Memories of Andrew Carnegie Free Library & Music Hall

Blair Huddart’s Impression from 1978

First Memory: We were new to Carnegie, having moved to Washington Gardens a short time before. My wife, Ann, told me she had discovered a Civil War Room upstairs in an old library building on Beechwood Avenue. The Library was designed as a community center when it opened around 1900. Classes of school children would line up at the school and walk to the Library. Schools did not have libraries as they do today.

I found that the drive into the Library grounds from Beechwood Avenue, lined with huge old trees, was not paved and became muddy when it rained or snowed. The best maintenance for driving and parking was at the side entrance as a church group was using the Music Hall for their meetings, etc. The site of the building received little attention as the land sloped down toward the back of a row of businesses on the street below.

The tall wooden doors of the Library front entry opened on a tiled foyer that was flanked by curing stairs on either side leading to the second floor. There we found a meeting room that was designed for the use of the Borough Council. Other rooms opened onto the landing as well.

Someone from the staff went upstairs with us, opened the door to one of the rooms and we found it was used as a storage room for old desks, chairs and discards from the time when the Borough Council met in the adjoining area on the second floor. Along the walls of this room were glass-fronted cases with shelves displaying various Civil War artifacts. We learned it had been the meeting room for Civil War veterans at the turn of the century.

Later examination of the room and records of the Veterans who had served in the Union Army and their many contributions of war memorabilia brought the realization that this was a rare collect to be prized and preserved.

We then had a tour of the entire building. Through the back of the Library section, we were taken to the Music Hall. It was stunning – a miniature replica of Carnegie Hall in New York City! Now it was dram and worn and across the stage hung a rather tattered backdrop of Andrew Carnegie’s Skibo Castle in Scotland.

From there we went downstairs where we found a basketball court with a wooden floor in fair condition, but marred by years of use and neglect. Other rooms in the basement held a miscellaneous collection of items including a stack of Harper’s Magazines.

We went back upstairs to the Library proper. I was impressed by the portrait of Andrew Carnegie over the fireplace at the back of the room. Ann marveled at the original bookshelves and the library tables with wooden pieces in the centers where gaslights had once project their illumination. We went through the book stacks to the front left of the area and found bound volumes of the old Carnegie newspapers, full-sized in racks along the walls. There were massive tables beside them that allowed the unwieldy volumes to be fully opened and read.

Within a short space of time, I was approached to serve on the Board of Trustees, and I said yes. At the first election after that, I was named President of the Board, a position I served for about two years until we moved from Carnegie and I tendered my resignation.

During the time of my presidency, there was a constant struggle with the religious group renting the Music Hall as to the ownership of the property. Another problem was the boiler and pipes throughout the building. Fortunately, one of our Board members, Mr. John Cerasini, had connection through his business with contractor who would come as each emergency arose and keep the boiler in operation. These visits were of no cost to the Library.

There were also differences with some members of Carnegie Borough Council who wanted the land where the Library sits. They proposed to occupy the land by tearing the building down and bulldozing the hillside away to make a parking lot for the businesses of downtown Carnegie. Fortunately, the value of the fine old landmark was recognized, and it has been preserved through great effort and dedication of many, many people.

Joanne Kirby led the Friends of the Library and Ann enjoyed being a part of this very active group. Their many ideas, time, and effort were invaluable.

It has been many years since we left the Pittsburgh area, but we remain staunch supporters. It has been such a pleasure to keep in touch and see the progress that has been made. Helen Schick kept in touch sending clippings and news, as did many others. Ann says not to close until Joanne McGarry is mentioned, as she was one who kept the fires burning for the Friends, too. There are so many who were there. I wish I could name them all.

February 2009