Chicago Public Library and
PARMA Conservation
presented with 2010 Marian
and Leon Depres
Preservation Awards by the
Hyde Park Historical Society
On Saturday night, February 27th the
Hyde Park Historical Society presented
its 2010 Marian and Leon Depres
Preservation Awards to Chicago Public
Library and PARMA Conservation at the
group's annual awards dinner. The award
recognized the concentrated efforts for
returning the historic murals and gilt
plaster in the cupola of the Chicago
Public Library Blackstone Branch to their
original beauty.
Mrs. Isabela Farnsworth Norton
Blackstone gave this first branch of the
Library to the citizens of Chicago as a
memorial to her husband, Timothy
Beach Blackstone, long-time president
of the Chicago and Alton Railroad.
Dedicated in 1904, the building was
designed by Solon Spencer Beman and
styled after a Greek Erechtejon.
The magnificent murals depicting Art,
Literature, Science, and Labor were
painted by the celebrated artist, Oliver
Dennett Grover.
During the last hundred years the ornate
plaster work was damaged by the
leaky dome, and the murals became
dull from years of grime. Thanks to a
$100,000 grant from Illinois Department
of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity, the Chicago Public Library
finished a complete restoration and
conservation of the cupola in August,
2009. The beautiful restoration was
performed by PARMA Conservation
with assistance from Bernacki Associates.
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& Design International. All rights reserved