CAPE MAY, NJ-- The Cape May City Library Branch officially opened its doors on June 13, 2024, with a Book Brigade and Ribbon Cutting ceremony. The library, located at 720 Franklin Street in Cape May, is part of the county’s network of libraries. Cape May County Commissioner Director Leonard C. Desiderio and Cape May City Mayor Zach Mullock had the honor of ceremoniously cutting the ribbon, marking the long-anticipated opening of the library and multi-use center.
In welcoming the guests at the ribbon cutting, Commissioner Director Leonard C. Desiderio said, “It has been four years in the making, but certainly worth the wait. The County is proud to be a part of this great project that will provide residents with opportunities for lifelong learning ad social engagement, but also enhances everyone’s quality of life.”
“As a previously segregated elementary school, the Franklin Street School holds within its walls the stories of generations past, and by repurposing this space, we are not only preserving its history, but also creating a beacon of learning and community gathering for all to come together, to learn, to grow and to connect”, Desiderio added.
The Franklin Street School was built in 1927, a former segregated elementary school, for African American students from kindergarten through eighth grade. It had only three classrooms and three teachers assigned to educate African American children in Cape May. The school was closed in 1949 when New Jersey banned segregation statewide. Over the years the facility has been used for various purposes, with the library breathing new life into the building that will preserve its history and serve the community.
“This project is a perfect example of how to preserve the past while preparing for the future. We have been able to save an important historic building by repurposing it into a 21st Century library that honors that history while meeting the educational, recreational, technological and other needs of the community,” stated Mayor Zachary Mullock.
In addition to the library, the former school will house the Center for Community Arts (CCA), a local arts and history group. CCA worked diligently to renovate the building, supported by a long-term lease from the City of Cape May in 2002. Significant rehabilitation and environmental remediation, including window replacements, have taken place. CCA raised over $700,000 in matching grants, highlighting the City’s African American heritage and creating a cultural center. Their work is credited for helping to save the building that aided in the preservation efforts.
‘This project represents a powerful symbol of progress, and partnership in our County with multiple levels of government working together including County, municipal, state and federal branches,” said Desiderio.
Total project cost is $11 million, which began with a shared service agreement through the County Board of Commissioners, the City of Cape May and the Library Commission with each entity contributing $2.3 million.
Additional funding came from the New Jersey State Library Commission ($3,447,081 grant), the New Jersey Historic Trust ($595,000 grant), and the National Park Service African American Civil Rights grant ($500,000).