The History of the Alexander Mansion > Alexander Mansion Interior Rooms > The Library
Alexander Mansion Interior Rooms
The Library
Toward the northwest corner of the main floor is The Library, one of the Alexander Mansion’s most striking spaces. Its oak paneling, original to the home, adds warmth and gravity. Originally the plaster ceiling was graced with fresco painting, hand painted by Italian artisans in the early 1900s. Seen in old family photos, these painted ceilings reflect the Italian influences that added cultural depth to the home.
The centerpiece of the room is the unusual fireplace, which carries a story passed down through generations. As the tale has been told, the Alexander family journeyed to Europe where they saw a large bell they admired. They bought it, cut it in half, and fashioned the fireplace hood from one half. In reality, the hood was likely designed and fabricated to resemble a bell shape that is as much sculpture as structure—one of the Mansion’s most memorable and unique features.
Then and Now
This photo shows the Library as it appeared in the 1920s. The ceiling was plastered and painted with decorative designs.
The ceiling in the Library has seen some changes over the years. While the original painted designs are no longer there, central light fixture is still the same one that lit the room for the Alexander, Clark, and Blair families.
Flanking the fireplace are built-in bookshelves, framed with glass doors. These aren’t just any cabinets—the glass panels in the doors are inset with iridescent ,Tiffany-style favrile glass, adding a shimmering detail that speaks to the home’s exquisite craftsmanship. Forum lore claims the inlay was inspired by a similar detail at the Uffizi Gallery in Florence, Italy. The inlay catches the light in the most subtle way, reminding you that beauty here is found in both the grand and the small.
Look Around and You Might Notice…
(Left) The door casing is a formal combination of trim profiles, all elegantly presented in a rich stained wood.
(Center) The original chandelier light fixture in the Library features aged brass chains, cast metal fittings in Art Nouveaux style, and alabaster glass globes and bowl.
(Right) The fireplace hood and tile surround were designed and installed by Charles Alexander when he built the house in 1904. Stories passed down through the generations speculate on the origins of the bell shaped hood over the fireplace opening.