1818 Federal Style Library,

Built in 1818 as an almshouse and then an orphanage, this striking, stone Federal style building is relatively without adornment save a single fan light window in the main gable.  The original window was long gone by the time we came on the scene.  At the dedication, the head of the library board noted that no one he asked could ever remember seeing this window in place, only a black painted piece of plywood.  We were given archival photos (see below) and a cardboard template of the opening to use to reproduce the window.  We produced shop drawings by tracing over the photos and scaling them to fit the template.  After some minor tweaking, the window looks just like the original.

This is the first part of a multi-million dollar project (yet to be completely funded) to make this building a showplace of how an historic building can be restored and retrofitted into a very "green" structure.  There are plans for rainwater collection, geothermal heat system, as well as completely restored windows.

(Click to enlarge) Rproduction fan light window in gable of Federal period stone building, reproduced from archival photos alone.	(Click to enlarge) Archival photo of front elevation of Library, fan light window can be seen in gable through trees.
(Click to enlarge) Period engraving, identifying structure as "Hudson Lunatic Asylum".	(Click to enlarge) Mullions laid directly on layout jig.
(Click to enlarge) Fan light window fully assembled on layout board, before glazing.	(Click to enlarge) View from interior of gable, in attic area. Note distortions of view caused by imperfections of period reproduction glass.