photo courtesy of The Ridgewood Public Library
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Ridgewood Public Library celebrates 100 years, join Local History Librarian Sarah Kiefer and Village Historian Peggy Norris, as they take a look back at the Ridgewood Library’s history. Learn all about the group of volunteers who started the lending library, which led to the establishment of the George L. Pease Memorial Library in 1923. Light refreshments will be served at the lecture. No registration required. Any questions contact Sarah Kiefer at 201-670-5600 x2135 or skiefer@ridgewoodlibrary.org
No registration required.
Celebrating 100 Years of Library Service
Date: Saturday December 9
Time: 2pm
Location: Ridgewood Public Library, Auditorium
The history of Ridgewood’s library system reflects a rich tradition of community involvement and support. Here is a summary of the key points in the development of the library system:
- Grassroots Initiative: Ridgewood’s library began as a grassroots initiative with a group of philanthropic women in 1897 who organized a lending library. The library was initially housed in the Moore Building.
- Library Growth: By 1917, the community had outgrown the original lending library. With the assistance of Gertrude Pease Anderson, the George L. Pease Memorial Library was constructed and opened on December 28, 1923.
- Community Support: The effort to establish the library was celebrated in local newspapers, with praise for the “heroic public-spirited women” who contributed to its success.
- 1960s Expansion: The library experienced further growth in the 1960s, driven by a population increase related to the post-war Baby Boom. To meet the increased demand, the Ridgewood Public Library was built in 1962, while the George L. Pease Memorial Library continued to serve the community.
- Renovations and Modernization: In 1998, the Ridgewood Public Library underwent significant renovations, resulting in its current status with spacious areas for gathering and knowledge sharing. The library was modernized to meet the evolving needs of the community.
- Pease Library Transition: In 2008, renovations were completed at the George L. Pease Memorial Library. It was decided that the building would be repurposed for office rental space, providing revenue that supports library programming and services.
The history of Ridgewood’s libraries underscores the power of community, volunteerism, and civic pride in building and maintaining valuable resources for education, information, and cultural enrichment. The libraries have evolved over the years to meet the changing needs of the community while preserving their historical significance.
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Ah yes, you mean the library that was set up with an endowment from George’s widow and subsequently stolen by the town and turned into office space and a dispatch center? That library?
yes that one
Sad that they could not hàve kept it as an annex to the new library. I remember going there as a little girl. On cold snowy evenings they would have the fireplaces going. You could sit in the big wing back chairs and read. It was a magical place.
Oh boy. So true