SUSSEX COUNTY, N.J. — The Sussex County Library System (SCLS) has expanded its growing Digital Image Collection, adding three new sets of historic photographs that showcase the county’s people, art, and landmarks.
The newly added archives—the Louis Larsen 1965 Exhibit Photos, the Gingerbread Castle Collection, and the Fred Kattermann Photograph Collection—are curated by the Library’s Local History & Genealogy Department and now available to the public online.
The Louis Larsen 1965 Exhibit Photos feature images from a two-day exhibition of paintings by local artist Louis Larsen, held in Sussex Borough in 1965. The digitized slides document 70 of Larsen’s works. A Norwegian-born artist, Larsen lived and worked in Sussex County from the late 1800s until his death in 1932.
The Gingerbread Castle Collection celebrates one of Sussex County’s most iconic landmarks. Built in 1928 by designer Joseph Urban to promote the Wheatsworth Biscuit Company in Hamburg, the whimsical castle became a beloved attraction for generations of visitors.
The Fred Kattermann Photograph Collection includes a series of 1976 images capturing buildings, roads, and rural landscapes across Sussex County. Taken by Wantage resident Fred Kattermann, the photographs provide a glimpse into everyday life in the area nearly 50 years ago.
“We’re excited to keep expanding our digital offerings to preserve and share Sussex County’s rich history with the community,” said Tara Schaberg, Local History & Genealogy Librarian. “In addition to these new photo collections, we’ll soon be launching a Digital Newspaper Collection made possible through the New Jersey State Library’s REV 250: Examining the Semiquincentennial through a Jersey Lens grant.”
Residents can explore all three photo collections online. For more information about the Sussex County Library System’s Local History and Genealogy resources, visit sussexcountylibrary.org/local-history-genealogy or call the Main Library at 973-948-3660, ext. 3410.
