A Cornerstone of the Community, One Hundred Years Later

Faced with disaster, residents rally to rebuild their library

By Jeffrey V. Moy, North Jersey History and Genealogy Center

On a sunny Saturday afternoon one hundred years ago on this day, over two hundred people assembled at the corner of South Street and Miller Road to dedicate a new Library building only two years after the former Library and Lyceum was tragically lost in a fire that also consumed half of the collections.

 Board of Trustees President, Franklin B. Dwight began the ceremonies by calling upon Rev. John MacNaughtan, the former pastor of First Presbyterian Church, to offer the opening prayer. He then presented the honor of laying the cornerstone to Grinnell Willis, who had graciously donated the new building, to great applause from the assembled crowd. Willis, a retired textile merchant and longtime Morristown resident, dedicated the new structure in memory of the love and affection bestowed on his late wife, Mary Baker Haydock Willis, by her friends and neighbors.

 Grinnell took a moment to acknowledge his admiration for both the Library and its community:

The love and affection you have showered upon me by word and letter in this connection have gone straight to my heart and will never be forgotten. This stone, which binds together and will uphold the structure to be reared upon it, is typical of the love which has created and will uphold a lasting friendship between us.

The old “Library and Lyceum” was for many, many years an honored and useful institution in this community, and I love to think how much this new building with its spacious halls and complete equipment will contribute to your happiness and pleasure, a cool and quite resting place where old and young, man, woman, and child may freely come and fill their cup to overflowing at this well of knowledge and entertainment.

It’s reported that Mr. Willis further endeared himself to the crowd by making his remarks brief (a precedent that the subsequent speakers chose not to follow). Nevertheless, the new Library opened its doors on December 13, 1917 and continued to thrive with over 8,000 donated and purchased volumes. A Children’s Librarian was added in 1918 to coordinate activities between local schools and children, and several donations of historic papers that would constitute the seed of a new local history and genealogy department were given by prominent residents.

By 1930, the popularity of the new Library’s programs and services necessitated construction of a new wing, also donated by Grinnell, to accommodate the growth in collections and number of visitors. Because of the continued patronage and support of both Morris Township and Morristown residents, the Library has built upon the foundation that Grinnell Willis established and endeavored to fulfill his vision of a place where the community can seek out information and entertainment.

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