1940s Public Library BLOOMFIELD NJ

The Bloomfield Public Library has been serving the community for over seventy years. It all began in 1902, when James Newbegin Jarvie, a prominent Bloomfield businessman, founded the Jarvie Memorial Library at Westminster Presbyterian Church, in memory of his parents. In 1923, he offered the library, it's collection and equipment to the town, along with $60,000. The library did a great deal of moving around until the Board of Trustees purchased the land at 90 Broad Street for $23,000. John F. Capen, a local architect, was commissioned to draw plans for the 17,000 square foot colonial brick building which finally opened to the public in March, 1927. [Mission and History of the Library]