Old Bon Air Library - formerly the Hazen Memorial Library

The Hazen Memorial Library (built 1902)

The Library today!

Site Name: Old Bon Air Library (formerly Hazen Memorial Library)

Date of Construction: 1902

Reason for Construction: Community meeting place and library

Site History: The Hazen Memorial Library was built in 1902 for 500 dollars and became a convenient meeting place for members of the developing Bon Air Community. The Bon Air neighborhood, originally a vacation resort for city-dwellers in the late nineteenth century, slowly gathered a nice collection of year-round residents. These residents then financed the construction of the small library through localized fundraisers, and it became somewhat of a community center, where local residents met for tea and read books. Named after a deceased, much-loved pastor, Reverend James K. Hazen, who died in 1902, the tiny library at one point possessed so many books that for each person in the community that if the collection had been divided up, each person would have taken home fifteen new books.

Area History: The Bon Air district was originally a resort community for Richmonders bored by the city, but after the 1889 fire which destroyed portions of the old Bon Air Hotel, and later the end of World War 1, it became more of a residential area. Some of the more prominent residents were Confederate veterans. A well-known “druggist” of the time period also lived here, as did Stonewall Jackson’s personal physician. And due to the increase in permanent population, it gained its own post office and library.

What about the site has changed?: In 1967, the Hazen Memorial Library, which had been a membership-type library up until this point, became part of the Chesterfield County Public Library system. However, it was closed in 1975 due to the construction of a newer, bigger library. From then on, it sat as a storage building and fell gradually into disrepair. However, in 2013, it underwent a renovation which fixed it up a great deal.

What about the area has changed?: Bon Air is still a sought-after residential suburb, and has been declared a Historical District. Many of the houses still retain a Victorian charm, and the Old Bon Air Inn has been converted into apartments. However, it has urbanized a great deal, and there are many surrounding shopping centers.

Reflection/What Have I Learned: I’ve actually seen the Hazen Memorial Library before, but until I began this project I hadn’t the faintest idea that it wasn’t just a miniscule house. And little did I have any clue that Bon Air was a historical district – I mean, it has the cutest houses, but I didn’t know that they were actually styled to match with the time period. I suppose I always thought that the architecture was simply what the owners wanted, sort of like an artisan house. But lo and behold, it has historical meaning. What I also found interesting was the concept of a community coming together and raising the money to build themselves a library. That idea has never occurred to me as a possibility. But I’m glad that the original residents of Bon Air thought of it!

Sources:

Chewning, Virginia M. "Hazen Library 3,000 - Books for 200 Readers Is Bon Air's Pride." Richmond Times Dispatch (Richmond, VA), 1935. Accessed March 18, 2015. http://richmondthenandnow.com/Newspaper-Articles/Hazen-Memorial-Library.html. 

 

Clark, Frances Watson. "Photograph of the Hazen Memorial Library." In Chesterfield County. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2006. Image of Hazen Memorial Library 

Department of the Interior, National Register of Historic Places - Registration Form, , at 1-37 (Va. 1988). Accessed March 18, 2015. http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Counties/Chesterfield/0205084_Bon_ Air_Historic_District_1988_Final_Nomination.pdf.

Lohmann, Bill. "Old Bon Air Library Being Restored as Community Asset." Richmond Times Dispatch(Richmond, VA), December 26, 2013, Life. Accessed March 19, 2015.http://www.richmond.com/news /local/article_1c111687-1be3-595c-b2f4-7f94fcfc26b6.html.