A Brief
History
April 18,
1885
By adoption of an ordinance,
the donation of $11,862.67 made to the City of Princeton by the last will of
Nehemiah Matson, for the purpose of establishing a free public library, was
accepted by the city council, in trust.
February
27, 1886
The first
Board of Directors of Matson Public Library confirmed by the city council.
March 10,
1886
The first
meeting of the new Board of Directors took place. For three years, the Matson
fund was held intact as an investment by the library board before a location for
the library was decided upon and secured. The first library was located in the
building at what is now 529 South Main Street.
1890
The Matson
Public Library located on South Main was first opened for use by the public. It
remained in use for 22 years.
1912
The
construction of the present Matson Public Library building was begun. The firm
of Patton & Miller from Chicago were the architects.
1913
The new
library at 15 Park Avenue West was first opened.
March 21,
2006
Referendum was
passed for the renovation of 698 East Peru Street, formally known as Bogo's, to
become Princeton Public Library.
August 2007
Construction is
completed. 47,000 plus volumes are relocated in their new location on East
Peru Street. On August 1st the doors opened for the first time to our
patrons.
September
2007
Grand Opening and
ribbon cutting was set for Princeton Public Library on September 8th.
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