Library History

Here is the telling, in 11 parts, of the history of the Oradell Free Public Library, from its beginning.

Part 1: The Beginning

Eight eager, far-seeing, book-loving people gathered around the fireplace in the Prospect Ave. home of Miss Sara E. Tyndall one wintry night 90 years ago. The purpose of their meeting was to start a movement for a Free Public Library in the borough of Delford (as Oradell was then known).

Despite the modest size of the community, 2146 residents, these pioneers who met that 7th day of February, 1913, included several outstanding men and women. Miss Tyndall was the Principal of the Fairmount School in Hackensack. Charles Livingston Bull was world-renowned already for his distinguished animal and bird paintings. William H. Zabriskie was President of the North Jersey Title Insurance Company. Fred H. Conklin was a professional singer. J.W. Wells had been instrumental in forming the local Home and School group (forerunner of the PTA) Miss Theresa E. Gaylord was the 8th grade teacher in town.

A temporary Library Association was formed, officers were elected and they decided to apply for incorporation of The Delford Public Library Association. The necessary papers were drawn, a letter to the residents was drafted, and a constitution and by-laws were begun.

On February 28th, three weeks later, a public meeting was held in the Sunday School room of the Reformed Church. The temporary committee which had been formed outlined their hopes and plans. When Mr. Zabriskie posed the question, “Do we want a Library in Delford?” the response was an enthusiastic, “We do!”

Part 2: The Public Meeting

On February 28, 1913, a mere three weeks after the first organizational meeting, a public meeting was held in the Sunday School room of the Reformed Church. The temporary committee which had been formed outlined their hopes and plans. When Mr. William H. Zabriskie posed the question, “Do we want a Library in Delford?” the response was an enthusiastic, “We do!”

This meeting then proceeded to ballot for the Library’s first Board of Trustees. The following individuals were elected: Charles Livingston Bull, James H. Hall, Edward W. Vaill, Elizabeth Conklin, Florence E. Landmann, Francis H. Waite, Theresa E. Gaylord, Sara E. Tyndall, and William H. Zabriskie. That same evening the new Trustees held their first meeting and Mr. Zabriskie was elected President. He held this position for the next 25 years!

This new Board was undaunted by their meager resources of $98.00. They proceeded to move forward with vigorous plans which included the rental of a rear room in the Post Office building, the erection of shelves, and the acquisition of books and supplies.

Part 3: Moving Forward

The new Library Board of Trustees was undaunted by their meager resources of $98.00. They proceeded to move forward with vigorous plans which included the rental of a rear room in the Post Office building. At that time the post office was housed in a building on Oradell Ave., later owned by Arthur E. Banker. The rear room which was vacant and reasonably large became the library’s “home” for more than 11 years!

Everyone had a “will to work!” A local carpenter built and installed the shelves—plain, unpainted pine, but they served the purpose. Mrs. Zabriskie made curtains for the windows. Someone provided a desk, Miss Eliza Clevenger donated a clock, and of course there was a great outpouring of gift books, new as well as old, and the accumulation of a book fund of $100 to purchase needed titles.

Incredible as it seems, just seven weeks after the first public meeting on February 28, the Trustees could proudly open the door of their library for public inspection on Saturday afternoon, April 19, 1913.

Part 4: The First Librarian

The first librarian was Miss Marie A. Skinner and she welcomed the first library patrons on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 22, 1913.  The original hours for the library were Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 3:00-5:00 P.M.  At the May Board meeting some statistics were shared.  For instance, at that time there were a mere 214 card holders and our circulation was 639, books only, of course! 

It is interesting to note that Miss Skinner was a dedicated “volunteer” for the library during the first 3 months of the new library’s existence!  She did not begin to receive a salary until July at which time she was granted $10/month!

As time went by more gifts were received by the library, e.g., a library table from Edward VanNostrand.  The Delford Camp Fire Girls donated the money for the purchase of an unabridged dictionary.  Mr. H.S. Bailey gave a very handsome bronze sign, and the Tobin family, local music teachers, gave a recital by their pupils and donated the proceeds to the Library.

By far, the most permanent and enjoyed gifts were the work of Charles Livingston Bull.  One was the familiar owl bookplate which he designed and presented to the library in January, 1916.  The other was the beloved cougar painting which was commissioned and presented to the library by the Book & Needle Club.From its very beginnings the Library experienced steady growth and by the 3rd year the Trustees were already talking about the need for a new location, “the present quarters now being filled and no expansion possible under the present conditions.”

Part 5: A New Home

The quest ended on May 14, 1923 when the Trustees joyfully listened to the reading of a letter from the Oradell Company (in reality members of the Bellis-Blauvelt family), offering the use of what was known as the Haring House, located on Kinderkamack Rd., for library purposes.  The offer was promptly and gratefully accepted, and a fund-raising campaign instituted, for even a free building required remodelling and furnishing.

The library moved into the remodelled house the week of October 18-24, 1924 under the supervision of Mrs. Mabel S. Whiting, who had become librarian in April, 1922.  Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Ordway and Miss Helen E. Waite assisted. 

By a gift of $1,557  pledged by William H. Zabriskie, John William Bellis, David D. Bellis and John G. Demarest, the library was cleared of debt.  It had graduated from its one-room birthplace to an attractive Dutch Colonial house, one of the oldest in the Borough, which had been skillfully remodelled so that the entire ground floor offered inviting and convenient library facilities for the adult books, with a special reference room for adult non-fiction.  The library always had an abundance of Friends such as George W. Lyle who sponsored the furnishing of the Adult Reference Room, Mrs. John Bellis who sponsored the furnishing of the Junior Room and the Oradell Heights Association who provided the accessories for the old brick fireplace.

Part 6: Part of the Community

Back in 1921, the organization changed its name to the Oradell Free Library Association. In November, 1925, through the generosity of the Bellis-Blauvelt family, the old house, loaned at first, became the permanent property of the Association, and by an overwhelming majority, the borough voted to accept the Library as a municipal responsibility.

On the 2nd floor of the new building two rooms had been thrown into one for the use of Oradell’s children. Miss Helen E. Waite, who would always be known as “Miss Helen,” served as volunteer librarian for a period of six months on Mrs. Whiting’s recommendation. In May, 1925, she was appointed assistant librarian in charge of the Junior Department.

The room had a very modest, almost primitive beginning, containing the bare necessities of library life—one very small table, one chair, several donated stools and a few hundred books. However, with the arrival of proper library furniture to make it more attractive things changed very quickly. As early as 1917 the library held children’s story hours and although these story hours were not then a permanent or regular feature of the early Junior Room activities, they were held on special occasions through the years.

Visits by school classes from kindergarten through the sixth grade became routine. Special exhibits, book displays, summer reading programs and contests all made the Junior Room an active and happy place. Girl Scouts had the opportunity to earn their service badges here and sometimes held their Badge and Award nights in the Junior Room.

Before long the original room was very overcrowded. In November 1936, it was greatly enlarged and in 1940 when the fireproof addition was built at the rear of the library it gained a much needed non-fiction room and a librarian’s office.

The gifts of drapes of a Pennsylvania Dutch design, made and presented by the Book and Needle Club, and the graceful wood valances from Edward J. Opsut did much to add to the charm and pleasant atmosphere.

Part 7: The Library Grows with the Town

The growth of both the Town and the Library was so rapid that the Library was scarcely established in its own building when it became clear that the Haring House would soon be inadequate.  A new 2-story addition became a reality nearly 10 years later when the remodeled library opened on February 24, 1940.  During the construction most of the library’s collection was packed into 2 rooms on the 2nd floor of Town Hall.  Many books were left behind in storage at the library and there were poignant memories of trying to salvage them from the grit and plaster dust of the construction work.

Part 8: The Oradell Librarians

Several of our librarians have left their mark upon the library. To Mrs. Mabel S. Whiting (1922-1936) the library owes the groundwork for the accurate and detailed card catalog. Mrs. Fannie E. Bull (1936-1948) pioneered the use of book and pictorial exhibits. Mrs. Helen A. Hicks (1951-56) brought to the library a wealth of new and stimulating ideas from her long experience in the NY Public Library system.

She initiated the popular “Parent’s Shelf”, the Young Adult’s corner, summer reading clubs for high schoolers, and graduation parties for jr. high and parochial school graduates. Mrs. Hicks arranged special PTA meetings to acquaint parents and teachers with the library facilities and she organized a Great Books group.

Part 9: The Library Continues to Grow

At the time of the library’s 50th Anniversary Mrs. Edna Ramph was serving as Director. She was known for her warmth, friendliness, and spontaneous interest in the problems of every patron. By the time of her retirement in April, 1962, the library boasted a collection of more than 26,000 volumes. The adult attendance was 31,157 and the Junior room had 39,073 visitors that year. Circulation in 1962 was at an all time high of 108,319 and the number of patrons had risen to 5,497.

Current best sellers, both fiction and non-fiction, were always in demand as were a wide selection of periodicals covering topics such as homemaking and decorating, horticulture, business and finance, travel, self-help, hobbies, etc. The library also offered an excellent collection of reference books which truly met the needs of the students from 4 different schools in the area.

Part 10: Meeting the Needs of the Community

Current best sellers, both fiction and non-fiction, were always in demand as were a wide selection of periodicals.  The library also offered an excellent collection of reference books which truly met the needs of the students from four different area schools.

Miss Helen E. Waite, author of the anniversary booklet from which this history has been taken, served as the Children’s Librarian from November, 1924, until retiring April, 1958.  Upon her resignation Mrs. Doris W. Bertram was appointed the new Children’s Librarian.  Under Mrs. Bertram volunteers conducted Saturday morning story hours.  Spring Book Festivals, Book Week and the Summer Reading Campaign were all intended for the younger, under nine, crowd.  Older children had a project festival whereby each child contributed a project illustrating a book they had read.

Part 11: The Junior Department

It should be added here that the Library is proud of the fact that even in its earliest days, at a time when most libraries held that a child must attain the third grade before becoming eligible for library membership, the Oradell Library adopted a policy that is now recognized practice and encouraged pre-school children to become card holders in their own right. The experiment was a success from the start. Many of the pre-schoolers became regular visitors, and by the time they started school they were very comfortable in the Library.

The Junior Department maintains an excellent collection of old and recognized fiction as well as an extensive list of newly published titles. Its reference room is well stocked with books on a variety of subjects of interest to children, plus the major encyclopedias including World Book, Compton’s, Wonderful World, and Britannica Junior.

Also, from time to time interesting special events are arranged, an excellent example of which is the visit last spring of the famous artist-author Tony Palazzo, who also illustrates books by Oradell author Al Graham. This was held in the new wing to such an overflow audience that almost as many disappointed children were children who found seats in the Library. Happily, Mr. Palazzo generously offered to return in the fall for another show during the Book Week Celebration. This was held in the auditorium of the Oradell Elementary School, where, because of the crowd of youngsters, Mr. Palazzo was forced to give two performances.

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