HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LEE MEMORIAL LIBRARY!  

By Jim Wright
Library Trustee

Part 2: 1926 to 1950

After several years of fund-raising, the nascent Allendale Library Association achieved its goal in December 1926: the grand opening celebration for the library’s first permanent home, located on the southwest corner of Franklin Turnpike and Allendale Avenue (now Brother Barber and the Universal Awards trophy shop). Membership dues were a dollar a year.

By then, the town’s population had tripled to 2,100. The best-sellers that year included The Private Life of Helen of Troy by John Erskine and  Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Anita Loos.

By 1930, the new library was already said to be too small. Then the Great Depression hit, membership dues suffered and donations fell off. 

The library squeezed through the bad times, and in 1940 William and Mary Lee donated an addition to the building. William Lee had been on the library board for more than three decades, including serving as its president. His wife, Mary Lee was Allendale's volunteer librarian during that time.

Because the budget was limited and the public school had a library, the emphasis was on adult reading matter. Even with the addition, the library was still described as “almost primitive," as the 1940s drew to a close.

A 1946 article in the Ridgewood Herald-News included a photo of the library and this caption

The neon-lighted "Big City" may be the nation's nerve center, but Americe's backbone is the small town typified, for example, by civic-spirited little Allendale in which many community organizations give freely of time and energy in the Interest of recreation and welfare. Notable project is the town library "operated privately for public good" by the Allendale Library Assocation, which erected the charming building shown above, by public subscription in 1926. (Photo courtesy of the Allendale Historical Society)

The library’s interior…

At different times in its history, the library was named for Mr. or. Mrs. Lee.

(Photos courtesy of the Allendale Historical Society)

The anniversary celebration continues on Saturday, Sept. 13, with Family Fun Day at Crestwood Lake. Save the date and stay tuned.

Please see Part 1 of our story below:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LEE MEMORIAL LIBRARY!  

By Jim Wright
Library Trustee

Part 1: 1900 to 1925

     Did you know that back at the turn of the 20th century, in our town's horse and buggy days, the Ladies of Allendale's Village Improvement Committee voted for a public library -- but only if it were coupled with a plan to fix the local roads.

   "Allendale needs a public library, but do not let us forget that something must be done about our intolerable roads," exclaimed one of the board members back in 1900. "Why, only last week my carriage sank to the axle in a mudhole up the street."

  The library, one of the first in northern Bergen County, opened in Allendale's public school and was supported entirely by private funding. The local population in 1900 was 694.

   "It was a period when Allendale -- 'four hours from the city by horse and carriage' -- was a popular summer resort," a 1946 article in the Ridgewood Herald-News reported. "Summer boarders were the new library's principal patrons and the library was open only during June, July and August.

"The library had a vicarious existence for nearly twenty years," the newspaper reported. "Funds were limited. Quarters were cramped. Moves were numerous."

The tiny library had to move from its original quarters when the need arose for a school cloak room. It eventually moved to Allendale's flat-iron building, currently the Thomas, Freeman, & Giglio Insurance Agency, near the train station. 

In 1919, the Village Improvement Authority turned over the reins to a newly formed Allendale Library Association, which wanted to build a new library.

On the new board was the volunteer librarian, Mary K. Lee, for whom Lee Memorial Library is named.

The celebration kicks off on Wednesday, July 23, with family movie night on the great lawn of Lee Memorial Library, so book the date and stay tuned.

To be continued...