Washington Square District

“These were housed in several offices before the construction of the building on Washington Square. Planned as a quadrangle, the Newberry Library was designed in the Romanesque Revival style, although with the principal floor being above the first floor in the manner of the Italian palazzo piano nobile.”

“For the reconstruction, the congregation hired the architectural firm of Burling and Adler. The exterior of the building was retained and rebuilt or repaired as necessary. The tracery in the facade window was redesigned, but the only major exterior change was in the two towers.”

“When the Civil War began, Rev. Collyer threw an American flag over his pulpit and announced to his congregation that the church was closed as he was going off to war during which he ministered to the wounded and dying.”

“The fourth floor windows are small fanlights, recalling the front door but more simply treated. The facade is topped with dentils, molding, and a balustrade. The house, like its neighbors, remain intact.”

“The Newberry Library Cobb and Frost received a second commission for a building facing Washington Square in 1891 when they were asked to design a permanent home for the Newberry Library on the site of the Mahlon Ogden home.”

“That same year, the Oriental Consistory acquired the Carpenter and Taylor houses. Additions were made to the rear of the properties and they were connected to each other and to the church, the latter through construction of a small, Gothic style infill doorway structure between the church and the Carpenter House.”