Civic Pride in a Lost America: Library Postcards
Public Libraries of New Jersey
Cities A-L
Many of these libraries seem to have been closed.
Asbury Park
Still in use, but denuded of its tower.
Card made for Heath's 5 & 10¢ Store.
Beach Haven
Located on Long Beach Island.
There once was an extensive history on the city's web site.
Opened in 1924, the library was built to mimic that of the typical Pennsylvania farmhouse. Its bricks arrived in the US via ship ballast, construction of St. John's church in Philadelphia, and demolition of said church for a bridge.
The Tichnors really went all out on this linen finish card, making it look like a shorefront restaurant.
Bloomfield (Jarvie Memorial Public Library)
Replaced in 1923, when it was donated to the municipality. Said to have been engulfed in a college campus, probably Bloomfield College.
With its Romanesque architecture, it has a certain academic cast.
Card published in Great Britain, by Valentine & Sons.
Bloomfield Public Library
This was the second documented building for the Jarvie Memorial Library. When James Newbegin Jarvie offered the contents of the above building to the town, it bounced about several locations until the building at left was opened in 1927. It was replaced in 1967, a 40 year run, and now serves as a theater for library events.
Bound Brook
The Taylor family home, bought for use as a public library, was demolished in 1924.
Americhrome card, never mailed, has a divided back.
Burlington
Appears to be privately run, never a good sign.
It has a proud history, having been chartered by George II, in 1757. The library web page says 1758.
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The locally produced card was mailed in 1905.
Camden
There is confusion between Cooper Park Library, which I believe is a Carnegie branch, and Cooper Branch.
Cooper Branch (Cooper Free Public Library)
Address: 2nd and Cooper. Donated by Eldridge R. Johnson, the founder of the Victor Talking Machine Company, along with the eponymous park. Closed 1974.
Said to be part of one of Rutger's satellite campuses. According to Waymarking, normally a reliable source, this neo-Classical building is located in Johnson Park.
Pyne Point Park (Cooper Mansion)
Burned.
The irony is that you can see a body of water on both cards.
Chatham (now Library of the Chathams)
Built in 1924, with additions in 1940, 1960, 1963, 1982 and 2004, which has to be some sort of record. I can no longer find the library's history page, but it seems as if it has an unusual collection on the History of Radio.
Photo-Tone card (Eagle Post Card View Co.) mailed in 1938.
Clifton
Named Clifton Memorial Library to commemorate the WWII dead. Built in 1952, replaced 1991. Fate unclear, as the new library was built adjacent to the old.
Moderne building featured on chrome giveaway postcard.
Elizabeth
Replaced by the Carnegie building. Although I can find more information than usual about the latter, I can find none about this building.
The postcard is by the Souvenir Card Co. of New Jersey.
Englewood
Glen Ridge
It was built in 1918, but didn't get electricity until 1926. The building was modified with a three storey wing in 1993, and renovated in 2008.
Albertype postcard.
Hackensack (Johnson Public Library)
Named for the state senator, William M., who donated land for the 1901 building, which is still in use.
There are several other pictures and cards of this unusual library building linked on Hackensack Now, but I still can't determine its architectural style.
(L) This card is unattributed, but was mailed in 1907, shortly after the evenly divided back became legal to use.
(R) This Eagle Quality card likely dates to the early 1930s. Note the cars and overgrowth of vegetation.
Haddonfield
Major addition in 1958 to the 1919 building.
This card most likely predates the addition, but I would not guarantee the fact.
Hasbrouck Heights
Replaced.
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Photo postcard was mailed in 1941.
Hawthorne
Founded in 1913, this building was dedicated in 1931, a very unusual time for such civic improvements. Apparently, today, a children's room is separate from the main, small library.
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Lustone postcard, in chrome finish and never mailed.
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Hightstown
Founded in 1921, this building opened in 1954, and has had two major building projects since. It's now a branch of the Mercer County Library.
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The postcard is by the Mayrose Company.
Hoboken
1897 building with traces of several styles of architecture: Italianate and Neoclassical are most evident to me.
It's still in use.
Postcard, its image by J. Koehler, was mailed in 1905.
Ho-Ho-Kus
Now served by the Worth-Pinkham Memorial Library. What became of this building after 1988 is unknown to me.
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The Fairbanks Card Company postcard was never mailed.
Jersey City
(L) Souvenir brand postcard, mailed in late 1908. Oddly, it has a 'Received and Answered' stamp, despite being mailed to a single person.
(R) Unknown publisher with an opposite view. Did you notice the ice wagon in front?
Mailed in 1905.
Turn of the century library building, designed by Brite & Bacon, and still in service.
Keyport (Raritan Guard Public Library)
Well-regulated militia (Raritan Guard Library and Military Association) indeed! According to a New Jersey Library Bulletin (v.3, issue 3, 1914) article, the Guard turned its building over to the Keyport Free Library Association in March, 1914.
The Library seems to lack a web site, but photo sites show it as still in use.
I like the color scheme from the Americhrome postcard much better.