Delancey Floyd Jones Free Library

A lot has happened to the Delancey Floyd Jones Free Library, but three dates stand out as being especially important: 1896, 1952, and 1996.

1896 - The Library, located at the end of Merrick Road and across from Cedar Shore Drive, was built by Colonel Delancey Floyd Jones. He is one part of a long line with deep roots in America that go back two hundred years.

West Point graduate and Civil War veteran who fought in the Mexican-American war, wanted to build a library - not just for his town of Massapequa but also for all those new settlers. Toward the end of his life he was so dedicated to this cause that when asked what would happen if they did not have enough money left over after finishing construction on their farmhouse, he responded "the Lord will provide."

When Coleman Williams married one of his relatives, he was given a chunk of land next to Grace Church. He knew the area needed a library and found an architect who made their vision come true by constructing this single story building without any basement space or room for storage. Several family members donated furniture including chairs that are still in use today!

The Library was open on weekdays from 8AM to 5PM, but those who paid the $10 annual fee received a key that allowed entry any time.

1952 - The library system in the Massapequas was created as a response to an increased population explosion after World War II. The new and improved public services offered by these libraries were needed for school children, families of all backgrounds living there now and those who would soon be arriving. 

In an effort to remain open and provide service, the Delancey Floyd Jones Free Library had discussions with their Public library counterparts about becoming part of a new system. The strongest point they made was that because it has existed for many years and its staff is familiar with its collections as well as lending procedures; this could seamlessly continue under different status if needed.

After many discussions, the Public Library Trustees and the Delancey Floyd Jones Free Library Trustees both decided against including their library in a public system. As time passed on, it was clear that this small library would not suffice for an expansive city like Massapequa’s growing population. The decision to shut down came at the end of 1977 when they officially closed up shop after lending books out from 10 am until 4 pm each day since 1958.

The library is one of the most popular destinations for students, and many times their parents will even sign a card to show they are responsible for any books taken out from circulation. One very interesting aspect of this ongoing process is that sometimes those same people who were once lost in academia come back as visitors to see how much has changed since then- only too find themselves on cards!

1996 - The Floyd-Jones Library was once a bustling hub of activity, but now is used less and less as residents patronize the large public library branches on Central Avenue. With no full time librarian to keep things in order, this small branch has lost control over its collections - despite never receiving any new books from the New York State Library since 1978!

An organization called Friends of the Library was created in order to raise funds for its upkeep and to promote community involvement, but it was eventually disbanded. When the Trustees stepped in to redefine the Library's character in the early 1990s, they decided to restore its earlier appearance and make it a historical building for the public to enjoy. 

They hired a librarian, who was assigned the task of revising the Library's catalog, eliminating duplicate volumes and any that had deteriorated significantly, and focusing on books from the 1900 to 1960 period. This resulted in a building that contains many unique historical resources, including memoirs from and histories of the Jones family, volumes about Massapequa in the first half of the 20th century, and unique collections of series written for children, such as Tom Swift and the Nancy Drew mysteries.


Ellis Carpet Cleaning Massapequa

Next Up: Fort Massapeag Archeological Site