The Canajoharie Library & Arkell Museum

The Canajoharie Library was born in the 1880s when a committee of local dignitaries organized a lending library in the drawing room of the Arkell home. By the early 1900s the library had moved first to a school room and then to rented space downtown. In 1914, under the sponsorship of local industrialist Bartlett Arkell, the library was granted its charter by New York State.

Mr. Arkell's interest in the library grew over the next 10 years, and in 1925 he had the original section of the current facility built, and presented it to the village in memory of his father, state Senator James Arkell. Mr. Arkell continued to be involved in library activities until his death in the 1940s. An endowment that he originated remains an important source of income for the library.

^ top