Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-01-01

The plans for the new Brooks Library
building, which Mr.. George j. Brooks will
erect and present to the town during the com.
ing season, have now been completed, both
as to architectural details and interior ar
rsngement and it only remains for the archi-
tect to complete the working drawings and
specifications. Herewith we present per-
spective view Of the side and front elevations
OF the building as it will appear from Main
street from the south, together with a plan
showing the arrangement of the main floor.
The subjoined description of the architec.
tural design, the materials to be used, etc ,
will give q complete idea Of the building az it
will appear.
Description OF the Building.
The main structure will be 5Ox2s feet in
size, with a wing 33tx4O feet for the library
proper, the basement being seven feet out of
the ground The foundation will be con.
structed of regular courses Of ASHER granite
with cut border and rock faced stone. The
superstruoture will be of pressed brick fur
nished by the Gens Falls terra Gotta and
brick company, with Longmeadow brown
stone trimmings, and will also have cut Dor
ders rock faced. The window sill courses
will have q liberal amount of terra Gotta
bands. The porch, which will be what is
termed an enclosed one, jutting out only
three feet FROM the main building, will have
terra Gotta panels in the apex of the gable.
In brownstone course under the panel will
be cut the date 1886 and underneath that the
inscription, Brooks Library" The gable
will be COPIED with LoDgmeRdow brownstone
and the ridges will be ornamented with terra
Gotta cresting The above combination of
materials in the construction of the building
will greatly heighten it's appearance architec
turally and otherwise. Surrounding the roof
will be ventilatng tower 10 which will ter
inmate the ventilSting pipes from the lavsto.
rles. The roof will be Of slate. In each of
the basement rooms In front there will be a
mullion window and in the sides of the rooms
there will be triplet windows The rooms of
the main floor will have similar windows
The Interior.
The building, which will set back thirty.
one feet from the street, will be entered by n
flight Of II steps Of cut granite at the sides
OF which will be cast iron railing with gran
lite posts at the foot, one on each side At
the top Of the steps the porch, 7x1G feet in
SIZE is reached through an arch 10 feet wide
by 10 feet high, the circular portion filled
with ornamental woodwork The porch
floor will be Of marble tiles. Passing from
the porch through double doors the vestibule,
9xl3t feet is reached
At the right is q ladies reading room 1924
feet and on the left directly opposite a gentle
mems reading room Of the same Dimensions.
In each Of these rooms there will be open
freplaces Both the reading rooms will be
finished in California redwood. Returning
to the vestibule the visitor passes directly in
TO the room 1920 feet for the reception and
delivery OF books In the centre Of which will
be placed the librarians desk from which an
unobstrueted view can be obtained of the
vestibuleI the reading rooms and library
room. This feature was considered by the
trustees an especially excellent one, as
thereby VIC yarian can at all times have
completeh 'ohsace Of each room without
being obi ea 70 leave bis desk. At the IL
brarian' t'ght is toilet room for men, be-
yopd " aloh lie a ladies' toilet, TO which en-
trance obtained from the ladies' reading
room. AZ the left OF the librarians desk is
a balIvay 13x7s feet, from which is stair
vav lea ling to q side entrance in the base
ment. Extending beyond the general deliv-
ery room is the library proper 33K4O feet
which gill be finished in Georgia pine. The
library room will contain eight double book
cases, four on each side a feet high and ~
ieet long, having a capacity OF 10, 600 vol.
umes. This capacity can be doubled when
ever the trustees desire, by the construction
Of balconies with cases of the same dimen
sions. The room will be amply lighted by IA
windows, seven on a side, and will have an
open timber roof. The lettered diagram be-
low shows the arrangement OF this floor.
Plan of the Main FIoor