Troy's Community Newsletter

The Troy Public Library-Celebrating 100years in the Hart Memorial Library Building

The Troy Public Library is celebrating its 100^th year in the Hart Memorial Library Building during the week of May 12-17. The building at 100 Second Street, a gift from Mary E. Hart in honor of her late husband, William Howard Hart, first opened to the public in May, 1897. The celebration begins with a fund-raising event on Monday evening May 12, to help support centennial week activities. Special adult and children's programs will be held throughout the week culminating with an Outdoor Family Festival on Saturday, May 17^th from 10am to 4pm.

The Hart Memorial Building was designed by the firm of J. Stewart Barney and Henry Otis Chapman It is considered a distinguished and early example of the American Renaissance Style. When they came to design the Troy Public Library, Barney and Chapman were working in an emerging and exciting new style. Other examples of American Renaissance Architecture include the Vilard Houses (1886), The Low Library at Columbia University (18940 and the Boston Public Library (1887).

The new building opened with appropriate fanfare. On May 12, 1897, a ceremony was held to commemorate the transfer of the property from Mary Hart to the Trustees of the Young Men's Association which later became the Trustees of the Troy Public Library. According to The Troy Press for Thursday, May 13, "Mrs. Hart was an interested participant of the exercises and must have been pleased at the fine assemblage which composed the representative citizenship of Troy." the fund-raiser at the library on May 12 from 6:30 to 8:30pm will re-enact this historic event. Refreshments and entertainment will accompany the ceremony.

The Family Fun Day on Saturday, May 17 will be a fitting conclusion to the week. The event will be held outdoors on the Sage Campus across from the library and along Second Street. The library's courtyard and Art Gallery will also be sites for entertainment and special programs. Events and entertainment will include bagpipers, a barbershop quartet, Magic Patty, storytellers and puppeteers, dance performances, children's games and activities, a used book sale, a variety of music performers and horse and carriage rides. All events are open to the public. There will be no admission charge to the Outdoor Family Festival. For more information contact Paul Hicok 274-7071.

In cooperation with Troy United Ink Corp., a not-for-profit corporation
Items published herein do not necessarily represent the opinions of Troy United Ink Corp., its officers or it's Board of Directors.

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