Moffat Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Moffat Library of Washingtonville |
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| Library after 2017 reopening | |
| Country | USA |
| Type | Public library |
| Established | 1887 |
| Location | 6 West Main Street, Washingtonville, NY |
| Coordinates | 41°25′40″N 74°10′3″W / 41.42778°N 74.16750°W |
| Collection | |
| Items collected | Books and optical media |
| Size | 39,000 |
| Access and use | |
| Population served | 25,000 |
| Website | Moffat Library |
| References: | |
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Moffat Library
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Architect | George Edward Harney |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne style |
| NRHP reference No. | 94001000 |
| Added to NRHP | August 19, 1994 |
The Moffat Library is a public library in Washingtonville, New York. It serves about 25,000 people. This includes residents of Washingtonville and nearby towns. These towns are Blooming Grove, Hamptonburgh, and New Windsor.
The library is easy to find in the center of town. It sits where two main roads meet: NY 208 and NY 94. Inside, the library has beautiful stained glass windows. One was designed by the famous artist Louis Comfort Tiffany. Another is a Belcher mosaic window. These special windows were added after the library was first built.
Building the Moffat Library
The library is named after David Moffat. He grew up in Washingtonville. Later, he became very wealthy from railroads, mining, and finance. He settled in Denver, Colorado.
In 1885, David Moffat wanted to help his hometown. He decided to build a library. It was built on the spot where his father's trading post once stood. His father, Samuel, started the trading post in 1811. The library was named for both his mother Catherine and his father. David Moffat wanted the library to spread "useful knowledge."
A New York architect named George Edward Harney designed the building. He used the popular Queen Anne style. The library was built with brick from nearby Goshen. The finished building had a Howard clock on top. It also featured Greek columns and a large auditorium. This auditorium could seat 375 people.
Opening Day and Early Years
The Moffat Library officially opened on April 25, 1887. However, when it first opened, there were no books yet! The Moffat Library Association was created. Their job was to set up the library and a reading room.
The next year, they got bookcases. Then, some books were finally put on the shelves. By 1899, the beautiful stained glass windows were installed. At that time, the library had 2,000 books. Most of these books were donated by David Moffat himself.
The Library Today
In 1994, the Moffat Library was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a special historical building. The next year, the library changed from a private group to a public one. Today, the library holds over 29,000 items. These items are borrowed about 170,000 times each year.
In 2011, the library faced a big challenge. It had to close and move its collection. This happened because of flooding from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. The basement was flooded with 6 feet (2 meters) of water. This damaged the building's electrical and heating systems. A local company helped by giving the library a temporary space. Library officials thought repairs would take about two months.
On September 16, 2017, the library proudly reopened its doors. It was the first time since the flood. The building had new additions and renovations. Historical items, like the Tiffany glass windows and the clock tower, were also restored.
