Civic Pride in a Lost America: Library Postcards
Carnegie Libraries of New Jersey
Cities E - Z
1935 Curt Teich linen finish, multiview card features the three 'Orange' libraries. What an optimistic, celebratory postcard!
East Orange
In 1900, East Orange's population was 21,500. It was certainly well furnished with access to books!
Two 1900 Carnegie grants, which might have been necessary for this huge building. It's a magnificent fan-stack library; exceptionally broad and deep, maximizing its corner lot. According to the Library, its architects were Kent, Jardine, and Kent.
Replaced.
According to Wikipedia (sorry), it's now the East Orange Municipal Court. Much better than leaving it to rot.
Since this interior shows arched windows, I believe this card to be the interior of the main, Carnegie-funded library. Its back is evenly divided, making it highly unlikely that its image is of the previous building.
It's a fabulous view, meticulously tinted. It has the standard service desk and an exuberant fern.
Published by the TFG Co.
No, not that TFG.
Elmwood Branch
This stern-looking brick building appears to date from the 1907 grant. It was built in 1912, according to the library history page.
The postcard was mailed the same year. Oddly, it was printed in Luxemburg but strongly resembles the Albertype postcards.
Franklin Branch (Dodd St.)
According to the Library's history, this was funded by a 1907 (by calculation from context) grant. It was built in 1909, and is still being used as a branch library.
The E.G. Temme Card was mailed in 1910.
Elizabeth
Mayrose 'Local View' brand card. Rather a nifty nitty gritty winter scene.
Now you see me.
Now you don't.
Three 1900 Carnegie grants. Three Carnegie libraries. All three are standing, but only this location contains an active public library.
Liberty Square Branch Library
Built in 1912 from a design by architect C. Godfrey Poggi, according to Elizabeth, New Jersey Then And Now: Second Edition 2015.
The postcard was by Line & Co., and mailed in 1913.
Freehold
Built in 1903: still in use, despite its remarkably small size.
(L) Litho-chrome brand card, never mailed.
(R) Freehold Photo Supply card, ironically artistic in its rendering. Originally printed as a New York card. The N.Y. was struck out, and N.J. added, in a gothic sort of font. Mailed in 1906.
Little Falls
This was another, 1917 Carnegie building that no one held in high regard. It has been demolished.
The postcard was printed by the Collotype Company. Its images are distinguished by clarity, and by being photographed before spring's releafing.
Long Branch
1945 Curt Teich linen-finish postcard with the Carnegie library shown on the bottom, and the Long Branch City Hall shown on top.
The 1917 Carnegie library is still in use. It received the last Carnegie grant in New Jersey.
Montclair
Its first location was in a tavern, which was torn down to yield the corner lot on which this building was built in 1904. That $40,000 1902 Carnegie grant was put to exceptionally good use here, although the awning looks like somebody's fitted sheet.
The library building, replaced in 1954, is now a Unitarian Church, but the Carnegie branch is still in use!
According to an ad in the 1901 Public Libraries, this used Library Bureau patented steel stacks, along with Orange's Free Public Library. Dare we hope for the fan-stack arrangement?
The only clue to the card's identity is the number P-26154, with a B in a circle. It was never mailed, but has an evenly divided back.
New Brunswick
1902 grant. Built in 1903; expanded in 1990, and still in use!
This is another unattributable card, but its back is essentially identical to that of the Montclair card above.
Perth Amboy
First (01 March 1901) Carnegie grant received by a New Jersey Library.
The library's history was on the city's web site, which stated that the library's speedy growth needed a second (1914) grant. At one time, a children's library was built, but after a 1977 fire, it was reincorporated into the Carnegie building.
The postcard was published by the New Jersey Post Card Company.
Summit
1909 grant. Opened in 1911. Demolished and replaced in 1964. What a shame that some type of reuse wasn't made.
It bore a resemblance to the Clyde, Ohio Carnegie building.
F.E. Temme card, mailed in the summer of 1909. Unless the illustration is the world's most accurate architectural drawing, it appears that there was a nearly two year gap between its completion and its opening.
Union Hill (now Union City)
1905 grant. (1904 to Union, per Bobinski) Still in use as the 15th Street Branch of the Free Public Library.
Union City, combining Union Hill with West Hoboken (see below), was formed in 1925.
The card was printed by the Souvenir Post Card Co. of New York. Many eastern U.S. cards bear this marque.
Vineland
Curt Teich card, never mailed, dating from 1916. The reverse states that at this point, the Library comprised 8,000 volumes. It was built in 1904, and another statistic given is the citizen contribution of land and $2,500.
1903 Carnegie grant of $12,000. Still standing according to Wikipedia, in use as a senior center, but I have no confirmation.
West Hoboken (now Union City)
Early 1902 grant. It never was pink, and it no longer houses a library. It holds the William Musto Cultural Center instead. And West Hoboken has merged with Union Hill (above) to form Union City.
The iffy card was printed by Brooklyn Pose Card, and was mailed in 1915.
