HR1236 LRB093 23537 CSA 54020 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the
3 State of Illinois wish to congratulate the Timothy B.
4 Blackstone Library, 4904 S. Lake Park Avenue, in the Hyde Park
5 area of Chicago, Illinois, on the occasion of the celebration
6 of its 100th anniversary, which was celebrated on September 18,
7 2004; and
 
8     WHEREAS, The Blackstone Library, the first branch in the
9 Chicago Public Library system, was opened in 1904 as a tribute
10 to the late Timothy B. Blackstone by his wife, Isabella; and
 
11     WHEREAS, For 100 years, the library has been a beacon of
12 learning in the Hyde Park area; and
 
13     WHEREAS, Many hundreds of people have made it possible for
14 the ideas and hopes that first went into the building to come
15 alive through all these years; and
 
16     WHEREAS, The library has been one of the architectural
17 crown jewels of the Hyde Park-Kenwood community, having been
18 designed by Solon S. Beman as a replica of the 450 B.C. Greek
19 temple "Erecthion" in Athens; and
 
20     WHEREAS, In 1939, an addition was built to house the
21 Children's library and a substantial restoration of the entire
22 building was completed in 1980; and
 
23     WHEREAS, The 100th anniversary celebration drew current
24 and former Hyde Park residents, some of whom are distinquished
25 community leaders, authors, and public servants; and
 
26     WHEREAS, The Blackstone Library has been a wonderful asset
27 for the community, and those who grew up using the library have
28 expressed their heartfelt gratitude; and
 

 

 

HR1236 - 2 - LRB093 23537 CSA 54020 r

1     WHEREAS, One of the participants in the celebration, State
2 Representative Barbara Flynn Currie, grew up at the Blackstone
3 Library, as did her children, Stephen and Margaret, and today
4 her six-year-old granddaughter, Katie, and three-year-old
5 grandson, Davey, are regulars at the Blackstone Library; and
 
6     WHEREAS, Addressing the crowd at the celebration, Friends
7 of Blackstone Library President Dina Weinstein said "there's
8 something about feeding the mind and imagination and the love
9 of books that is so universal"; therefore, be it
 
10     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
11 NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
12 congratulate the Blackstone Library on the occasion of the
13 celebration of its 100th anniversary; that we extend our
14 sincere appreciation to the Friends of Blackstone Library for
15 their interest, generosity and continued support of the
16 library; and be it further
 
17     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
18 presented to the Blackstone Library.