Library – Page 2 – Ruth E. Hendricks

Gems in the West End Branch: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

My friend Jen and I used to teach together for six years. She was the librarian and I was the art teacher. We got together last week and she asked if I’d signed up for the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Summer Reading Program and if I had gotten a CLP Passport? No, I had not. But I have now. There are nineteen branches from which to get a stamp from, in the Passport. Since Jen had already been to Lawrenceville, West End and the Main Library I decided to catch up with her. Monday she and I will start the adventure together to visit more branches across the city.

This morning I drove to the West End Branch of the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

I received a warm welcome from Anastasia at the desk. She offered to give me a tour. All the wood is original and the library opened in 1899.

First item she showed me was the framed Civil Defense Sign.

Then we went down to the basement and she showed me the wooden cabinets painted by Theodore Hamiel in 1959, depicting many well known story book characters. Mr. Hamiel was the library’s custodian.

Librarian Beth went and got an January 20, 1959 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette article about the paintings.

Other treasures in the library sit atop the shelves. There’s a replica of the Library (Anastasia got me a footstool so I could photograph it) and buildings that were in the West End in the 1970’s.

Some of the buildings represented are nonexistent now. Nick Tutino created all the models in his retirement.

You can read more about Mr. Hamiel and Mr. Tutino in the article link that Anastasia recommended here CLP West End:Structurally Similar, Completely Unique

Kyra is in charge of Children’s Services. There are Preschool StoryTimes and Playtimes for Birth to 5 year olds with toys and games. “Allegedly, the West End Branch is where the FIRST library Storytime took place.” she said.

I really appreciated the personalized tour of the West End Branch and seeing the treasures housed here. I’m checking out a book at each branch when I visit.

There’s free parking in a lot and accessible entrance with elevator to take you up to the main floor.

Next stop- Main Library in Oakland

July 6, 2023July 6, 2023 by Ruth Categories: books, PhotographyTags: art, books, Carnegie Library, Library, neighborhood, photography, Pittsburgh PA, postaday, summer reading, West End 14 Comments

Charlie Pointed This Out To Me

We were in the library parking garage in downtown Columbus. He’s the one who saw this and pointed to it and I took the photo. Good find, Charlie!

Charlie pointing out that there’s no way to call in case of emergency

June 16, 2023 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: Columbus OH, emergency call station, grandson, Library, parking garage, photography, postaday 6 Comments

Octagonal Houses Were A Fad

Around 1850! Who knew?

The words Hendricks House on the historical marker caught my eye as I was a passenger in the back seat. We were at the New York Sheep and Wool Festival in Rhinebeck a couple of weeks ago and staying in Red Hook where this landmark is located. It’s the town’s Public Library.

Built in 1865. Randi pulled over so I could capture these pics.

“The Hendricks House is a rare surviving example of the octagonal concrete form of house construction popularized in the mid-19^th century by phrenologist and author Orson Squire Fowler, whose book A Home for All (1850, 1854) launched a nationwide fad for octagonal buildings. Between 1847 and 1856, Fowler built his own octagonal concrete house in nearby Fishkill, which may have provided inspiration for local builders in Dutchess County”

October 27, 2022 by Ruth Categories: architecture, PhotographyTags: architecture, house, , Library, octagonal, octagonal house, Orson Squire Fowler, phrenology, Red Hook NY 11 Comments

Silent Sunday

June 25, 2022 by Ruth Categories: dogs, Photography, silent SundayTags: Columbus OH, dog library, labradoodle, Library, neighborhood, photography, postaday, silent Sunday, stick, walk 7 Comments

Little Library at the Bus Stop

I had to stop and get out of my car to photograph this new (to me) scene.

Little Libraries have been posted on the blog before -in the snow , one Laura found and one in Pittsburgh on Friendship Avenue

Here’s the one I saw today

And a bench to sit on and read while you wait for the bus

October 21, 2021 by Ruth Categories: books, PhotographyTags: books, bus stop, city scene, HIghland Park, Library, Little library, neighborhood, photography, Pittsburgh PA, postaday 15 Comments

Library Lions Don Masks in New York City

Another guest blog today.

The New York Public Library Lions don masks.

My sister has taken the role of a NYC tourist as she walks in the city and today she photographed Patience and Fortitude. They’re carved from pink Tennessee marble, designed by sculptor Edward Clark Potter.

Read about their naming and renaming here

“Patience and Fortitude, the world-renowned pair of marble lions that stand proudly before the majestic Beaux-Arts building at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street in Manhattan, have captured the imagination and affection of New Yorkers and visitors from all over the world since the Library was dedicated on May 23, 1911.”

June 30, 2020July 1, 2020 by Ruth Categories: Guest Blog, Photography, sculptureTags: guest blog, Library, Library Lions, Lions, marble, masks, New York City, New York Public Library, Pandemic, photography, postaday, sculptor 8 Comments

Now a Library

Now a library. Photographed in Berlin in June.

August 1, 2019 by Ruth Categories: booksTags: Berlin, books, Library, phone booth, photography, postaday, travel 12 Comments

Man’s Best Friend and Books

The sculpture of the dog with a stack of books on his head has always caught my attention when I drive by the Millvale Community Library. Tonight Steve and I walked down Grant Avenue after dinner to see it up close. What an invitation to come inside and find a good book to read.

The artist is Pittsburgh sculptor James Simon and the sculpted dog’s name is Pages.

And how about those magnificent door handles? I know there’s a story there.

Miilvale. Just across the Allegheny River from the city of Pittsburgh. You’ve seen my posts of Panza Gallery, Grant Avenue Bar, McWalker Yarns, Jean-Marc Chatellier Bakery, Tazza D’Oro, bicycle racks and Esthers’s Hobby Shop -to name a few.

Millvale Community Library 213 Grant Avenue Millvale, Pennsylvania

http://millvalelibrary.org/staff-board/

April 24, 2019 by Ruth Categories: books, PhotographyTags: #MillvalePA, artist, books, dog, James Simon, Library, Millvale Community Library, Millvale PA, sculpture 4 Comments

Little Library in the Snow

My SIL James took this photo from the driver’s side, using my phone, on January 20 as we returned to Columbus. I’d seen the little library on our way into the street and I knew when we turned around, it wouldn’t be on my side. It’s the biggest Little Library I’ve seen.

January 31, 2019 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: Columbus OH, family, guest blog, Library, Little library, neighborhood, park bench, photography, postaday, signage 11 Comments

A Tea Wallet

One birthday, my friend Donna mailed me a teabag in a little fabric envelope. Here’s how I learned about another Tea Wallet.

Last week at the NY Public Library, my sister found a murder mystery with knitting on the cover and thought of me. (Yarned and Dangerous by Sadie Hartwell) see cover image below

In the back of the book she said there was a knitting pattern for a Tea Wallet. I found another Tea Wallet pattern for one by Diane Trap on Ravelry. I knit one for my friend Vincie because I knew she carries her own tea bags in her purse. In a little plastic baggie. Not any more!

I made a modification on the front flap and made it a triangle shape, decreasing at each side.

The quilted knitting motion bag serving as a pretty backdrop for the photo shoot was stitched by my Woolswap partner, Catherine, in New Zealand.

Knit with scraps of organic cotton yarn –Made in America Yarns, the Wildflowers Collection . from Philadelphia

(Modified the front envelope flap- shortened it by half and made a triangle by knitting 2 together on edges while in one row BO 3 then next row CO 3 to create a button hole.)

These were photographed vertically on my phone and I attempted to adjust them on the computer before publishing. And of course they look perfectly aligned and oriented to me but I can’t tell if I’ve gotten them correct for some viewers. Trying

December 10, 2018December 10, 2018 by Ruth Categories: knitting, PhotographyTags: book, cotton, crafts, friend, handknit, knitting, Library, Made in American Yarns, murder mystery, mystery, Sadie Hartwell, sister, tea, Tea Wallet, teabag, teatime, yarn, Yarned and Dangerous 21 Comments

Tag: Library

Gems in the West End Branch: Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

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Charlie Pointed This Out To Me

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Octagonal Houses Were A Fad

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Silent Sunday

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Little Library at the Bus Stop

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Library Lions Don Masks in New York City

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Now a Library

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Man’s Best Friend and Books

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Little Library in the Snow

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A Tea Wallet

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