Friends of Montclair Library

You may know that the Montclair branch library’s construction in 1930 was funded by wealthy benefactor Chauncey W. Gibson. But did you know that Middletown, in Lake County, also has a Gibson library?

Check out this article by Jan Cook for the Lake County News for the complete back story, including some interesting history about Gibson, who made his fortune in “banking, soap and carbon dioxide.” The Middletown library is relocating to a new, larger building today, leaving the future of the Gibson building undecided.

Fun fact: In the early days of the Middletown library the librarian lived in the library. There’s no evidence that the same thing was true in Montclair, but with the fireplace and big front windows it could have been a cozy little abode.