Kids & Family

Local Library Holds "Be a History Detective" Event

The Orange Public Library has relics and photos of South Orange, West Orange, Maplewood and beyond

The will open its doors and show off its stuff on Friday, Sept. 14, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Headed by Karen Wells, library volunteers and staff will display library-owned photos, maps, documents and more. Members of the public are invited to come, look and perhaps even identify items or people in the pictures.

The historic  building is worth a visit for history buffs even without the incentive of browsing the library riches. The Orange Library, known formally as the , was designed by Stanford White of the firm of to design the building; his designs also mark the Washington Square arch, the original Penn Station and the Pierpont-Morgan Library.

The Stickler Memorial Library is a Beaux-Art and Classical Revival edifice complete with Ionic and Doric columns. Any resemblance to the dome of Columbia University's Low Library or the iconic frieze carvings of Butler Library is no coincidence; the same architect designed all. Thus the Orange Library has a dome; around its eight sides are carved the disciplines that patrons of the library might pursue, whether Literature, Religion, Law or Medicine.

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The library also has glass floors, a rarity, and worth a look.

Everyone is welcome on Friday and refreshments will be served.

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Wondering what the library might have? is an example.


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