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06/19/2019 12:00 AM

A Perfect Match: Tennessee Marble Arrives at Branford's Blackstone Library


The Blackstone Library's iconic exterior of Tennesse marble has been in place since the building first opened in 1896. Now, it will be married to stone from the same quarry when the new addition is complete. Tennesse Marble Company delivered the marble to the project on June 7.Photo Courtesy Karen Jensen/Blackstone Library

When the dust settles around the work on the new rear entry addition to the Blackstone Memorial Library, which scheduled to be completed in August, the marble sheathing on the outside of the new construction will be a perfect match to the historic stone exterior of the original iconic library in downtown Branford, which was dedicated on June 17, 1896.

On June 7, 2019, stone from the same quarry that supplied marble for the 19th century project was delivered to Branford by the Tennesse Marble Company, said Blackstone Director Karen Jensen.

The addition's design by Silver/Petrucelli + Associates (Hamden) is being built under the management of Downes Construction (New Britain).

In addition to the lower level addition, the $5.2 million library upgrade includes interior renovation work, also underway. The project broke ground in December 2018 with a 12-month completion schedule. The new changes to the building mark the most significant work to the Blackstone since a major interior renovation in 1996.