Beefeaters

Beefeaters Restaurant occupies one of Bradford's most beautiful architectural landmarks. We strive to always deliver an exceptional dining experience befitting the legacy and grandeur of the Carnegie Public Library. The library's storied history begins in 1879 with the formation of the Free Library in Bradford. Operated by the Bradford Library Association, which had managed a reading room on Congress Street for 22 years, the Free Library accumulated 3,000 volumes in its first few years. Meanwhile, the School Library, funded through local taxes, had amassed more than 3,800 books. In 1901, with a gift of $30,000 by Pittsburgh philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, the Free Library and School Library collections were consolidated and housed in the new Carnegie Public Library on land donated by the City of Bradford. The lot, located at the corner of Corydon and Congress streets, had formerly been the site of Bradford's City Hall building, which was constructed in 1883 and destroyed by fire in 1894. For a time, the city considered building a central fire station on the vacant plot, but eventually relented and gave the property to the library association. The building contract for the library was awarded to William Hanley of Bradford in the amount of $23,587.95 and was under roof in ten months. The design of the new structure was taken from one of three plans Carnegie approved for his libraries worldwide. Carnegie's gift came with two requirements. The first being that the library location would provide "good light" for reading. The second was a guarantee from the city that it would maintain the library at a cost of $3,000 per year. The library persisted for 90 years until 1991, when the library board was required to meet new building and structural codes. Thus, the board voted to construct the Bradford Area Public Library on West Washington Street. After sitting vacant for nearly two years, the Carnegie building was purchased and renovated into a restaurant and lounge. Today, Beefeaters at the Historic Carnegie Library continues to honor its heritage. We welcome all to savor a fine meal and drinks in a cozy atmosphere which preserves the landmark's literary past.