Waterloo Library and Historical Society (Seneca County)
The Waterloo Library and Historical Society (WLHS) was founded in April 1875. The Queen Anne Victorian style building opened in December, 1883. The Waterloo Library is one of the oldest libraries in New York State that was constructed specifically as a library and has operated continuously as a library in its original building under its original charter. The building is a two story structure with the library on the first floor and a performance hall on the second level. The building embodies distinctive Victorian era features such as steeply pitched and intersecting gable roofs, dormers, projecting pavilions, terra cotta wall surfaces, decorative iron roof cresting, limestone belt courses and vaulted ceilings. Of particular note is the extensive number (22) of stained glass windows. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
A Capital Assessment Review of the Waterloo Library building was conducted by Bero Architecture, Rochester, NY. That assessment report concluded that the 125 year old library structure was in need of significant repairs and restorations. Specifically, the report identified the need to replace the original slate roof, repair structural roof rafters, repair and restore the beautiful and rare stained glass windows, re-point and seal the exterior brick façade and brick chimneys, restore the original ornamental wrought iron perimeter fence, repair/repaint the dormers and wooden trim and upgrade the mechanical systems.
The Bero Architecture Capital Assessment Report identified the restoration of the library roof as the top priority project. The project details and specifications were developed in 2005. Construction began in 2006 and finished in early 2007. The project included complete replacement of the 125 year old slate roof with new slate, roof flashing, repairs to structural roof rafters and decking, restoration of the decorative roof ridge wrought iron cresting, brick chimney repairs, repair the attic natural convection air circulation system, new wooden dormer sills and new gutters. Funding for the project was aided by a 2006 NYS Library Construction grant.
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Roof replacement and other structural rehabilitation at the Waterloo Library and Historical Society. Click on any of the above images to see a larger version. |
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Waterloo Library and Historical Society; see also their other project, under the 2007-2008 $14 million program