History of the Library
1935 to 1972
Willa Mae Levy, Acting Director, wrote the following history of the library in January 1975, covering the library’s history from 1935 to 1972.
The municipal library of Hillsdale, New Jersey, had its beginning as an association library in 1935. The township was formed in 1898 and previously had not possessed a library. It was not until a W.P.A. class in public speaking conducted by Elsie Hubachek (who was later a councilwoman) that support for a library took root and began to grow. A member of the class, Sarah Vander Clute, spoke on the subject of books. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and at that moment, the decision to form a town library was made. Members of the class formed a committee and met with local citizens. Judge Walter J. McIntyre, an attorney who subsequently served as a trustee for 35 years until his retirement in 1970, gave legal advice and was chairman of the public meeting. Judge McIntyre chose six library trustees, and a library association, with a membership fee of one dollar, was formed. A vacant store on the main street was rented. Members of the library worked to get the building in order, washing windows, scrubbing floors, mending and cataloging books, and building bookshelves. Books were donated from everywhere, including a loan collection from the State Library. Gifts and proceeds from card parties, movie benefits, and a play, The Haunted House, given by the Hillsdale Players, kept the project on its feet. The Free Public Library was opened to the people of the town on January 27, 1936. In eight months, the number of borrowers was 752, a good representation from a total population of approximately 3,100.
At the first annual meeting of the Library Association, on September 29, 1936, Judge McIntyre offered the library as a debt-free gift to the Borough of Hillsdale. The question of borough support was brought before the voters in a referendum in November 1936, and support was approved by a vote of 1,053 to 330. The library was officially turned over to the town on January 1, 1937, for the sum of $1.00. There were 4,257 books which circulated to 853 borrowers at the rate of about 2,000 a month.
establish the library.
The library was first located in the building now occupied by Hillsdale Paint.
The first officers of the Board of Trustees of the Hillsdale Free Public Library were Walter J. McIntyre, President; William W. Livengood, Vice-President; Elsie Bessell, Secretary; and Walter W. Hoffman, Treasurer. The first librarian was Mrs. John Newman, appointed on November 24, 1935. Mrs. Newman served as librarian until April 1956 and was the first president of the Small Libraries Group (1949).
The second location of the library was in the Leddy Building. It is now the location of the present day Wendy’s building.
The Trustees attempted to interest the borough officials in acquiring vacant land for a building as early as June 2, 1937, but funds were not available. On February 1, 1938, the library leased two stores and moved in. Severe leaks in one side of the building, however, and lack of stack space were handicaps. The need for larger quarters became critical as the years passed.
In 1953, following the death of Jenner R. Fast, Robert L. Wotten was appointed to the Board. From that date until 1970, the Trustees were: Walter J. McIntyre, Marion E. Wicks, Dorothy H. Ward, Herman J. Drenning, and Mr. Wotton. Mrs. Ward was appointed President of the Board upon retirement of Judge McIntyre in 1970.
In January 1956, Mayor John F. Dowd cast the deciding vote to provide funds to the Trustees for the purchase of the Vorrath property on Hillsdale Avenue. Remodeling of the old farmhouse was planned by architect Carl Kemm Loven, and the move was made in March 1957.
Mrs. Edward Unser was appointed librarian to succeed Mrs. Newman on November 1, 1958. The book collection numbered 24,219 volumes and the 1959 circulation was 53,267. Total borrowers numbered 3,871, 52% of the population. Mrs. J.B. Bintner was library director from 1960-1962, when Mrs. Unser returned. After Mrs. Unser’s departure in 1966, Mrs. C.D. Lucas was library director until 1972.
In 1965, the library became a recipient of the reference services offered by the Ridgewood Free Public Library, the area reference library. In November 1971, the library became affiliated with the Pascack Valley Library Group. State Incentive Grant funds are enabling the organization of a cassette
center at Hillsdale.
Groundbreaking for the construction of an addition which tripled the size of the Vorrath farmhouse took place on October 31, 1970, and the new facilities were dedicated on June 25, 1972. Despite the delays and trials of the building program, circulation for 1972 was 67,295, a new high, and 2/3 of the population, 8,000, were registered borrowers. Per capita circulation was 5.5 (based on 1972 estimated population of 12,000).
With its recently added space, which was sorely needed, the Hillsdale Free Public Library looks forward to providing more library services to its community.
Hillsdale Avenue and Winkler Way
(Photo courtesy of the Pascack Historical Society)
References
Hubachek, Elsie M. “Unexpected outcome.” Journal of Adult Education, October, 1938, pp. 426-9.
Ward, Dorothy H. “History.” Dedication Program, Hillsdale Free Public Library, June 25, 1972. (Pamphlet)
Click here for a scrapbook of the library’s early history from 1936 to 1940.
1935 to 2023
Hillsdale celebrated its 125th anniversary as an independent borough in 2023. Dave Franz, Library Director, provided a history of the library for a special publication, Hillsdale’s 125th Anniversary Journal, that commemorated this milestone.
Hillsdale’s first library was set up in a shop at the corner of Hillsdale Avenue and Winkler Way. The library started out as an idea, primarily in the head of Miss Sarah Vander Clute in 1935. On January 27, 1936 when the library first opened to the public, 2,939 books were available for borrowing and Mrs. Ruth Newman was the first librarian. In November 1936, Residents voted to make the free library a permanent institution and on January 1, 1937, Hillsdale received as a gift a debt-free library containing 4,500 books with a membership of 780 people.
The library was relocated to its next home in the Leddy Building on March 29, 1938, where Wendy’s restaurant now stands. Finally it was decided that the library needed a building of its own to house the growing number of books it had accumulated. A large, private residence belonging to Harry Vorrath was chosen.
Mr Vorrath sold this property on the corner of Hillsdale Avenue and Yesler Way to the Borough on May 31, 1956 for $20,000. The Borough then spent another $10,000 to remodel the house and transform it into a working library.
As membership grew, so did the demand for space and the accompanying changes of location. In 1970 when the membership of the library topped 5,900, a $300,000 addition was authorized, tripling the size of the building. In addition, seating was increased by 400%, from 14 to 70 seats and the space provided for books doubled. A separate children’s library area was added as well as a reference section, periodical area, storage and workspace and offices for the librarians.
Shortly after the library was inundated by the floodwaters of Hurricane Floyd in September 1999, residents voted to retain the library at its current location. A proposal to sell the property and create a new facility west of Pascack Road was defeated on November 7, 2000, setting the course for a renovation and expansion of the building at 509 Hillsdale Avenue.
The $2.7 million project started in March 2003. $1.7 million was committed by the Borough and the remainder was funded from grants and a capital campaign. Library services continued and flourished during the multi-phase process.
The project concluded with a grand re-opening in May 2006. An elevator, meeting room, reading room, study rooms, and a dedicated local history room were added to the building. The parking lot was expanded.
Learn about this painting
Over its 88 year history the library circulated 7.3 million items. Of those, 3.8 million circulations occurred during the last 22 years. But, in addition to the lending of books, the library also strives to continually update the services and technologies available to the public. A makerspace was established in 2012 and now offers 3D printing, poster printing, embroidery and sewing machines, and a laser cutter/engraver.
Residents cherish the local public library and gifts and donations contribute to its success. The Friends of the Hillsdale Free Public Library conduct an annual appeal and support programs and equipment purchases. In December 2018, the library building was named the “Gayle and Paul Gross Building” to recognize a $1 million gift made in support of expanded programs and services. A Foundation was established to receive and manage this gift and to pursue larger grants, donations, and planned giving. Lectures, health and wellness opportunities, concerts, and arts and crafts programs are now staple activities to be enjoyed at the library.
Library directors 1936 to present
|
1936 – 1958 |
Ruth Newman |
|
1958 – 1960 |
Mrs. Edward Unser |
|
1960 – 1962 |
Mrs. J.B. Bintner |
|
1962 – 1966 |
Mrs. Edward Unser |
|
1967 – 1972 |
Beatrice Lucas |
|
1972 |
Willa Mae Levy |
|
1973 – 1978 |
Betty F. Melone |
|
1979 – 1983 |
Nancy H. Wynen |
|
1983 – 1986 |
Kay Parisi |
|
1986 – 1990 |
Mark Smith |
|
1990 – 1995 |
Tom Coyle |
|
1995 – 2000 |
Jean Scott |
|
2001 – present |
David J. Franz |
You must be logged in to post a comment.