Originally built as the Third Judicial District Courthouse in 1876, this Victorian Gothic church-like building has been saved from demolition twice, thanks to the efforts of the local community: once in 1945, when it ceased to be used as a courthouse and a group of local community preservationists campaigned to have it converted into a library, instead of knocking it down. Their campaign proved successful when – after extensive restoration – it opened as a branch of the New York Public Library in 1967. Budget cuts in 1974 obliged the Board of Trustees of the Library to vote in favour of closing the branch. The decision was rescinded one month later, following outcry of the local community and its function and public character were saved a second time.
Thanks to the local residents we can still enjoy these beautiful stained glass windows by English glass artist, Charles Booth (1844-1893), who also created the stained glass for nearby Grace Church at Broadway and 10th Street. 
Jefferson Market Library
April 2nd, 2017
The Humble Fabulist 
Those photographs of the stained glass and window and ceiling arches are really amazing.
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Agreed. I like them especially because their theme is so different – far from the usual hagiographical one we see in churches.
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They sure are. Props to Margot Gayle who was so key to saving this building. (And who then went on to save all the cast iron architecture all around us here in GV and Soho.
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How wonderful to hear about a community coming together to save this beautiful building
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One of the things I like about this city is, precisely, this sense of community. I see that every day which is really amazing in a metropolis of this size!
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Yes, I find there is a strong presence of neighborhoods in NY. Sometimes it seems that many areas of NY, these neighborhoods, have a feeling akin to ‘villages’.
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How have I not heard of this building before?!! It’s great! And excellent photos. More and more, I appreciate the Victorian-era architects and artists.
I was thinking of some prisoner, looking up and seeing that 8-legged iron spider overhead, and despairing.
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That’s part of the beauty of this city: she just keeps on giving! The prison part though… not so pretty. The spider must have seen a lot of despair in this ”scowling Gothic monstrosity that loomed over a corner on Tenth Street and Sixth Avenue”! (https://www.nypl.org/blog/2009/04/19/day-history-mae-west-and-jefferson-market)
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