Library Hall Lofts

Library Hall was built in 1866 to provide a meeting place and
town hall for the municipality of Bergen, an area founded by
Peter Styuvessant in the 1600’s when the Dutch first settled
around Manhattan Island and New York Harbor. The first
settlers experienced a rough start, including run-ins with the
Lenape Indians and an ongoing struggle over the land between
the Dutch and English. Despite the setbacks, Bergen eventually
grew to cover much of today’s Hudson County. As New York City
and the surrounding areas flourished through the 1800’s Bergen,
and Bergen Hill especially, became a haven for prominent
businessmen as the open space and vantage point from the
Palisade cliffs was an ideal setting to get away from bustling
downtown Jersey City and Manhattan.

In the mid 1860’s the town built Library Hall, sited prominently at
the base of the Palisades as a gateway to their community. It is a
classic, understated Italianate structure constructed of stone and
brick with details befitting a prominent public space. Its stature,
especially viewed from Grand Street where the building is tallest
and most imposing, gives a glimpse into the neighborhoods societal
and economic past.

Through the mid- 1800’s Hudson County was experiencing a
political and economic re-shuffling. Many smaller municipalities
were merging with others to share services such as street
building and police forces. Bergen eventually made the move as
well, merging with Jersey City in 1869. Since then Library Hall has
had many civic and commercial uses. In the late 1800’s it served
as Jersey City’s first public library, (hence its namesake) as well
as the 4 th precinct police department and hosted a myriad of
important political and social events. Through the 1900’s Library
Hall has been in commercial use with several long-term owners.
Michaels Furniture was here through four decades, supplying local
homeowners with high-end home furnishings, and National Carpet
was operating here from the mid-seventies until 2005. Now it’s time
for Library Hall to turn another corner, adding to it’s already storied
past.



			The History

		Library Hall was built in 1866 to provide a meeting place and town hall for the municipality of Bergen, an area founded by Peter Styuvessant in the 1600’s when the Dutch first settled around Manhattan Island and New York Harbor. The first settlers experienced a rough start, including run-ins with the Lenape Indians and an ongoing struggle over the land between the Dutch and English. Despite the setbacks, Bergen eventually grew to cover much of today’s Hudson County. As New York City and the surrounding areas flourished through the 1800’s Bergen, and Bergen Hill especially, became a haven for prominent businessmen as the open space and vantage point from the Palisade cliffs was an ideal setting to get away from bustling downtown Jersey City and Manhattan. In the mid 1860’s the town built Library Hall, sited prominently at the base of the Palisades as a gateway to their community. It is a classic, understated Italianate structure constructed of stone and brick with details befitting a prominent public space. Its stature, especially viewed from Grand Street where the building is tallest and most imposing, gives a glimpse into the neighborhoods societal and economic past. Through the mid- 1800’s Hudson County was experiencing a political and economic re-shuffling. Many smaller municipalities were merging with others to share services such as street building and police forces. Bergen eventually made the move as well, merging with Jersey City in 1869. Since then Library Hall has had many civic and commercial uses. In the late 1800’s it served as Jersey City’s first public library, (hence its namesake) as well as the 4 th precinct police department and hosted a myriad of important political and social events. Through the 1900’s Library Hall has been in commercial use with several long-term owners. Michaels Furniture was here through four decades, supplying local homeowners with high-end home furnishings, and National Carpet was operating here from the mid-seventies until 2005. Now it’s time for Library Hall to turn another corner, adding to it’s already storied past.