Claverack Free Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Claverack Free Library
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Portion of south elevation, 2008
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| Location | Claverack, NY |
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| Nearest city | Hudson |
| Built | 1932 |
| Architect | Lucius Moore |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| MPS | The Architectural and Historic Resources of the Hamlet of Claverack, Columbia County, New York |
| NRHP reference No. | 97001624 |
| Added to NRHP | 1998 |
The Claverack Free Library is a special place in Claverack, New York. It's more than just a building; it's a hub for learning and connecting. The library has been serving its community for a very long time.
It officially started in 1891, but its roots go back even further to 1829. Over the years, the library has moved to different locations. Its current home is a former fire station, which opened in 2019. This new building offers lots of space for books, programs, and community events.
Contents
The Library's Beginnings
The idea for a library in Claverack started way back in December 1829. It was called the Claverack Library Society. Twenty-four people joined this early group. For many years, the library was located in a building known as the Old Stone House.
In January 1891, the Claverack Free Library and Reading Room Association officially became a recognized organization. This meant it could serve all the people in the town of Claverack. By 1898, the library had a catalog of over 1,200 books for everyone to enjoy.
Finding a Permanent Home
In the early 1900s, the library bought its own property. They turned an old store, which used to be a post office, into their first dedicated library building. This building worked well for almost 30 years.
However, by the mid-1920s, the building was getting old. In 1931, the state of New York needed the land to make a road wider. The library had to move. They sold their building and rented spaces in nearby houses.
A new, small wooden library building was then built. It was designed by architect Lucius Moore. The community helped raise money for the new building. It was finished in late 1932. Later, in 1951, a wing was added to make the library even bigger.
Working Together for the Community
In 1937, the A.B. Shaw Fire Company needed its own fire station. They bought land near the library. The first part of the brick firehouse was built in 1938. More sections were added in 1970 and 1991 to make room for larger fire trucks.
By the late 1990s, the library's board realized their small building was no longer big enough. They needed more space for books, local history items, and programs. For nearly 20 years, they looked for solutions. They thought about building a new library or fixing up an existing one.
A Big Gift and a New Plan
During this time, an anonymous person gave the library a huge gift of $500,000. This gift came with a special rule: the library could not add onto its old building. This generous donation helped the library dream bigger.
In 2006 and 2007, the library held meetings with the community. People made it clear they wanted the library to stay in the center of Claverack. Library experts were hired to help find a good spot and design a new library.
In 2007, the A.B. Shaw Fire Company decided they needed a new, larger fire station. This was a perfect chance for the library! The library's board thought about buying the firehouse. After some talks, the town's voters approved the sale. In 2010, the library bought the firehouse for $300,000. This money helped the fire company build their new station.
A New Home, A New Chapter
After many years of raising money and construction, the Claverack Free Library moved into its new home. The old A.B. Shaw firehouse was completely updated and changed into a modern library. It opened on October 26, 2019.
The library raised $2.8 million from many different sources. This included people, foundations, local businesses, and state grants. The new library opened without any debt!
The new library is huge, with 11,000 square feet of space. It has an elevator and modern, energy-saving systems. There's a special room just for children and a space for teens. It also has a local history room and a large area for community events and programs.
The library's board is still deciding what to do with the old library building. This building is important because it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
