Bedminster’s library has been a cornerstone of the local community since its founding in 1957. What began as a passionate grassroots effort by citizens seeking a dedicated children's reading room quickly expanded to serve adults, bridging the communities of Bedminster and Far Hills. As local residents rallied together to fund and construct the library, they established a legacy of volunteerism that the Friends of the Clearence Dillon Library still champion today. Through the generous donations by the Dillon family to establish a permanent local library that would serve as an educational and community hub, the library was officially dedicated to Clarence Dillon in September 1979, 5 months after his passing.  

As the community expanded, the library evolved with it. The library’s location moved several times during its early years as detailed by Pritch Matthews in Bedminster Township 250 Years. Originally set up in the corner of the “This and That Shop” on Rt. 206, it then moved in 1959 to the Bedminster School, but as it had limited access for adults, it then moved in 1962 to the Dutch Reformed Church, and again to the Far Hills Municipal Building. With the need for a permanent location clear, in 1977, the then Crossroads Library Association bid on the current library location, a former phone switching station. Within two years, the site was renovated and open for business. Ten years later, due to growth in the community population and growing need for services, the library was further expanded to its current size greatly due to the diligence and fund-raising efforts of Far Hills entrepreneur, Marvin Flowerman.

But who exactly was the man behind the name on the building, whose portrait hangs prominently in the library’s entrance? Just last year, the library hosted a talk by William Loomis, “Clarence Dillon the Man” who detailed Dillon’s early life in TX to his rise to head the Wall Street investment firm Dillon, Read & Co. which famously rescued the Goodyear Tire & Rubber company from bankruptcy in 1921. He also purchased the Dodge Brothers Company in 1925, which he merged with Chrysler Corporation to become one of the leaders in the automobile industry. In 1928, he built Dunwalke Farm, a majestic 1,200-acre Georgian-style estate here in Bedminster. His deep footprint in American history was evident through his and his business partners’ ties to the War Industries Board, which extended to his son, C. Douglas Dillon, who grew up on the Bedminster property and eventually served as the US Secretary of the Treasury. 

Today, that same spirit of community, history, and excellence thrives within the library’s walls. Visit the Anne O'Brien Room at the library to learn more of our local history and while you are there, take a minute to admire the historic Bicentennial quilt on display and created by quilters as we as a community prepare to celebrate our nation’s 250th next month.