This Library Is 3rd Oldest In PA: Phun Philly Phacts

HATBORO, PA — You don't find many places with old spellings in their name and their logo.

But when you're the third-oldest library in Pennsylvania, the name is stretched out to its historic roots. The Union Library Company is located on York Road in Hatboro. But its name is actually The Union Library Company of Hatborough.

"We still have the old spelling in our name and our logo," Library Director Christine Law told Patch. "We don't want to change it. We have something a lot of libraries can't offer. We have our history."

The library was founded in 1755, and its building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, Law said.

The historic structure is two-and-a-half stories and is a rectangular, stuccoed stone building with its front facade showcasing a colonnaded porch with four Doric order columns.

The library was designed in the Greek Revival style, and the rear wing has side porches. What's even more impressive is inside. See photos below

"We just celebrated our 270th birthday," said Law, who has served as library director for four years. "We are still operating under our original 1775 charter. That's very rare. We are private and not owned by the borough. We are very proud of that."

Libraries in Philadelphia and Darby are the oldest in Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia is operating under its original charter, while the Darby library is considered the oldest public library in continuous service in Pennsylvania.

That places the Union Library as the second-oldest library to continue to operate under its original charter.

The third-oldest library company in the state is the Newtown Library Company, which was founded in 1760.

The Union Library at 243 South York Road can be reached at 215-672-1420 or by clicking here for more information.

(Dino Ciliberti/Patch)