New Carnegie library and institute is opened by peer
ON the afternoon of January 8, 1910 Bangor's new public library and technical institute which had been built at a cost of £3,600 to "meet the steadily increasing requirements" of the town was opened by Lord Londonderry "in the presence of a large representative assembly".
Detailing how the institution had come about the News Letter's correspondent noted that the work of the town's Municipal Technical School – "of which Mr John Pyper MA is the efficient principal" – had "in past years" been "greatly hampered" by a lack of accommodation at the old school which had been situated on Ballymagee Street and which had been found "found utterly inadequate to the demand".
To remedy this state of affairs the town's Technical Instruction Committee, with Mr Thomas E McConnell, JP, as its chairman, decided to apply to the American industrialist, businessman, entrepreneur and philanthropist Mr Andrew Carnegie for a grant of 1,500, which on a former occasion could not be availed of owing to Mr Carnegie's condition that a free site should be forthcoming with a view to incorporating a library and technical instruction scheme. Mr Carnegie had consented to subscribe the sum of 1,500 and the committee were able by means of a loan to secure the balance of 3,600.
Messrs William Dowling and Son of Belfast carried out the building contract of the new public library and technical institute, while the heating was put into the building by Messrs Musgrave and Messrs William Baillie and Co and the plumbing work on the building was carried out by Mr M Morrow. It was also noted that the architect for the new Bangor landmark was Mr E L Woods and the clerk of works was Mrs J G Smyth.
The glass for the building were supplied by Messrs Campbell Bros of Belfast, this included three impressive stained glass windows of which it was noted by the News Letter's correspondent that "in the centre light of which is shown the Bangor coat-of-arms, the remainder of the ornament being of suitable classic design".
The News Letter correspondent wrote of the new library and technical school: "The building is situated in a central position, the site being adjacent to the new public park in Hamilton Road, now in course of construction. The style of architecture adopted is of the early Renaissance period. The materials are of compressed brick with white stone dressings."
The structure stood back from the road by a distance of 30 feet. To the left of the main hall was situated the lending library and reference room and to the right the general reading room and "ladies' room". To the right and left of the main stair, corridors led to the laboratory, cooking and dressmaking rooms, while ladies' and gentlemen's lavatories could also be accessed from these corridors. A stair at the rear led to workshops which were provided with a separate entrance from the side road.
A "handsome" central staircase rose from the main hall to first floor. On the first floor was situated the art, commercial and committee rooms. The commercial and art rooms were each 37 feet by 24 feet, with high ceilings worked into the roof, and lighted by low mullioned windows. The correspondent observed: "The art room has a large north light, and is provided with all the necessary equipment for the teaching of the various branches of art." Between the large rooms was the committee room which was also to be used as a librarian's office.
Lord Londonderry, who was received at the door by Mr T E McConnell, JP, having been presented with a handsome gold key (which had been manufactured by Sharman D Neill Ltd) by Mr E L Woods, CE, the architect, was conducted on a tour of the of building. Subsequently the company congregated in the Commercial Room, where the chair was occupied by Mr John McMeekan, JP, chairman of Bangor Urban Council.
Amongst those present were the Dowager Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava, Lady Hermione Blackwood, Miss Connor, Colonel R G Sharman-Crawford, the Right Honourable Thomas Andrews, DL, Mr and Mrs T L Corbett, the Rev R L and Mrs Peacocke, the Rev R J and Mrs Morell, the Rev Thomas Patterson, the Rev John and Mrs Waddell, Mr Adams, BSc, JP, the Rev James and Mrs Stewart, the Rev R S and Mrs Lee, Mr Mrs F C Forth, Mr P Cole, Mr H McCartney, Mr and Mrs James Milliken and Mr and Mrs S C Davidson. Apologies had been received from, amongst others, Lord and Lady Clanmorris, Sir James and Lady Henderson, Sir Robert and Lady Anderson, the Right Honourable T W Russell, Mr G Fletcher and Mr T P Gill.
The chairman, Mr McMeekan, in the course of his remarks said that they all "heartily" welcomed Lord Londonderry to Bangor's new public library and technical institute that day. He said that those gathered looked upon Lord Londonderry as both a friend and a neighbour. Mr McMeekan added that they all remembered well that Londonderry had been a Minister of Education in the last Government and it was only fitting and appropriate that Lord Londonderry should be invited to formally open the new school and library. Concluding his address Mr McMeekan called on Lord Londonderry to say a few words.
Lord Londonderry, who was cordially received, said that it was "very satisfactory" to notice the manner in which the local authorities had carried out the schemes for the advancement of technical education.
He remarked: "In Belfast they have a magnificent technical institute, the success of which has surpassed even the most sanguine expectations of those who are in charge of technical education in the city. Belfast and the whole province of Ulster are to be congratulated on that state of affairs."
Lord Londonderry said he believed that the new institution would vie with the other institution he had mentioned.
Lord Londonderry continued: "I was glad to learn that that this building, while built primarily as it was for technical education, had accommodation also for a free library. I believe that this union of institutions will prove an enormous advantage as it will bring about a combination of technical education and literary training, both of which went to the making of a truly great man."
Speaking of the library he said that in addition to the works "absolutely necessary" for education that there should book of a "more frivolous kind" and he said that he would plead that the librarian should look at adding a number of volumes of fiction to those already held by the library.
He commented: "To my mind physical exercise and recreation does for the body what the reading of light literature does for the brain after a period of heavy study. Therefore I plead for the inclusion of fiction and would beg permission to be allowed to present a set of Sir Walter Scott's Waverley novels."
Concluding his address Lord Londonderry expressed his best wishes and every success to the new school and library. He said: "I hope that from here will emanate men determined to uphold not only the honour of Bangor and of Down but of the empire as a whole."
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