Weehawken Public Library
Encyclopedia
The Weehawken Public Library is the free public library
of Weehawken, New Jersey
. The library has a collection of approximately 43,000 volumes and circulates 40,60 items annually. 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
.
One of the more unique buildings to be used as a library, it is located at 49 Hauxhurst Avenue on a precipice overlooking the Lincoln Tunnel Approach and Helix. Originally built as a private home, it became a library in 1942, and was extensively renovated in 1997. The landmark is home to the town's historical commission.
in the Grand Duchy of Baden
after the German revolution of 1848 to avoid persecution due 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. Parts of the imposing structure still stand today and are used as a storage facility. 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.
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 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 1942 with books and memorablia donated by local residents. In 1997–1998, it closed for enlargement and renovation and re-opened in 1999. An annual fundraiser for the library at Lincoln Harbor
, a culinary event called A Taste of Weehawken, has taken place since 2000.
Public library
A public library is a library that is accessible by the public and is generally funded from public sources and operated by civil servants. There are five fundamental characteristics shared by public libraries...
of Weehawken, New Jersey
Weehawken, New Jersey
Weehawken is a township in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 12,554.-Geography:Weehawken is part of the New York metropolitan area...
. The library has a collection of approximately 43,000 volumes and circulates 40,60 items annually. It is a member of the Bergen County Cooperative Library System
Bergen County Cooperative Library System
The Bergen County Cooperative Library System is an consortium of public libraries in the four northeastern New Jersey Gateway Region counties of Bergen, Hudson, Passaic, and Essex. Founded in 1984, the organization allows for reciprocal borrwing among its members so that books, audiobooks, CDs,...
, a consortium of municipal libraries in the northeastern New Jersey
Gateway Region
The Gateway Region is located in the northeastern part of State of New Jersey in the United States of America. The area encompasses Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Union and Middlesex counties...
counties of Bergen
Bergen County, New Jersey
Bergen County is the most populous county of the state of New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 905,116. The county is part of the New York City Metropolitan Area. Its county seat is Hackensack...
, Hudson
Hudson County, New Jersey
Hudson County is the smallest county in New Jersey and one of the most densely populated in United States. It takes its name from the Hudson River, which creates part of its eastern border. Part of the New York metropolitan area, its county seat and largest city is Jersey City.- Municipalities...
, Passaic
Passaic County, New Jersey
Passaic County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 501,226. Its county seat is Paterson...
, and Essex
Essex County, New Jersey
Essex County is a county located in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the United States 2010 Census, the population was 783,969, ranking it third in the state after Bergen County and Middlesex County; Essex County's population has declined from 786,147 as of the bureau's...
.
One of the more unique buildings to be used as a library, it is located at 49 Hauxhurst Avenue on a precipice overlooking the Lincoln Tunnel Approach and Helix. Originally built as a private home, it became a library in 1942, and was extensively renovated in 1997. The landmark is home to the town's historical commission.
History
Wilhelm Joseph Peter (aka William Peter) (March 16, 1832 – June 10, 1918) immigrated from AchernAchern
Achern is a city in Western Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It is located approximately 18 km southwest of Baden-Baden and 19 km northeast of Offenburg...
in the Grand Duchy of Baden
Grand Duchy of Baden
The Grand Duchy of Baden was a historical state in the southwest of Germany, on the east bank of the Rhine. It existed between 1806 and 1918.-History:...
after the German revolution of 1848 to avoid persecution due his father's affiliation with it. After some years in the brewery
Brewery
A brewery is a dedicated building for the making of beer, though beer can be made at home, and has been for much of beer's history. A company which makes beer is called either a brewery or a brewing company....
business at several locales in North Hudson
North Hudson, New Jersey
North Hudson is the collective name of the municipalities of Weehawken , Union City , West New York , Guttenberg and North Bergen in Hudson County, New Jersey...
, he established the William Peter Brewing Company in 1862 at Hudson Avenue and Weehawken Street in what was then Union Hill. Parts of the imposing structure still stand today and are used as a storage facility. 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.
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
Hudson River school
The Hudson River School was a mid-19th century American art movement embodied by a group of landscape painters whose aesthetic vision was influenced by romanticism...
artist Max Eaglau and maintained a studio as his home for himself and others use, The gallery in the house included many works inspired by his native Black Forest
Black Forest
The Black Forest is a wooded mountain range in Baden-Württemberg, southwestern Germany. It is bordered by the Rhine valley to the west and south. The highest peak is the Feldberg with an elevation of 1,493 metres ....
and the Catskill Mountains
Catskill Mountains
The Catskill Mountains, an area in New York State northwest of New York City and southwest of Albany, are a mature dissected plateau, an uplifted region that was subsequently eroded into sharp relief. They are an eastward continuation, and the highest representation, of the Allegheny Plateau...
, 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
Lincoln Tunnel
The Lincoln Tunnel is a long tunnel under the Hudson River, connecting Weehawken, New Jersey and the borough of Manhattan in New York City.-History:...
), the building and others in the neighborhood and along Boulevard East
Boulevard East
Boulevard East is a two-way, mostly two lane, scenic thoroughfare in the North Hudson, New Jersey municipalities of Weehawken, West New York, Guttenberg and North Bergen. Apart from small sections at either end, the road runs along the crest of the Hudson Palisades, affording it views of the Hudson...
were acquired by the Port Authority
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bi-state port district, established in 1921 through an interstate compact, that runs most of the regional transportation infrastructure, including the bridges, tunnels, airports, and seaports, within the Port of New York and New Jersey...
. Many were demolished, but the Peter Mansion was spared and later given to the township. The library opened in 1942 with books and memorablia donated by local residents. In 1997–1998, it closed for enlargement and renovation and re-opened in 1999. An annual fundraiser for the library at Lincoln Harbor
Lincoln Harbor (HBLR station)
Lincoln Harbor is a station on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail located at Waterfront Terrace, north of 19th Street, in Weehawken, New Jersey. The station opened on September 7, 2004.-Name and Vicinity:...
, a culinary event called A Taste of Weehawken, has taken place since 2000.