altered and a mezzanine was installed to provide gallery and office space, During the rehabilitation of the building the tabernacle windows will be reinstalled and the side entry staircase will be resurfaced with sandstone matching the exterior of the building so as to restore the structure as much as possible to its original appearance.