EIDLITZ, Leopold (1823-1906), a legendary and mythical figure in American architecture who lived and worked in New York City, at first under his own name, and later in collaboration with his son Cyrus L.W. Eidlitz (1853-1921). He was among the first architects to advocate how structure could serve an the primary generator of architectural design. His major works included ecclesiastical, commercial, institutional and residential projects, but virtually all of his important commissions in New York have been demolished.
However, one of his smaller works has survived and is located in Canada. It is surprising that, in 1901, he would volunteer his services to design the very modest Public Library in North Hatley, Quebec. His Shingle Style design for this building survives today (in 2022), and is still in use as a unique library open to subscribers who pay a modest annual fee. This library was created before the advent of free public libraries funded by the American philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. According to the Montreal Daily Star of 24 August 1901, p. 3, it was Leopold Eidlitz who was commissioned to complete this work just 5 years before his death in 1906, but it is possible that his son may have played a role in completing the work, which was later added to in 1967, and again in 1986. The original portion, dated to 1901, still stands today.
Eidlitz was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia on 29 March 1823 and educated at the Polytechnique in Vienna. He emigrated to the United States in 1843 and trained in the office of Richard Upjohn before commencing practise in 1846 as partner in the firm of Blesch & Eidlitz. He opened his own office in New York City in 1852 and was active there for over 50 years. He was one of the founding members of the American Institute of Architects in Washington in 1857, and later died in New York on 22 March 1908. (obituary American Architect & Building News [New York], xcv, 1 April 1908, 17; biog. H. Withey, Biographical Dictionary of American Architects, 1956, 192-93; inf. D.S. Francis, Architects in Practice New York City 1840-1900, pub. 1979, 28; biog. and list of works in MacMillan Encylopedia of Architects, 1982, vol. 2, 13-16).
NORTH HATLEY, QUE., Public Library, North Main Street near School Street, 1901; later additions in 1967 and 1986; still standing in 2022 (Montreal Daily Star, 24 Aug. 1901, 3; inf. North Hatley Public Library).