Bay Ridge Atheneum

1871 - 1904

March 15, 1871 marks the first meeting of the incorporators of the Bay Ridge Atheneum at the Christ Church Episcopal in Bay Ridge. Over the course of several meetings, the incorporators affirmed the building's purpose, procured a site at Ovington Village, and estimated the cost at $17,000. The Bay Ridge Atheneum was incorporated on April 19, 1871 for the stated purpose of "encouraging and cultivating a taste for literature, music, and the arts in the township." According to early plans for the building, it was three stories tall and contained committee rooms, offices, a small hall, a library, and a larger hall for concerts and assemblies. The cornerstone was laid at a ceremony on August 5, 1871, marking the beginning of construction of the Atheneum. Once constructed, the Atheneum was notable for several reasons. The Atheneum was the first public building in the township apart from a church or schoolhouse. It hosted the first public library for residents of the Bay Ridge community. The Atheneum hosted literary associations, debates, musical performances, floral exhibitions, and lectures, among other activities devoted to literature and the arts. The Atheneum also issued the Bay Ridge Chronicle, a newspaper for the Bay Ridge community during its tenure. In 1901, the Atheneum's library was moved to the Bay Ridge Free Library, and the Atheneum was demolished by 1905.