04. Library
Main Floor, South Wing
Transcript
Completed in 1889, the Library is part of the south wing addition and is a departure from the more formal elegance of the north wing. While earlier Victorian décor was ornate, as the era progressed the style became simpler. The Industrial Revolution made possible new building materials and techniques. The home fashion was now leaning toward a generally lighter, airier, and more open design.
In upper-class homes of the Gilded Age, the library was more than just a room; it was a statement of education and culture. This space, with its rich palette of darker colors and varied wood accents, exudes a relaxed, yet refined atmosphere.
The walls, ceiling, and fireplace mantel are all crafted from warm cherry wood, highlighting the impeccable workmanship of Louis Lavonier, an Oswego cabinetmaker of French origin. Although the paneling was machine-produced and the mantel was purchased separately, Lavonier personally installed each wood piece and hand-carved intricate details into every block and decorative element of the bookcases. During his time with the Richardson family, he earned $1.80 a day—a sum equivalent to approximately $63 today.
Near the desk, you will see a large, wooden, free-standing two-person stereopticon, a popular entertainment that gave photographic scenes printed on glass a 3-dimensional appearance. On the desk, there is a hand-held version, called a stereoscope, that uses paper cards. By the 1870s, literally millions of cards for stereoscopes were mass produced with photos from around the world.
You may wonder about the brass device to the left of the mantel. This is a gauge to monitor the water pressure in the steam boiler. If the pressure were too high, it could lead to serious damage or even an explosion. Max could take swift action if the gauge reading was beyond the limit of safety.
To the right of the entrance to the dining room you will see a small button that would call for a servant.
Built seamlessly into the walls, the bookcases house hundreds of volumes that once belonged to the family, offering a tangible connection to their intellectual legacy.
Enhancing the room’s scholarly ambiance is a marble statue of Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, which also serves as the emblem of Union College, alma mater to Max and his brother, Lawrence Richardson, as well as Norman Bates and Norman Bates Jr.
The windows on the west wall once were doors that led to a raised ‘piazza,’ or veranda, the use of which resulted in the worn areas of this original carpet. When the house was first gifted to the Society, a decision was made to remove this piazza and one that stood on the north side of the home, due to their state of disrepair and a lack of funds to renovate them.