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St. Gabriel's Park Branch, NYPL
Post

St. Gabriel's Park Branch, June 26, 1928. Designed by McKim, Mead & White and completed in 1908, this Carnegie library is no longer is extant. The St. Gabriel's Park Branch (which replaced a small, earlier, non-Carnegie library on 34th Street) was demolished for the construction of the Queens-Midtown Tunnel in the 1930s. Ironically the earlier library building at 215 East 34th Street was also demolished for the tunnel. The St. Gabriel's Park branch was torn down in the 1930s to make way for the Queens Midtown Tunnel. The library building had a similar look to other McKim, Mead & White designed Carnegie libraries, though it also included one of the few open air reading room. These open air gardens were often on the roof with glass coverings. This branch was particular in that the open air section constituted a whole fourth floor, surrounded by classic loggia (columned portico) and covered by full peaked roof.

Carnegie Libraries of the Five Boroughs
Story

📚In 1901 after selling his corporation for $500 million, steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie announced a $5.2 million donation to the City of New York for the construction of public library buildings. With this gift, 67 branch libraries were constructed in the five boroughs between 1903 and 1929. 📚

Photos(24)

St. Gabriel's Park Branch, NYPL

303-305 East 36th Street. New York Public Library.

St. Gabriel's Park Branch, NYPL

305 East 36th Street. N.Y. Public Library, St. Gabriel's Park.

St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church

Manhattan: 37th Street (East) - 1st Avenue 300 to 310 E. 37th Street, at, adjourning and east of the S. E. corner of Second Avenue (right), as viewed south westward from: a point midway between First and Second Avenues. Proriently shown is St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church established here August 15, 1859 by the Rev. William H. Clowry. The late Cardinal Farley, then a Monsignor, was pastor from 188d to 1902. His assistant ouring part of that time was the subseouent Cardinal, Patrick J. Hayes. For an account of the last Mass held here, see the New York Times of January l6, 1939. Demolition will occur in June 1939. January 25, 1939 Somach Photo Service New York City Tunnel Authority

St. Gabriel's Park Branch, NYPL

Manhattan: 36th Street (East) - 2nd Avenue East 36th Street, north side, east of Second Avenue (foreground), showing demolition for the pla2a approach to the Midtown Gueens tunnel. Standing intact in all views is the St. Gabriel's branch of the New York Public Library. This is the last of the builonga re.aining on the "plaza" and it too will be razed in early 1940. Adjoining same and partially destroyed in the early views are St. Gabriel's HLall and Parochial School. To the extreme right appear buiidings on the east side of First Avenue, between 36th and 37th Streets. Views 1-2 May 26, 1939 View 3 June 28, 1939 P. L. Sperr

St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church

Manhattan: 37th Street (East) - 2nd Avenue 308 E. 37th Street, south side, east of Second Avenue. The west transcept of St. Gabriel's Roman Catholio Church. January 11, 1939 Somach Photo Service New York City Tunnel Authority

St. Gabriel's Park Branch, NYPL

Manhattan: 36th Street (East) - 2nd Avenue E. 36th Street, north side, east from Second Avenue, showing structures that are to be demolished for the 38th Street tunnel approach. These are entirely absent in May 1939 with the exception of the St. Gabriel's Branch of the New York Public Library. January 8, 1939 Somach Photo Service New York City Tunnel Autho: ity

345 East 36th Street

Manhattan: 36th Street (East) - 1st Avenue 345-335 East 36th Street, north side, west of First Avenue, f St. Gabriel's Park. June 6, 1929. P. L. Sperr.

St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church

Manhattan: 37th Street (East) - 2nd Avenue 308 E. 37th Street, south side, east of Second Avenue. A northward view down the center aisle of St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church, showing pews on both sides of same and the organ loIt overhead. The large stained glass window looks out over 37th Street and is directly over the entrance. January 11, 1939 Somach Phnnoto Service New York Gity Tunnel Authority

St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church

Manhattan: 37th Street (East) - 2nd Avenue 308 E. 37th Street, south side, east of Second Avenue, showing the parish house of St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church. The Church is to the left,being joied by the small arch way shown. This will be demolished in June 1939. January 25, 1939 Somach Photo Service New York City Tunnel Authority

St. Gabriel's Park Branch, NYPL

36th Street (East) #303, north side

St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church

Manhattan: 37th Street - 1st Avenue 37th Street, south side, west from No. 318 between First and Second Avenues, showing St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church and parish house at 30B East 37th Street. July 13, 1929. P. L. Sperr.

St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church

Manhattan: 37th Street (East) - 2nd Avenue E. 37th Street, south side, east of Second Avenue, showing at No. 308, St. Gabriel's Roman Catholio Church prior to demolition (June 1939) as a portion of the clearance necessitated for the approach to the 38th Street tunnel. The lower portion of this block is already razed and the balance will shortly follow. January 8, 1939 Somach Photo Service New York City TTunnel Authority

337 East 36th Street

Manhattan: 36th Street (East) - 1st Avenue 337-9-41 E. 36th Street, north side, west of First Avenue, showing three tenements that will be demolished (May 1939) for the construction of the approach of the 38th Street tunnel under the East River. These face the lower end of St. Gabriel's Park, where the photographer is standing. January 12, 1939 Somach Photo Service New York City Tunnel Authority

St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church

Manhattan: 37th Street - 2nd Avenue (1) 37th Street, south side, east from Second Avenue towards First Avenue, showing St. Gabriel's parish house and Church (Roman Catholic). April 8, 1931. P. L. Sperr. (2) The same. April 8, 1936. P. L. Sperr.

St. Gabriel's Park Branch, NYPL

Manhattan: 36th Street (East) - 2nd Avenue East 36th Street, north side, east of Second Avenue (foreground), showing demolition for the pla2a approach to the Midtown Gueens tunnel. Standing intact in all views is the St. Gabriel's branch of the New York Public Library. This is the last of the builonga re.aining on the "plaza" and it too will be razed in early 1940. Adjoining same and partially destroyed in the early views are St. Gabriel's HLall and Parochial School. To the extreme right appear buiidings on the east side of First Avenue, between 36th and 37th Streets. Views 1-2 May 26, 1939 View 3 June 28, 1939 P. L. Sperr

St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church

Manhattan: 37th Street (East) - 2nd Avenue 308 E. 37th Street, south side, east of Second Avenue. The easterly half of St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church as viewed northwaro from the alter rail. TCo the lett appears the organ loft and the large stained window that is over the entrance. .January 11, 1939 Somach Yhoto Service New York City Tunnel Authority

670 Second Avenue

Manhattan: 2nd Ave. - 36th St. E. (1) 670-672 Second Avenue, East side,between 36th end 37th Streets. April 8, 1931. P.L. Sperr, Photographer. (2) The same. Spires shown is that of St. Gabriels Roman Catholic Church. April 8, 1936. P. L. Sperr.

St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church

Manhattan: 37th Street (East) - 2nd Avenue 308 E. 37th Street, south side, east of Second Avenue. The westerly pews of St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church as viewed northward. January 11, 1939 Somach Poto Service 595 58 City Tunnel Authority

St. Gabriel's Park Branch, NYPL

Manhattan: 36th Street - 2nd Avenue (1) 36th Street, at and adjoining the N.E. corner of Second Avenue, ahowing the St. Gabriel's Park branch of the New York Public Library at 303 East 36th Street, St. Gabriel's Hall, and part of St. Gabriel's Parochial School. April 8, 1931. P. L. Sperr. (2) The same. October 12, 1936. P. L. Sperr.

664 Second Avenue

Manhattan: 2nd Ave. - 36th St. 664-668 Second Ave., at, adjoining and north of the N.E. corner of East 36th Street. April 6, 1936. L Sperr.

St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church

Manhattan: 37th Street (East) - 2nd Avenue 308 E. 37th Street, south side, east of Second Avenue, showing the final stages of St. uabriel's Roman Catholic Church. This parish, established in 1660 is being demolished in the execution of plans for the plasa approach to the new Midtown Tunnel under the East River. Note the Parochial school to the rear. May, 1939 George D. Chinn (2) and (3) Two westerly views of the same edifice slightly later. Here the photographer is viewing towards Second Avenue. Note in the distance the dimly outlined Empire State Building. May 27, 1939 Views: 2 and 3 P. L. Sperr

St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church

Manhattan: 37th Street (East) - 2nd Avenue 308 E. 37th Street, south side, east of Second Avenue, showing the small passage way joining St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church with its parish house. January 31, 1939 Somach Photo Service New York City Tunnel Authority

St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church

Manhattan: 37th Street - 2nd Avenue (1) 37th Street, south side, east from Second Avenue towards First Avenue, showing St. Gabriel's parish house and Church (Roman Catholic). April 8, 1931. P. L. Sperr. (2) The same. April 8, 1936. P. L. Sperr.

St. Gabriel's Park Branch, NYPL

Manhattan: 36th Street (East) - 2nd Avenue East 36th Street, north side, east of Second Avenue (foreground), showing demolition for the pla2a approach to the Midtown Gueens tunnel. Standing intact in all views is the St. Gabriel's branch of the New York Public Library. This is the last of the builonga re.aining on the "plaza" and it too will be razed in early 1940. Adjoining same and partially destroyed in the early views are St. Gabriel's HLall and Parochial School. To the extreme right appear buiidings on the east side of First Avenue, between 36th and 37th Streets. Views 1-2 May 26, 1939 View 3 June 28, 1939 P. L. Sperr

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