Beneath these red bricks lies a cornerstone of Greenwich Village. This is the Hudson Park Library. This library opened its doors on January 24 1906. It has been serving the community ever since.
The Hudson Park Library stands as one of Manhattan’s twenty remaining Carnegie libraries. Andrew Carnegie a Scottish-American businessman funded it. He believed in empowering communities through knowledge. He funded 65 libraries in New York City alone. 53 of these still exist today.
Carrere and Hastings designed the Hudson Park Library. They were the same architects who designed the main branch of the New York Public Library. The Hudson Park Library quickly became a vital part of Greenwich Village. It provided access to knowledge and culture.
Before libraries like Hudson Park Library, reading resources were scarce. Libraries were small and private. They were often hidden within other buildings. Carnegie’s libraries were free-standing. They were designed to be central to the community.
The Hudson Park Library is now an L-shaped building. It has two entrances. One is at 66 Leroy Street. The other is on Seventh Avenue South. The latter entrance was added in 1920. Seventh Avenue South was extended. This gave the library access to a major avenue.
From its earliest days the Hudson Park Library served the community. It contained an auditorium. It hosted lectures and community events. The library also housed reading groups and clubs. The poet Marianne Moore worked here as a library assistant from 1921 to 1925. She contributed to the neighborhood’s literary history.
The Hudson Park Library has a unique architectural style. It combines suburban and urban Carnegie library features. It has red brick walls and limestone accents. The tall arched windows fill the reading rooms with light.
The library’s location was carefully chosen. It was near public buildings like schools and community centers. The Hudson Park Library has played a civic role in Greenwich Village for over a century. It catered to the neighborhood’s Italian immigrant community. Father Antonio Demo helped choose Italian-language books.
In 2010 the Hudson Park Library gained landmark protection. It became part of the Greenwich Village Historic District Extension II. The most significant alteration occurred in 1920. Carrere and Hastings expanded the building eastward. This created the Seventh Avenue entrance.
Step inside the Hudson Park Library today. Experience a relaxing place to work read and play. The library provides books Wi-Fi computers and classes. It hosts stimulating programs for all ages. It enhances the cultural and artistic life. The Hudson Park Library continues to be a cornerstone of Greenwich Village.