EASTON, Pa. — The Easton Holiday Ornament for 2024 has been unveiled, showcasing the iconic Easton Public Library.
This year’s ornament serves as a celebration of the landmark institution, “making it a must-have addition to any holiday collection,” as the Greater Easton Development Partnership described it.
The ornament will be made available for purchase starting this weekend at Garlic Fest; it can also be found on the Shop Downtown Easton website, as well as retailers including Belleville Market, Highmark Farmstand at Easton Public Market, Connexions Gallery, and the Carmelcorn Shop.
Historical context
The building, originally constructed with funding from Scottish-American businessman Andrew Carnegie, has stood at 515 Church St. ever since it was completed in 1902, with expansions in 1913, 1945, and 1968 to accommodate the city's growing needs.
The Easton Library Company originally began in 1811, and by 1815, the founders could construct a community library on land donated by Samuel Sitgreaves.
By 1895, women of the Lehigh Valley founded the Easton Library Association to permit free library access to the general public, and for those who could not afford an annual library fee. Their first physical location opened the following year.
In 1901, the Easton Library Association and the Easton Library Company united their collections to cater to increased interest and visitors.
Once Carnegie began funding public libraries, the Easton Library Association submitted plans and a donation request for a new building at Church Street. The plans were approved on the conditions that Easton would provide land for the facility, and cover annual maintenance and upkeep through city funding.
The plans detailed a two-story Modern Renaissance building measuring 90 by 70 feet, with a fireproof vault for the protection of rare and valuable assets, and an auditorium that could seat between 400 and 500 people.
By 1963, the library was designated as one of the state’s very first district library centers, servicing Monroe and Northampton counties.
Acknowledging its vast collection of materials and history, the National Endowment for the Humanities recognized the Easton Public Library as “one of the most extensive research libraries in the East.”
The Easton Public Library joined the Allentown Public Library, Bethlehem Public Library, and Moravian College Library to create the Lehigh Valley Library System in 2001.
In addition to being an incredible piece of history to the city, the library may also be haunted. During the construction of the building in the early 20th century, hundreds of graves were discovered, and while most of the bodies were moved to other cemeteries, Elizabeth Bell "Mammy" Morgan and William Parsons were reinterred on the grounds with new markers.
Visitors have reported the library is haunted, with reports of doors and cabinet drawers slamming shut and opening at random, and the feeling of a hand touching visitors. Some have even said they have seen the ghostly figure of Morgan walking the grounds.
If you’re looking to add a Dickensian touch to your Christmas décor this year, stop by one of the local shops and pick up the Easton Public Library ornament.
