HR1236 93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1236 LRB093 23537 CSA 54020 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the State of Illinois wish to congratulate the Timothy B. Blackstone Library, 4904 S. Lake Park Avenue, in the Hyde Park area of Chicago, Illinois, on the occasion of the celebration of its 100th anniversary, which was celebrated on September 18, 2004; and

WHEREAS, The Blackstone Library, the first branch in the Chicago Public Library system, was opened in 1904 as a tribute to the late Timothy B. Blackstone by his wife, Isabella; and

WHEREAS, For 100 years, the library has been a beacon of learning in the Hyde Park area; and

WHEREAS, Many hundreds of people have made it possible for the ideas and hopes that first went into the building to come alive through all these years; and

WHEREAS, The library has been one of the architectural crown jewels of the Hyde Park-Kenwood community, having been designed by Solon S. Beman as a replica of the 450 B.C. Greek temple "Erecthion" in Athens; and

WHEREAS, In 1939, an addition was built to house the Children's library and a substantial restoration of the entire building was completed in 1980; and

WHEREAS, The 100th anniversary celebration drew current and former Hyde Park residents, some of whom are distinquished community leaders, authors, and public servants; and

WHEREAS, The Blackstone Library has been a wonderful asset for the community, and those who grew up using the library have expressed their heartfelt gratitude; and

WHEREAS, One of the participants in the celebration, State Representative Barbara Flynn Currie, grew up at the Blackstone Library, as did her children, Stephen and Margaret, and today her six-year-old granddaughter, Katie, and three-year-old grandson, Davey, are regulars at the Blackstone Library; and

WHEREAS, Addressing the crowd at the celebration, Friends of Blackstone Library President Dina Weinstein said "there's something about feeding the mind and imagination and the love of books that is so universal"; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Blackstone Library on the occasion of the celebration of its 100th anniversary; that we extend our sincere appreciation to the Friends of Blackstone Library for their interest, generosity and continued support of the library; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Blackstone Library.