1913 Library Features Prominently in New Canaan's 2014 POCD

To the editor:

In 2014 when the New Canaan Planning and Zoning updated their Plan of Conservation and Development regulation, the Town of New Canaan decided to conduct a photo contest in which contestants were asked “to submit images that celebrate life in New Canaan and things that make our community special.”

Six images were selected for publication in the updated 2014 POCD publication. Three were images of architecture: The 1913 Library, The Glass House, and the Waveny Mansion.

A strip montage that runs at the header of our Channel 79 includes a few iconic New Canaan structures: The 1913 Library, The Glass House, and the Waveny Estate.

A visitor’s guide to New Canaan shows a map of our village district on Main Street, starting with a drawing of the 1913 Library on corner of Main and Cherry Street and ending with drawings of churches on God’s Acre.

Thank you, commissioners, for listening to New Canaan residents who have said, “that preserving and enhancing community character is important to them.” Accordingly, your updated publication states: “the intent of the Plan is not to change the character of New Canaan but to preserve it. Residents clearly want to preserve what they love and cherish about New Canaan.”

I write to you to ask that you abide by your regulations. Our town is gifted with history because we have preserved the historic character of our village district and significant architecture in it.
The 1913 Library building is the most noteworthy building in the district. It is an expression of artistry, labor and craft that exhibits signs of how the building was made of stone by hand. Large granite boulders were brought to the site where masons chiseled pieces to work together much like the making of a mosaic.

The 1913 building was a collaboration between the architect and skilled stonemasons working together on site. Many stonemasons were from Italy who came to Fairfield County, Connecticut
between 1880 to 1920. Talented architects sought these skilled masons. Two examples exhibiting their craft are the 1913 Library Building and The Pequot Library, erected in Southport between 1887-93.

World renown and Pritzker prizewinner architect, Renzo Piano, recently commented: “It is important to make labor and craft visible. I think, unfortunately, that sense has been lost in architecture. People make entire buildings that don’t show any trace of their construction. Of
course, today we don’t make buildings entirely by hand, but you should still be able to see traces of how the building is made, how it comes together, piece by piece.”

The labor, skill, and craftsmanship of the 1913 building’s stone system could never be constructed today.

Susan Leaming Pollish