National Register of Historic Places

Barron Library

Woodbridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey
Listed
November 11, 1977
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
77000886

About this property

The Barron Library is a historic building located at 582 Rahway Avenue in Woodbridge Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey. Formerly a public library, it is now the Barron Arts Center. The building was documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey in 1976. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 11, 1977, for its significance in architecture and education. Thomas Barron (1790–1875) funded the construction of the building in his will. It would become the first free public library in Middlesex County. The brownstone building was designed by architect J. Cleaveland Cady in the Richardsonian Romanesque style and features a three-story clock tower. The fireplace in the Reading Room is bordered with blue and white Delft tiles, each depicting a biblical scene. The library was dedicated on September 11, 1877. In 1967, it became part of the Woodbridge Township Library System. In 1977, the building became the arts center for Woodbridge Township. National Register of Historic Places listings in Middlesex County, New Jersey Media related to Barron Library at Wikimedia Commons Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. NJ-861, "Barron Library, Rahway Avenue & Port Reading Avenue, Woodbridge, Middlesex County, NJ", 7 photos, 1 photo caption page "Barron Arts Center; Barron Library". The Historical Marker Database.

Location

582 Rahway Ave.
Woodbridge, Middlesex County, New Jersey
40.56104, -74.27398

Categories

EDUCATIONARCHITECTURE
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Barron Library

This page lists Barron Library. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Barron Library report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Trinity Episcopal Church
Industrial
0.1 mi
First Presbyterian Church and Cemetery
Early Republic
0.2 mi
Inness, George, House
Industrial
3.3 mi
Proprietary House
Industrial
3.4 mi
Roosevelt Hospital
Industrial
3.4 mi

Nearby Battles

Battle of Metuchen Meeting House (Short Hills)
1777Revolutionary War
4.5 mi

Questions about this property

When was Barron Library listed on the National Register?

Barron Library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 11, 1977.

What type of historic resource is Barron Library?

Barron Library is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Barron Library?

The period of significance for Barron Library is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Barron Library?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Barron Library will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Middlesex County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Middlesex County.

Explore MiddlesexCounty ›

More historic places in New Jersey

Browse all historic places in New Jersey.

View New Jerseyhistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

New Jersey history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

New Jerseyhistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Barron Library will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report