The
History
The
building was built in the early 1800's by Colonel Joseph Jackson, Iron King
of Morris County, for his son, Stephen Joseph Jackson and his wife, Mary Ann
Gleason Jackson. Stephen and Mary Ann's daughter, Caroline Amelia, was married
in the house. Caroline's cousin, Edmund Drake Halsey, served in the Civil War.
The Library is honored to house the Halsey Collection of Civil War letters.
Dr. and Mrs. George H. Foster purchased the house in 1885 from Colonel Jackson's
granddaughter, Mary. The doctor's office was on the ground floor in the right
hand wing. In 1939, the late Mrs. Marie Alice Foster, widow of Dr. Foster, willed
their three-story residence to the Borough to be used as a library and
museum, now known as the "Foster Memorial Library." In 1975, the building
was designated a National Historic Site.Today, the Library blends the latest
library materials and technology with the charm, grace, and beauty of the past.
The
Architecture
The exterior of the building has the original clapboard, a slate roof,
and brick chimneys. There are numerous double-hung 6-over-6 windows, many of
which have the original hand-blown glass panes. The lower level features a brick
fireplace with a beehive oven. On the main level, note the simple yet graceful
hand-carved mantle over the fireplace, as well as the delicately carved dentils
and moldings around the windows and ceiling. This simplicity in ornamentation,
use of symmetry and rather plain exterior, with the exception of the front entryway,
is characteristic of the restrained Federal era style.
Museum
Please bear with us as the Museum transitions to the new Historical Committee building.
The
Collection
The holdings include decorative arts, tools, and maps. Special collections
include artifacts from the Jackson family and from Dr. and Mrs. Foster.
Administration
All policies and procedures are established by the Board of Trustees.
Funding
Funding for the Museum is made possible by individual and organizational
contributions. You may support the Museum by purchasing a Remembering Rockaway
book for $10.00, available at the library's main circulation desk.
Programs
and Tours
The Museum hosts visits from individuals, as well as civic organizations
and school groups. Please call the Library to arrange a visit.