Margaret E. Heggan Free Public Library

MARGARET E. HEGGAN FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY
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Washington Township

History

In Memoriam

Margaret “Peg” Elvins Heggan age 92 died on January 18, 2005. The daughter of Thomas and Lilla Ruby Elvins, Peg was born on June 16, 1912, in Hammonton, NJ. She and her late husband Oscar (“Jack”) K. Heggan operated a successful orchard business in Washington Township. Peg served on the Township Committee and became the first female mayor of Washington Township. Her dream of a public library in Washington Township was attained though many hours of dedicated volunteer work. In 1984 she was named Washington Township’s Person of the Year. On January 21, 1985, the library was renamed The Margaret E. Heggan Free Public Library.

Library History

In 1965 a group of nine civic-minded women known as the Whitman Square Women's Club felt that there was a need for public library service in this fast-growing community.

The first meeting was set up and held on February 10, 1965 at 8 p.m. in the Community Club House; forty people attended this meeting. At this time the needs, objectives, and governing structure of the new association were announced.

The Provident Corporation, developers of Whitman Square, offered the association the use of the "Russian House", a 24 x 16 foot box-type structure as a temporary library facility. It was moved from Whitman Square to a piece of township owned land on Ganttown Road.

The library was officially opened for patrons on March 2, 1966. The hours were posted and twenty-five volunteer schedules were assigned. The book collection consisted of 3,500 volumes, some of which had been lent to the library by the State.

In 1971 the need for further expansion was once again expressed. In the early part of 1973, Joseph Esposito of ESK Enterprises announced plans to construct a new building for the Library Association. A one acre site on Chapel Heights Road, next to the Bunker Hill School, was donated by Mr. Esposito. On August 3, 1973 the "David Iervolino Memorial Library" was officially dedicated.

In 1978, the library became a part of the county system.

As a result of a public referendum, the library left the county system in 1988, and in 1991, it became a municipal library and the board of trustees was formed.

The library moved to its present location in 1992 when the School Board and the Township swapped the Chapel Heights and Greentree Road properties. The present location is 10,000 square feet.

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