A Short History
of the
Brandywine Hundred Library

The Brandywine Hundred Library opened to a grateful public on April 11, 2003 and began circulating materials the following day.   In the weeks that followed, pent up demand emptied library shelves and the facility has been busy ever since.  Circulation and library usage statistics show that the people are using its collections and services.  Although it is a popular community resource, our library didn't "just happen."  It took years of planning and a community effort to design, fund and build the library.  The Friends of the Concord Pike Library (now Friends of the Brandywine Hundred Library) led by Jim Conrad worked for years to secure the support of county and state government and local citizens to realize this vision.

How did it all begin?  Services began humbly in the first temporary location in the foyer of Alfred I. DuPont School.  Between 1942 and 1944, the Talleyville Branch opened its first permanent station in a tiny room that was once Hogue's Barbershop.  The Library later spent a few years in the West Brandywine Grange No. 13 starting in 1946, before moving into a small room in the Tigue drug store at Blue Rock Manor in April of 1950.

The success of the Talleyville Library Branch led to it quickly outgrowing its space.  In June 1956, Mrs. James H. Young, the Talleyville Branch's Library Committee Chairwoman, announced a fundraising drive to obtain a more suitable facility.   She once said that it would take 20 years to get it built.  But that was not the case, as the Longwood Foundation made a $500,000 grant and made land available at nominal cost.

Two years later, in 1959, the Talleyville Branch made its last move into what became known as the Concord Pike Library.  At that time, it was the Main Branch of New Castle County and housed two bookmobiles that serviced schools and communities.

On February 23rd, 2003 at 9:00 p.m., after 44 years of service, the Concord Pike Library closed its doors to the public for the last time. Over four decades, the Concord Pike Library circulated millions of items and was the busiest library in New Castle County until the Bear Library opened and took the lead in 2001.  For the three consecutive years prior to its closing, the Concord Pike Library was selected as one of the "Top 100 Public Libraries in America."  Although it hasn't been officially cited as an award winner, residents of the Brandywine Hundred now enjoy the largest and busiest library in the New Castle County Library system!

About Us | Home