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Beaches Branch, 1916 Beaches Branch, 2016 Library service at the Beach, 1908-2016 Prepared by Toronto Public Library staff for the centennial of Beaches Branch, 1916 – 2016 Early library service, 1908-1916 Private library at 62 Balsam Avenue In about 1908, Mrs. Charles J. Campbell started lending books from her personal library housed in her home at 62 Balsam Avenue, shown here in 1972. A few years later she and other “public spirited ladies” moved the operation to a store, charging a small fee to cover rent. Early library service, 1908-1916 Proposed library in former East Toronto Fire Hall No. 1, Spruce Hill Road at Queen Street In January 1912, Roland C. Harris, the City Property Commissioner and a Beach resident, suggested using this old fire hall - a “dilapidated shack” according to one local resident – for a local library but there was little enthusiasm for proposal, and it did not proceed. Early library service, 1908-1916 Toronto Public Library. Beaches Branch Temporary storefront branch, operated 1914-16 Queen Street East, northwest corner of Hambly Avenue, Temporary Beaches Branch opens, Queen Street East, northwest corner of Hambly Avenue, 2 March 1914 Toronto Mail, 27 February 1914 Key players in developing Beaches Branch, 1914-16 Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919) One of the wealthiest industrialists of his day, Carnegie’s best-known philanthropy was libraries. Between 1903 and 1915, he and his foundation gave $487,500 to build ten public libraries in what is now Toronto. The Carnegie Corporation of New York provided $50,000 to build Wychwood, High Park and Beaches branches in “three outlying portions our city where the need is particularly pressing”. Key players in developing Beaches Branch, 1914-16 George H. Locke, Toronto Public Library’s chief librarian, Eden Smith (1859-1949) and his sons designed started to correspond with the Carnegie Corporation on Beaches Branch, following the prototype at Wychwood 22 June 1914 to acquire funds to build three new libraries, Branch and also used for High Branch. The architects’ “in the outlying districts, and later to report on their plans, called a “decided revolt” from the classical design progress. The grant was promised on 25 November 1914. of earlier Carnegie libraries. Eden Smith and Sons’ floor plans for Wychwood Branch The plans were approved by the Carnegie Corporation on 22 March 1915, and were replicated at Beaches and High Park branches. Kew Gardens, Queen Street frontage, 2 August 1914 To meet a Carnegie grant condition, the City provided, without charge, a 100 x 125-foot section of the park (on right) to the Library Board on 31 May 1915 Future site of permanent Beaches Library is on right Queen Street looking south to Kew Gardens & Lee Avenue 23 January 1915 Cornerstone is laid for permanent Beaches Library on 29 October 1915 The cornerstone for High Park Branch was laid on the same day. Beaches Branch, 1916 The library, along with almost identical Wychwood and High Park branches, were designed in the 17th-century English Collegiate Gothic style. Beaches Branch opens, 13 December 1916 Beaches Branch was the last of the three almost identical libraries to open Reading Room, Beaches Branch, 1923 The upper floor room, modelled on a Tudor Gothic great hall, features a soaring hammer beam ceiling and a stone fireplace. Beaches Library Drama League, 1920 Beaches Branch was a pioneer in providing innovative programs. The drama group stared in 1920 Beaches Library Drama League, 1928 Beaches Branch Booklovers Evening, 1930 Beaches Branch Paperback rack, 1960 Mrs. Leticia Maloles, a Columbo Plan trainee from the Philippines who interned at Beaches Branch in 1960, is shown here and in the next dozen slides Beaches Branch Louise Umlauf (left) and Leticia Maloles at the main desk, 1960 Beaches Branch Receiving desk, 1960 Beaches Branch Circulation desk, 1960 Beaches Branch Signing out a book, 1960 Beaches Branch Receiving desk, 1960 Beaches Branch Inquiry desk, 1960 Beaches Branch Book display, 1960 Beaches Branch New books display,1960 Beaches Branch Helping a borrower,1960 Beaches Branch Assisting a borrower, 1960 Beaches Branch Card catalogue, 1960 Beaches Branch Front entrance, 1965 Beaches Branch West façade, 1965 Beaches Branch South façade, 1965 Beaches Branch Local artist and author William Kurelek (1927-1977) displayed his art work and conducted a program in 1975 Beaches Branch Incoming desk, 1975 Beaches Branch Susan Beynon, Branch Head, at the outgoing desk, 1975 Beaches Branch Adult Reading Room looking south from the “Minstrel’s Gallery”, 1975 Beaches Branch East Toronto and Beaches Historical Society meeting, 1975 L to R: George Lovatt, Athol Layton, Ted Reeve, J. Fitzgerald Beaches Branch Front (north) and west façades, 1977 Beaches Branch Front (north) façade, 1977 Beaches Branch South façade, 1977 Beaches Branch first renovation and addition, 1979-80 Stinson Montgomery Sisam Architects The original Queen Street entrance was turned into a bay window and a new entrance was incorporated into a shed addition on the west side. The renovated branch reopened on 26 September 1980. It had been listed on the City of Toronto’s Inventory of Heritage Properties on 1 October 1979. Beaches Branch Community painting the hoardings before the renovation and expansion begins, 1979 Beaches Branch Notice of renovation, expansion and temporary library, 1979 A temporary Beaches Branch was housed at St. Denis School, 67 Balsam Avenue Beaches Branch Reading room during the renovation and expansion, 1979 Beaches Branch Addition on west façade, 1980 Official opening of the renovated branch, 26 September 1980. L to R. Janet Dowler, chairman of Beaches Library Building Committee; Lieutenant-Governor John Black Aird; Mrs. Aird; Dr. Phyllis Clarke, chairman Toronto Public Library Board Official opening of the renovated branch, 26 September 1980. L to R. Lieutenant-Governor John Black Aird; Dr. Phyllis Clarke, chair Toronto Public Library Board; Jeffery Stinson of Stinson Montgomery Sisam Architects, designers of the renovation Children's program by “Mr. David” in the new program room, 18 February 1984 Children's program by “Mr. David” in the new program room, 18 February 1984 Beaches Branch Second renovation and addition, 2004-05. Phillip H. Carter Architect and Kingsland & Architects Inc. (in joint venture) The original library entrance facing Queen Street was restored, and the west wing was rebuilt with a two-story addition overlooking Kew Gardens and Queen Street. The branch closed on 17 April 2004 and reopened on 20 January 2005. During the renovation, bookmobile service was provided at a stop at Kew Williams House (Gardener's Cottage) in Kew Gardens, 20 Lee Avenue, 1.5 hours per week starting 13 May 2004 Beaches Branch, about 2007 Beaches Branch, upper level, about 2005 Looking southwest from the Information Desk showing the new addition Beaches Branch, upper level, about 2005 Looking south from the “Minstrels’ Gallery Beaches Branch, upper level, about 2005 Reading area around the fireplace Beaches Branch, lower level, about 2005 Circulation desk (centre), program room (left), children’s area (right) Beaches Branch, lower level, about 2005 Children’s area overlooking Queen Street and Kew Gardens Woodsworth, installed on 7 July 2005 The one-ton cast bronze owl was designed by architect Phillip H. Carter and artisan Ludzer Vandermolen, and named in a contest held in 2007 Beaches Branch, about 2005 Looking east from Kew Gardens Heritage Toronto plaque presented 30 September 2006.

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