Weehawken Public Library

History

Wilhelm Joseph Peter (aka William Peter) (March 16, 1832 – June 10, 1918) immigrated from Achern in the Grand Duchy of Baden after the German revolution of 1848 to avoid persecution due to 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 remained, and were repurposed as a storage facility. While he and his family lived for a time across the street at the since demolished Fausel Mansion,

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. with books and memorabilia donated by local residents.

In 1997, the library closed for expansion and renovation. It re-opened in 1999. In March 2022, the town council adopted a $1.4 million bond ordinance to modernize the library. The project includes installation of energy efficient lighting, replacement of exterior windows, improved Wi-Fi, a new HVAC system, an improved electrical system, and additional USB ports to public work stations.

Weehawken Historical Commission

The Weehawken Historical Commission maintains materials originally contributed upon the creation of the library as well as other acquisitions made over the years. The Weehawken Time Machine is a website that has digitized many of the photographs and documents in the collection. In 2009, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the town's incorporation, members of the commission published Weehawken as part of Arcadia Publishing's Images of America series.

References

References

1. (November 2011). "Weehawken Public Library". librarytechnology.org.
2. "Weehawken Public Library". Bergen County Cooperative Library System.
3. Strunsky, Steve. (June 28, 1998). "ON THE MAP; Above the Helix, an Old Library Grows Newer". [[The New York Times]].
4. Fry, Chris. (September 4, 2018). "Beers and Books: History of the Weehawken Public Library".
5. (February 2009). "Weehawken". [[Arcadia Publishing]].
6. Arrue, Karen. (April 27, 2010). "Weehawken library fund-raiser brings new and known restaurants to Lincoln Harbor for cuisine and the view". The Jersey Journal.
7. Deering, Sally. (April 23, 2011). "Local Hudson County Restaurants and Wine Suppliers participate in Fundraising Event for Weehawken Free Public Library". Riverview Observer.
8. Schneider, Eberhardt. "Wilhelm Joseph Peter".
9. "Peter Family from Achern to Union Hill". fortunecity.com.
10. "SELF STORAGE UNION CITY".
11. "Category: Weehawken".
12. "Peters/Arnoldi House in the 1930s - Pre Library". Weehawken Time Machine.
13. Israel, Daniel. (April 14, 2022). "Weehawken bonds $2.8 million for more municipal pool upgrades". [[The Hudson Reporter]].
14. "The Weehawken Time Machine - Weehawken Historical Commission". Weehawkenhistory.org.
15. (June 24, 2008). "A look back in time Capturing Weehawken's past in pictures". Hudson Reporter.
16. Kim, Jennifer. (February 4, 2009). "Weehawken kicks off year-long celebration of 150th anniversary". Arcadia Publishing.