| Railroad Timeline: |
| 1909 | Walter W. Law, Village founder, built the railroad station as a gift to Briarcliff Manor. Built as a gabled station house, of English design, it sported oriental rugs on the floor and flowers on the tables in his time. He also gave the adjacent 6-acre Law Park to the Village of Briarcliff Manor. |
| 1880-1958 | The 53 mile long Railroad track was in service for the Putnam Division of the New York Central Railroad. It was intended primarily for freight traffic to carry iron ore from Mahopac and Tilly Foster mines in Putnam County. |
| 1890's | The mines caved in during the 1890's, putting a halt to the need for iron ore transport, but passengers continued to use the line. |
| 1928 | Passenger use dropped. |
| 1970 | Trains ceased to run. |
| 1981 | The Railroad bed was leased by the County from the Department of Transportation to use the right of way for recreational purposes. Route becomes the widely-used rail trail.
|
| Library Timeline: |
| 1914 | Briarcliff Community Club sponsors and houses Library in their headquarters. |
| 1921 | Library registered with New York State |
| 1928 | Community Club property sold to Parkway Commission (9A) and Library moves to Tower Room of Briarcliff Realty Building |
| 1930 | Library moved to High School |
| 1949 | Library moves to two rooms in the Village Recreation Bulding |
| 1958 | Railroad Station is converted into Library which opens in January of 1959
Building Budget (1958):
$12,500 to purchase station
$2,000 to rebuild interior
$1,000 to paint and clean the outside timbers and stucco
$3,500 in additional funds to convert the baggage room into a meeting room
$14,000 raised by Villagers - balance funded by Library Board
(would have cost $100,000 to build a library building, which "would have been flimsy and modern instead of massive," according to the then Board President, Charles H. Schuman) |
| 1959 | Absolute Charter granted from the New York State Board of Regents to the Briarcliff Manor Free Library |
| 1964 | NYS Board of Regents granted charter as a Public Library |
| 1980 | Mezzanine added for additional book stacks - cosmetic work done |
| 1995 | Referendum for a 10,600 sq. ft. library failed by 13 votes; a total of 871 votes are cast |
| 1997 | Interior renovations completed - painting, carpeting, new workstations, main desk, and incidental furnishings |
| 1999 | Exterior renovations completed - new roof, chimney, exterior millwork, painting, cleaning of stucco, exterior lighting improvements. |
| 2000 | Community based Planning Committee creates Long-Range Plan for the Library with chief goal to provide adequate space... |
| 2001 | Westchester Library System Board unanimously votes final waiver as the Library has not filed a plan to meet NYS Standard #8 - that each library maintain a facility to meet community needs, including adequate space, lighting, shelving, seating and restroom. |
| 2001 | Village Board considers schematic plan to expand Library at current site |
| 2002 | The Project to convert the long-vacant Kings College property into "the Garlands," a Continuing Care Retirement Center, offers to "provide a donation of $2.25 million towards the construction of the library renovation and expansion." |
| 2003 | Library and Village negotiate with New York State to keep Library from Registration review/Charter revocation, indicating that permanent expansion will take place either at current site or at Garland site. Library will provide modular space on present site as interim step toward remaining open. |
| 2004 | Modular installed and opened as new Library Children's Room |
| 2006 | Referendum Passed by 222 votes to spend up to $4 million to expand the library at its current site. |
| 2007 | Groundbreaking for 6,600 sq. ft. New Addition to Building. Construction commences summer of 2007 and continues through 2008. |
| 2009 | February 19, 2009 the New Addition opens with a Grand Opening Celebration on March 8, 2009. Planning for phase II; the renovation of the Library/railroad station building, in progress.(Library Expansion Information) |
LIBRARY PHOTOS |
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