Preservation Connecticut Urges New Canaan to Save the 1913 Libray

Board of Selectmen Town Council Board of Finance

Town of New Canaan 77 Main Street

New Canaan, CT 06840

Elected and Appointed Officials:

We are writing to request that the Town reconsider the Library’s plan to demolish the original 1913 New Canaan Library. The significance of this colonial revival-style building lies not only in its architectural design but in its importance as a symbol of the Town’s civic engagement and pride. The building was constructed in the heart of the community after a design contest brought together some of the best architectural minds of the day, all seeking to beautify New Canaan’s town center as part of the larger trend known as the City Beautiful movement.

The building has long been considered an important local landmark. Over fifty years ago the New Canaan Historical Society published a series for the New Canaan Advertiser entitled “Landmarks of New Canaan” in which the library features prominently. Author of the 1951 series Stephen Hoyt referred to the building designed by architect Alfred H. Taylor as the town’s “Parthenon.” More recently, an image of the 1913 Library façade was featured in the New Canaan’s 2014 Plan of Conservation and Development as an example of what makes the character of New Canaan so appealing.

Demolition of a sound building such as the 1913 Library also has environmental consequences. Connecticut is undergoing an unprecedented period of demolition resulting from several factors including recent spikes in demand for property combined with a succession of historic storms and sea level rise. To demolish such a carefully designed building will result in a waste of resources both material and civic. Given general demolition estimates calculated using a FEMA formula, demolition of the pre-1950’s portion of the Library will result in over 600 cubic yards of unnecessary waste (the equivalent of filling 15 large dumpsters). Plus, loss of the library will erase the work of those generations of New Canaan residents who carefully planned for its construction and have appreciated its beauty and use over the past 117 years.

Preservation Connecticut is prepared to work with the Friends of 1913 Library as needed to aid in the preservation of this building.

With best regards,

Jane Montanaro

Executive Director

Preservation Connecticut

Preservation Connecticut

940 Whitney Avenue Hamden, CT 06517

Office (203) 562-6312 www.preservationct.org