Herndon, VA
This building is currently used as The Herndon Friends Meeting, but it was once the home of a women's club which established a library here. That group was called a fortnightly club, which was apparently a popular name used by women’s clubs in the 19th century.
A town historical marker tells the story.
“The Herndon Fortnightly Club was founded in 1869 by eleven women interested in studying literature, art, science, and the popular interests of the day. Early on, the Club decided to start lending books. By 1900 they had collected over 1000 volumes. Much of the collection was lost in The Big Fire of 1917. In 1927, the Club constructed this Greek Revival building to house the new collection. It became the Herndon Fortnightly Library, the first lending library in Fairfax County.”
Across the street from this building is the fire department, formed in 1917 after that “Big Fire” devastated the core of downtown.
The building is looking elegant
ReplyDeleteWomen and books, during an era when they were still viewed as little more than chattel, seems like a wonderful combination to me.
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteBeautiful buildings. I am so thankful for my library and their collection of books. Take care, have a wonderful week!
...we have several here.
ReplyDeleteI had a chuckle because "Fortnightly" was the term used when I was in private school for dances for 7th and 8th graders...to learn the steps, to dress up, to maybe behave like ladies and gentlement.
ReplyDeleteDistinctive architecture.
ReplyDelete