Lakewood Library....The Beginnings by Kristin https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history Lakewood Library History 1869-1900 en-us 2020-09-04 14:27:30 UTC 2023-02-10 21:26:15 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f9f1.png The year was 1869....and five town officers founded The Bricksburg Library Association. They hired their first librarian, Marian Simons. Her salary was $26 per year, plus .$25 for each Friday evening. Library dues were $1 a year! kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/721074656 2020-09-04 14:58:53 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/721074656 The library was located in the rooms of Smith's Hall on the north side of Main Street. It was built by George P. Smith in 1867 and contained a dry goods store on the first floor, residential and apartments on the second, and a public hall in the rear. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/721153582 2020-09-04 15:20:49 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/721153582 In the early years, membership and library books were hard to come by. There were only 52 membership signatures on the association's constitution and mention of 40 worn and dilapidated "modern" novels unfit for circulation. According to the Library Association, these novels possess "no special merit." kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/721552151 2020-09-04 17:14:16 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/721552151 Early contributions to the collection include a six-volume set by Gibbons and Hume and a Webster's Unabridged Dictionary. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/721591571 2020-09-04 17:25:28 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/721591571 Riley A. Brick, a local industrialist, donated a large portion of the library collection. Several hundred books were "selected with great care and wise discrimination, standard books, in nearly every department of acknowledgement and literature." This 1871 printed catalog represents the first diverse collection. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/721605166 2020-09-04 17:29:18 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/721605166 The Village of Bricksburg fell on hard times in 1873. Land sales were few, the sawmill closed and the library was unable to pay its rent or the librarian's salary. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/721648784 2020-09-04 17:41:56 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/721648784 Have you read any of these books? kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/722678559 2020-09-05 15:43:25 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/722678559 Or maybe these History or Travel books? kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/722679171 2020-09-05 15:44:46 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/722679171 The library was then moved to a room in the Presbyterian chapel. This was not too far away and was located on the North West corner of Clifton Ave. and 3rd St. The chapel can be seen in the distance, to the far right of Smith Hall. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/722685383 2020-09-05 15:56:47 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/722685383 In subsequent years, the library moved to other locations. In 1875, the library was in a room in the Post Office Building located on Main St. and Meadow Ave. It had a revolving door. Sadly, it burned down in March 1917. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/722692060 2020-09-05 16:09:26 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/722692060 1886-1893 brought on a re-organized association and a new name....the Lakewood Library Association. The Lakewood Library was located in a new brick building owned by Sherwood B. Ferris (on the south side of 5th St. between Forest and Madison Ave.) kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/722698053 2020-09-05 16:20:42 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/722698053 Industry subsided in the 1890's and gave rise to a resort area where non-resident library membership was larger than resident membership. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/722714620 2020-09-05 16:49:36 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/722714620 John D. Rockefeller, Sr. was one of the most notable library patrons and benefactors of the library. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/722715838 2020-09-05 16:52:08 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/722715838 Other library members included, Charles Lathrop Pack, a forester and economist. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/722719015 2020-09-05 16:58:00 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/722719015 George Gould was a financier. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/722730193 2020-09-05 17:19:33 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/722730193 Henry Oliver Walker, an artist whose murals and paintings hang in the National Gallery of Art, the Library of Congress and other government buildings in Boston, St. Paul and Newark. The picture above, Lyric Poetry, is one of his most famous. It is displayed in the Library of Congress Jefferson building kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/722732477 2020-09-05 17:24:04 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/722732477 Sherwood B. Ferris donated the use of his building for the library. Ferris was the originator and manufacturer of the "Ferris Waist" pictured above. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/727423092 2020-09-08 14:39:57 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/727423092 Some less well-known but equally generous with time, facilities and money include The Willocks of the Pittsburgh steel fortune. The Willocks had a Lakewood winter home called Billswood on Forest Ave. William W. Willock is seated on the far right of the picture. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/727522799 2020-09-08 14:57:14 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/727522799 Captain Albert M. Bradshaw, a Civil War veteran, was a local Lakewood real estate agent and land developer, Postmaster, President of the first Lakewood bank, and the first Lakewood assemblyman. Along with wealthy bankers, he built the famous Laurel House hotel and developed Lakewood into one of the leading winter resorts of the Northeast. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/727591426 2020-09-08 15:09:13 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/727591426 The Laurel House was the former Bricksburg House built in 1865 by Riley A. Brick. This two and a half story estate was located on Main St. The "Romantic Laurel House" as it was then known, was host to the Vanderbilts, Goulds, Rockefellers, Astors, Tilfords, Rhinelanders, Kipps, Arbuckles and scores of other families of social prominence. Oliver Wendell Holmes and Rudyard Kipling would sit on the floor by the fireplace and recite poems and tales to the children, who would gather around to listen. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/727662927 2020-09-08 15:21:24 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/727662927 On March 5, 1898, The Lakewood Library was featured in "The New York Times Saturday Review of Books and Art". A digital copy of the article is featured above. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/731178024 2020-09-09 14:14:04 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/731178024 The article stated that the library held 2,600 books and added 300 more. The library once again moved out of the S.B. Ferris cottage and into two rooms on the second floor of The Times and Journal Building. It was donated by Captain Albert Bradshaw. Does it look familiar? It's the old Post Office Building from 1875! kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/731271949 2020-09-09 14:30:43 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/731271949 The library was open every day of the year except Sundays and holidays from 11am-1pm and 3pm-6pm. It was visited by 45 to 60 people a day and members paying the proper dues can borrow one book at a time for 2 weeks. Membership dues were still $1 a year for residents and $.50 cents a month for non-residents. Henryk Sienkiewicz "Quo Vadis: A Tale of the Time of Nero" was Lakewood's most popular book. It was checked out all the time! kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/731311276 2020-09-09 14:38:02 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/731311276 Other popular titles in the library included: "Let Us Follow Him" also by Sienkiewicz and "The Story of Jesus Christ" by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps (aka Mrs. Ward) kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/731394085 2020-09-09 14:52:35 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/731394085 The Library Selection Committee had its share of "banned books" as well. It did not permit any of Sir Hall Caine's works or Frances Hodgson Burnett's "A Lady of Quality". These books contained stories of romance, adultery, domestic violence and religious bigotry. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/731447241 2020-09-09 15:02:05 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/731447241 Full text of this novel can by read by Project Gutenberg... kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/731548659 2020-09-09 15:20:15 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/731548659 Sir Hall Caine's works can be read online through Project Gutenberg also. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/731557222 2020-09-09 15:21:47 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/731557222 The Lakewood Library has come a long way since the late 1800's. Library cards (an associate member ticket) from the 1890's looked like this.... kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/731583111 2020-09-09 15:26:40 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/731583111 Ocean County Library cards are now plastic with bar codes. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/735218272 2020-09-10 14:35:02 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/735218272 When borrowing a book in the 1800's, an associate member would receive one of these. A member could only borrow a book for two weeks! Fines and fees were strict too! kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/735240238 2020-09-10 14:38:56 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/735240238 Customer receipts for book borrowing have come a long way. Before computers, a date stamp on a card in the back of the book pocket would let you know when a book was due. Nowadays, computers print out receipts for our checked out items and due dates. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/735271788 2020-09-10 14:44:04 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/735271788 Computers make everything faster. Back in the 1890's, the Lakewood Library Board of Managers used personalized stationery to record their meeting minutes. Notice the pre-date of 189____. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/735320071 2020-09-10 14:52:39 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/735320071 Who knows where the library will be in 100 years! Computers and bar codes may seem as antiquated as date stamps and pre-printed paper stationery! kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/735833122 2020-09-10 16:26:37 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/735833122 This history timeline narrative by Adrienne Katz from 1971, original Lakewood Library documents, and picture postcards used in this presentation are currently held in the Ocean County Library, Lakewood branch historical collection. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/735842060 2020-09-10 16:28:17 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/735842060 All other pictures of famous people and book covers from the time period were sourced from online resources included here. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/738989005 2020-09-11 15:02:04 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/738989005 The Lakewood Library also placed these numbered slips of paper inside their books to indicate it belongs to the library. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/739325291 2020-09-11 16:10:57 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/739325291 Two large Walker oil paintings used to hang in the adult room of the library when it was on 2nd St. and Monmouth Ave. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/799789492 2020-10-03 14:53:26 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/799789492 In 1918, Mrs. Marion B. Davis donated "Jacob Wrestling with the Angel" to the Library Trustees. As an agent of friends of the artist, they paid him $1,000. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/799790352 2020-10-03 14:54:34 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/799790352 In 1921, an "unknown benefactor" gave "Edward Hale and Teddy" to the library on a permanent basis. kcancellieri https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/799792791 2020-10-03 14:57:28 UTC https://padlet.com/kcancellieri/lakewood_library_history/wish/799792791