 John H. Eastwood of Belleville, New Jersey, a client of R. E. Lum, bequeathed $30,000 upon his death in 1924 for the construction of the library as a memorial to his own father, John H. Eastwood, Sr., and Ralph E. Lum’s father, Frederick H. Lum, who were close friends.The building was dedicated as the Chatham Public Library, and it opened to the public in 1924.Residents of Chatham Borough were able to join.