Location: 210 N Main Avenue
Ridgefield Community Library
The creation of a library in Ridgefield was community driven. history of the Ridgefield Community Library was also driven by the residents of Ridgefield. On February 3, 1914, at the call of Mrs E.B. Hall, twelve ladies met and organized the Priscilla Study Club. The club started collecting books and magazines and opened a library. The club’s aim was to offer clear literature to its readers; books chosen for the library were carefully scrutinized for any offensive language or sexy ideas.
In 1923, the club opened Ridgefield's first public library in space donated at City Hall. In 1934, the club raised enough funds to open a new library at 112 S Main Avenue. This building is still standing. In 1960, the club and city contracted with Fort Vancouver Regional Library District (FVRL) to manage the collection and in 1981 the library was fully annexed into FVRL. The library continued to operate in this building until it moved north to its current location on north Main Avenue in December 1994. Locals report that books were moved by lining volunteers down Main Avenue and passing volumes one by one to the new location.
Ridgefield Community Center
In the early 1980s, Ridgefield residents organized to create a gathering space for local folks to meet and connect, forming the Ridgefield Community Center Association (RCCA) formally in 1984. RCCA and other local organizations, such as Neighbors Helping Neighbors and the Fort Vancouver Regional Library (FVRL), came together to raise money to build a community center. From recycling programs and personal donations, to spaghetti feeds and pancake breakfasts, these local do-gooders were able to raise $65,000 for the project (more than $181,200 in 2022). With help from a grant, these organizations purchased the site and finished construction on the Ridgefield Community Center by 1994. The Ridgefield Community Library moved from its original home in the Priscilla Building clubhouse to this new building on December 6, 1994.
The center truly served as the heart of Ridgefield. For the next 20 years, residents went to the Ridgefield Community Center for bake sales, little league registration, and even a teen dance or two. Community groups such as Meals on Wheels, Ridgefield’s Federated Women’s Club, and the City Council Chambers brought people together in the space for meetings and events. The center also housed Ridgefield’s FVRL location in a portion of the building. As Ridgefield grew, so did the need for a larger library. With fundraising and property searches underway, the RCCA gifted the community center as a sustainable solution for the FVRL branch and disbanded. The expanded Ridgefield Community Library opened in 2021, offering the neighborhood a place to peruse publications, admire art, and learn something new at a class or workshop.
