Weehawken Public Library facts for kids
The Weehawken Public Library is a free library for everyone in Weehawken, New Jersey. It has a huge collection of about 43,000 books and other items. Each year, people borrow over 40,000 items from the library!
The library is part of a group called the Bergen County Cooperative Library System. This group connects many local libraries in Bergen, Hudson, Passaic, and Essex counties in northeastern New Jersey.
You can find the library at 49 Hauxhurst Avenue. It sits on a high spot, looking down over the Lincoln Tunnel Approach and Helix. The building was first a private home. It became a library in 1942 and was updated a lot in 1997. This special building is also where the town's history group meets. Every year since 2000, there's a food event called A Taste of Weehawken at Lincoln Harbor to help raise money for the library.
The Library's Story
The library building has an interesting past! It was once a fancy home built by a man named Wilhelm Joseph Peter. He was also known as William Peter. He was born in Germany in 1832. When he was young, he moved to America to avoid problems after a big change in Germany in 1848.
William Peter became a successful businessman. He started the William Peter Brewing Company in 1862. Later, he built his amazing home on a cliff. This is the same spot where the library stands today.
Building a Dream Home
William Peter finished building his home in 1904. It cost a lot of money back then, about $75,000! The house looked like a German castle. It had 17 rooms and was decorated with beautiful wood, marble, and stained glass. It even had several fireplaces.
Besides being a businessman, Peter was also an artist. He had a painting studio in his home. He painted many pictures inspired by the Black Forest in Germany and the Catskill Mountains in New York.
From Home to Library
After William Peter passed away, his house was sold. In the 1930s, the Port Authority bought the house. They needed land to build the Midtown-Hudson Tunnel, which is now the Lincoln Tunnel. Many buildings were torn down, but Peter's mansion was saved!
The Port Authority gave the mansion to the town of Weehawken. In 1942, it opened as the Weehawken Public Library. People in the town donated books and other items to help start the library's collection. The library closed for a big update and expansion in 1997 and 1998. It then reopened in 1999, ready for more readers!
Weehawken History Group
The Weehawken Historical Commission has its office and archives inside the library. They keep many old photos and documents about the town's history. These items were first given to the library when it opened.
The commission also has a website called Weehawken Time Machine. On this site, you can see many of the old photos and documents online. In 2009, to celebrate Weehawken's 150th birthday, the commission published a book called Weehawken. It was part of the Images of America series.
The original town hall of Weehawken is also being fixed up. It will become the town's museum when it's finished.
