:Weehawken Public Library
{{Short description|Public library in New Jersey}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
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The Weehawken Public Library is the free public library of Weehawken, New Jersey. The library has a collection of about 43,000 volumes and circulates 40,604 items annually.{{cite web | title = Weehawken Public Library | publisher = librarytechnology.org | date = November 2011 | url = http://www.librarytechnology.org/lwc-displaylibrary.pl?RC=11845 | access-date = 2011-11-23}} It is a member of the Bergen County Cooperative Library System, a consortium of municipal libraries in the northeastern New Jersey counties of Bergen, Hudson, Passaic, and Essex.{{cite web | title = Weehawken Public Library | publisher = Bergen County Cooperative Library System | url = http://www.bccls.org/members/weeh.shtml | access-date = 2011-11-24}}
The library sits at 49 Hauxhurst Avenue on a precipice overlooking the Lincoln Tunnel Helix. Originally built as a private home, it became a library in 1942, and was extensively renovated and expanded in 1997-1998.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/06/28/nyregion/on-the-map-above-the-helix-an-old-library-grows-newer.html|title=ON THE MAP; Above the Helix, an Old Library Grows Newer|first=Steve|last=Strunsky|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=June 28, 1998|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=January 4, 2023|archivedate=May 27, 2015|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527084533/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/06/28/nyregion/on-the-map-above-the-helix-an-old-library-grows-newer.html}} The landmark is home to the town's historical commission.{{Cite web|url=https://jerseydigs.com/william-peter-mansion-49-hauxhurst-avenue-now-public-library-weehawken/|title=Beers and Books: History of the Weehawken Public Library|first=Chris|last=Fry|date=September 4, 2018}}{{cite book |last1=Sherman |first1=Lauren |last2=Gaulkin |first2=Ellen Robb |title=Weehawken |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=GpGa8YEkZxAC&q=Weehawken+Arcadia+publishing+library&pg=PA6 |format=paper |edition=1st |series=Images of America |date= February 2009 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=978-0-7385-6268-1 }} An annual fundraiser for the library at Lincoln Harbor, a culinary event called A Taste of Weehawken, has taken place since 2000.{{Cite news | last = Arrue | first = Karen | title = Weehawken library fund-raiser brings new and known restaurants to Lincoln Harbor for cuisine and the view | newspaper = The Jersey Journal | date = April 27, 2010 | url = http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/weehawken/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1272349526101130.xml&coll=3 | access-date = 2011-11-23 }}{{Cite news | last = Deering | first = Sally | title = Local Hudson County Restaurants and Wine Suppliers participate in Fundraising Event for Weehawken Free Public Library | newspaper = Riverview Observer | date = April 23, 2011 | url = http://riverviewobserver.net/2011/04/a-taste-of-weehawken-benefit-april-26th-2011/ | access-date =2011-11-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110502042745/http://riverviewobserver.net/2011/04/a-taste-of-weehawken-benefit-april-26th-2011/ |archive-date=2011-05-02}}
History
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Wilhelm Joseph Peter (aka William Peter) (March 16, 1832 – June 10, 1918) immigrated from Achern in the Grand Duchy of Baden after the German revolution of 1848 to avoid persecution due to his father's affiliation with it. After some years in the brewery business at several locales in North Hudson, he established the William Peter Brewing Company in 1862 at Hudson Avenue and Weehawken Street in what was then Union Hill.{{cite web|last=Schneider |first=Eberhardt |title=Wilhelm Joseph Peter |url=http://www.eberhardschneider.com/WilhelmJosephPeter.html |access-date=2011-11-25 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100511064724/http://www.eberhardschneider.com/WilhelmJosephPeter.html |archive-date=May 11, 2010 }}{{cite web|title=Peter Family from Achern to Union Hill |publisher=fortunecity.com |url=http://members.fortunecity.com/speciale/ |access-date=2011-11-25 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604101711/http://members.fortunecity.com/speciale/ |archive-date=June 4, 2011 }} Parts of the imposing structure remained, and were repurposed as a storage facility.{{cite web|url=http://www.americanselfstorage.com/locations/unioncity.html|title=SELF STORAGE UNION CITY |access-date=November 25, 2011 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104060338/http://www.americanselfstorage.com/locations/unioncity.html|archive-date=November 4, 2011 }}{{Cite web|url=http://streettotheleft.weebly.com/2/category/weehawken|title=Category: Weehawken|website=STREET TO THE LEFT}} While he and his family lived for a time across the street at the since demolished Fausel Mansion, Peter eventually built a mansion across the valley on the cliff where the library now stands.{{cite web|title = Peters/Arnoldi House in the 1930s - Pre Library|publisher=Weehawken Time Machine|url=https://weehawkentimemachine.omeka.net/items/show/3222|language=en-US|url-status=live|access-date=March 4, 2023|archive-date=March 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327022829/https://weehawkentimemachine.omeka.net/items/show/3222}}
File:William_Peter_historical_marker-Hudson_Ave_%26_Peter_Street-Union_City.jpg
Completed in 1904 at the cost of $75,000, the home was designed like a German-style castle with 17 rooms and elaborately decorated with ornate woodwork, marble, stained glass, and several fireplaces. A successful businessman, Peter was also a painter encouraged by Hudson River School artist Max Eaglau and maintained a studio as his home for himself and others to use. The gallery in the house included many works inspired by his native Black Forest and the Catskill Mountains, where he summered. After Peter's death, the house changed hands and was owned for a time by the Arnoldi family. In the 1930s, to make way for the construction of the Midtown-Hudson Tunnel (today's Lincoln Tunnel), the building and others in the neighborhood and along Boulevard East were acquired by the Port Authority. Many were demolished, but the Peter Mansion was spared and later given to the township. The library opened in September 1942{{cite web|url=https://hudsonreporter.com/2022/04/14/weehawken-bonds-2-8-million-for-more-municipal-pool-upgrades/|author=Israel, Daniel|newspaper=The Hudson Reporter|title=Weehawken bonds $2.8 million for more municipal pool upgrades|language=en-US|url-status=live|date=April 14, 2022|accessdate=April 16, 2022|archivedate=April 16, 2022|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220416162916/https://hudsonreporter.com/2022/04/14/weehawken-bonds-2-8-million-for-more-municipal-pool-upgrades/}} with books and memorabilia donated by local residents.
In 1997, the library closed for expansion and renovation. It re-opened in 1999. In March 2022, the town council adopted a $1.4 million bond ordinance to modernize the library. The project includes installation of energy efficient lighting, replacement of exterior windows, improved Wi-Fi, a new HVAC system, an improved electrical system, and additional USB ports to public work stations.
Weehawken Historical Commission
The Weehawken Historical Commission maintains materials originally contributed upon the creation of the library as well as other acquisitions made over the years.{{cite web|url=http://www.weehawkenhistory.org/whc.htm |title=The Weehawken Time Machine - Weehawken Historical Commission |publisher=Weehawkenhistory.org |access-date=2011-11-29}} The Weehawken Time Machine is a website that has digitized many of the photographs and documents in the collection. In 2009, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the town's incorporation, members of the commission published Weehawken as part of Arcadia Publishing's Images of America series.{{Cite news| last1 = Schwaeble| first1 = Diana| last2 = Rosero| first2 = Jessica|title = A look back in time Capturing Weehawken's past in pictures| newspaper = Hudson Reporter| date = June 24, 2008| url = http://hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/2416261/article-A-look-back-in-time-Capturing-Weehawken-s-past-in-pictures| access-date = 2011-11-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930122818/http://hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/2416261/article-A-look-back-in-time-Capturing-Weehawken-s-past-in-pictures |archive-date=September 30, 2011}}{{cite web| last = Kim| first = Jennifer| title = Weehawken kicks off year-long celebration of 150th anniversary| publisher = Arcadia Publishing| date = February 4, 2009| url = http://www.arcadiapublishing.com/news/1767/weehawken-kicks-off-year-long-celebration-of-150th-anniversary| access-date = 2011-11-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016173042/http://www.arcadiapublishing.com/news/1767/weehawken-kicks-off-year-long-celebration-of-150th-anniversary |archive-date=2013-10-16}}
References
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External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Official website|http://www.weehawken-nj.us/library.html }}
- [http://www.bccls.org/ Bergen County Cooperatived Library System]
- [http://www.weehawkenhistory.org/poweredby.htm Weehawken Time Machine]
- [http://wikimapia.org/1039358/Weehawken-Library Wikimapia]
- [http://www.weehawken-nj.us/index.html Weehawken Township Official Website]
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Category:Weehawken, New Jersey
Category:Public libraries in New Jersey
Category:Buildings and structures in Hudson County, New Jersey
Category:Education in Hudson County, New Jersey
Category:Houses completed in 1904
Category:Tourist attractions in Hudson County, New Jersey