The first library in Bayville was started in the early 1900s in a back room of the tiny candy store owned by Josephine Cortelyou on the site of what is now Rosewood On the Sound Assisted Living Facility off of Merrit Lane. Her grandson, Albert DeLoach, a sickly fourteen-year-old, was allowed to rent out books to interested patrons.
Soon, supportive local residents formed a board and on May 1, 1902, they were able to get a provisional charter form the Regents of the State University of New York. The permanent charter was granted on May 2, 1912. The first official library location was on the second floor of the Finnin Hall building on Bayville Ave.
In 1908, a benefactor, relocated a house from Cat Hollow, for library use, to a spot on what was then called Klondike Ave (later renamed Library Lane).
Young Albert who died early at 21, was succeeded as Librarian in this location by his mother, amongst others.
