Moffat Library changes ownership
By Edie Johnson
WASHINGTONVILLE — An historical treasure, the Moffat Libarary in Washingtonville, is being saved by the community that loves it.
The Town of Blooming Grove sold the building this week, for the token sum of $1, to library authorities and the nonprofit Friends of the Moffat Library because they are in a better position to do the fundraising and grant-seeking necessary to bring it back to cultural significance.
The building remained in good condition for more than 100 years, earning historical registry significance. Its sturdy foundation held up under the deluge of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, which ripped through the intersections of Routes 208 and 94. The corner where the library sits was under six feet of floodwater.
Despite some damage to the roof, carpeting, basement hot water furnace, and electrical panels, the main building stands intact. The Town of Blooming Grove assisted in major repairs, including a new furnace and roof repairs, before leaving the library to seek its own future. Blooming Grove Supervisor Frank Fornario spearheaded restoration of the Tiffany windows some years back. Barely a month before the storms hit, he said he hoped the library and 375-seat auditorium would come into their own as the cultural resources they were meant to be.
Meanwhile, the library needed a temporary home. The engineering firm Advance Testing walked up to the plate, offering a wing of their spacious building complex in Campbell Hall a couple of miles down the road, on higher ground. A stream of volunteers moved books and shelves to the temporary site.
They'll be called to moving duty again soon. According to Deputy Supervisor Brandon Nielson, the critical work on the building, which had prevented their return, has now been completed. The transfer of ownership awaits a technical 30-day waiting period, during which residents, if so inclined, may request a referendum.
"Now, the extent to which they will do any additional interior remodelling before moving back in will be up to them," Nielson said of the new owners.
A gift of gratitude
Moffat Library has been an area landmark since 1887, when David Moffat consigned and donated the building, built on the site of his family's trading store. Moffat left town as a young man to make his fortune in Colorado in mining, railroads, and as a financier. But he never forgot his roots. He dedicated the library to his hometown and family in a formidable show of gratitude.
The building was designed in a grand Queen Anne style by a renowned architect of the time, George E. Harney. It includes a 375-seat auditorium, massive fireplace, Tiffany stained windows, brass chandeliers, and a green Howard clock tower. The brick for the main structure was brought in from Goshen.
Harney is noted not only for this building, but several other historical sights of import, including The Ballantine House (of beer baron fame) in Newark, the Brooks Brothers Building in New York City, the Mercantile Library in New York City, and the Plumbush in Cold Spring. His Gothic Revival style, embellished with federal columns and a touch of Dutch influence, blend formality and warmth.
The library serves 25,000 Orange County residents and, as a member of the Ramapo Catskill Library system, has a circulation of 170,000. Its broad base of activities for both children and adults has continued even in its temporary quarters.
The Friends of the Library sponsors library activities, raises funds, beautifies the library's centralized grounds in the center of town, and delivers books, videos, and other materials to the homebound.
For more information, or to donate to the Friends of the Moffat Library, visit http://moffatlibrary.org/friends-of-the-library, or call 496-5483 ext. 323.