Thunder Bay Public Library. . The Thunder Bay Public Library came into being following the amalgamation of Fort William and Port Arthur in 1970. Prior to this, each city had its own library system. Both libraries emerged in the late 1800s and grew into strong community and cultural centres, a role that continues to the present day., Fort William's library began in 1885 with a group of Canadian Pacific Railway employees who opened a bath, smoking/literary room and an attached library in the roundhouse of West Fort William. By 1905, the library had become a citizen's library and was located in the town hall basement. In 1908, the library became known as the Fort William Public Library (FWPL)., A grant from Andrew Carnegie, a known philanthropist dedicated to the establishment of free public libraries, resulted in a new building for the FWPL, located at 216 South Brodie Street. Designed by architects Hood and Scott and opened to the public on April 29, 1912, the building included a centrally located entrance with flanking columns, high ceilings, interior columns and tiled mosaic floors, elements typical of Carnegie libraries. Although stained glass was also a feature of Carnegie libraries, the FWPL was unique in the use of stained glass fan lights representing notable authors of the time. Following amalgamation, the library building was renamed the Brodie Resource Library. It was designated as a historically significant building in 1982 by the City's Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee., The community of Westfort began calling for its own branch library as early as 1911. Library services in Westfort commenced in 1919 with two rented storefronts in the Garrity Block on Frederica Street. The Westfort branch library opened on October 4, 1938, and was named after the first librarian of the FWPL, Mary J. L. Black., Captions(clockwise from top) , . Above: Mary J. L. Black Library following renovations completed in 1962. , . Above right: Mary J. L. Black, the first librarian of the Fort William (Public) Library. , . Far right: Fireside Reading Room of Brodie Resource Library, opened 1912. , . Brodie Resource Library following renovations completed in 1956. ,
The Thunder Bay Public Library came into being following the amalgamation of Fort William and Port Arthur in 1970. Prior to this, each city had its own library system. Both libraries emerged in the late 1800s and grew into strong community and cultural centres, a role that continues to the present day.
Fort William's library began in 1885 with a group of Canadian Pacific Railway employees who opened a bath, smoking/literary room and an attached library in the roundhouse of West Fort William. By 1905, the library had become a citizen's library and was located in the town hall basement. In 1908, the library became known as the Fort William Public Library (FWPL).
A grant from Andrew Carnegie, a known philanthropist dedicated to the establishment of free public libraries, resulted in a new building for the FWPL, located at 216 South Brodie Street. Designed by architects Hood and Scott and opened to the public on April 29, 1912, the building included a centrally located entrance with flanking columns, high ceilings, interior columns and tiled mosaic floors, elements typical of Carnegie libraries. Although stained glass was
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also a feature of Carnegie libraries, the FWPL was unique in the use of stained glass fan lights representing notable authors of the time. Following amalgamation, the library building was renamed the Brodie Resource Library. It was designated as a historically significant building in 1982 by the City's Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee.
The community of Westfort began calling for its own branch library as early as 1911. Library services in Westfort commenced in 1919 with two rented storefronts in the Garrity Block on Frederica Street. The Westfort branch library opened on October 4, 1938, and was named after the first librarian of the FWPL, Mary J. L. Black.
Captions(clockwise from top)
Above: Mary J. L. Black Library following renovations completed in 1962.
Above right: Mary J. L. Black, the first librarian of the Fort William (Public) Library.
Far right: Fireside Reading Room of Brodie Resource Library, opened 1912.
Brodie Resource Library following renovations completed in 1956.
Location. 48° 22.893′ N, 89° 14.789′ W. Marker is in Thunder Bay, Ontario, in Thunder Bay District. It is on Brodie Street South north of Arthur Street East, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 216 Brodie St S, Thunder Bay ON P7E 1C1, Canada. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Northern Ontario and specifically in Northwest Ontario. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, in the Great North Woods, on Lake Superiors North Shore, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Ruperts Land.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 19, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 19, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 468 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on April 19, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
