This file part of www.watertownhistory.org website
Watertown Public Library
Watertown Public Library website
Background:
Kiessling,
Elmer C., Watertown Remembered,
(Milwaukee) 1986, pp. 166-170.
The Saturday Club,
founded in 1885, and the Euterpe Club, founded in 1896, are grace notes in
Watertown literature and music. But they
were also instrumental in arousing interest in a Watertown library, since both
clubs needed books and source materials to do research for the papers given in
their ambitious programs.
Long before the
women's clubs began to agitate for a public library, attempts had been made to
provide more reading materials for Watertown readers. Back in 1857 a Young Men's Association opened
reading and debating rooms in the Watertown Bank
building and subscribed to a number of domestic and foreign magazines,
which were "on the table" and available to readers. Late that year the Association took up its
quarters in the larger Cole Hall and expanded its work, purchasing books and
inviting outside speakers to give public lectures. A speech by Horace Greeley on "Europe As
I Saw It" was given in such a drawling tone that it prompted Editor Ballou
of the Democrat to write: "A donkey could roar like a lion as easily as
the renowned philosopher of the press could be an impressive and graceful
speaker." Ballou praised the first
part of a lecture by Carl Schurz "until he lowered himself to the level of
partisan politics" by praising the Republican Party.
Some years after the
Association disbanded, most of the books it had acquired were turned over to
the Northwestern College Library, which was then housed in a building nicknamed
"Die Kaffeemuehle," because it resembled a huge coffee mill. Most of the books were destroyed when the
coffee mill was struck by lightning one night in July, 1894, and went up in
flames. But one, Hinton Rowan
"Helper's Impending Crisis," is still on the shelves of the college
library. Its bookplate shows that it was
the property of the "Watertown Library Association" and contains
precise rules concerning the borrowing of books from this organization.
Books for rental
could be obtained in the stores of F. Baebenroth, the bookbinder, William
Buchheit, Romuwald Weis; and Stanley Clark.
The last-named opened a stationery store and circulating library with
fanfare in August, 1873. In a series of
advertisements Clark announced that he would operate in all departments of
literature and purchase new books to keep abreast of current fiction. His terms were 3 cents a day for three days
per book and 10 cents thereafter. For
$24 a year one could draw six books at one time. Besides that the borrower had to deposit the
complete price of each book. The sum
would be refunded when the book was returned.
Before 1900 a free
public library remained in the realm of dreams and wishful thinking. In that year Mrs. Frank E. Woodard and Mrs.
George C. Lewis hit on the idea of putting on a benefit play. Mr. and Mrs.
Arthur Johnson of Whitewater directed the production - Bulwer Lytton's
"The Lady of Lyon" - and Mrs. George Lewis was the leading lady. The play netted only $60 but it focused
attention on the cause of establishing a Watertown library. In May, 1902 some 25 representative citizens
were invited to the home of Mr. Frank E. Woodard, Mrs. Woodard having sent out
the invitations. Here they were
addressed by the secretary of the Wisconsin Free Library Commission, and Dr. J.
H. Ott was asked to appoint a committee of twelve to make arrangements for a
mass meeting of citizens at the Turner Opera House. President A. F. Ernst of Northwestern College
presided, and Mayor J. Brusenbach, ex-Mayor William
F. Voss and Pastor, Haupert of the Moravian Church spoke in favor of the
project. The main addresses were given
by F. A. Hutchins and Miss Lutie A. Stearns of the state library
commission. Then and there it was
decided to raise $5, 000 in a door-to-door collection.
As usual in
Watertown, the collection went over the top; the German Sixth Ward, in which
Mrs. Samuel Kussel acted as captain, turning in the largest number of
subscriptions. The collection was
somewhat of a course in education besides, for many people believed that a
library would serve only the rich, who already had enough money to buy
books. Miss Maud R. McPherson was
appointed librarian, and the library opened
The new institution
proved to be so popular that in a short time it outgrew its restricted
quarters, and the need for a new building became obvious. It was known that part of John W. Cole's estate would be conveyed to the city
for library purposes after the death of his son and heir, Oscar Cole. Since no other money was available, some
suggested waiting for this bequest. As
it turned out, that would have meant a wait of 25 years. It was decided instead to approach Andrew Carnegie, who
made a hobby out of parting with his fortune by donating money for libraries. Eventually he endowed more than 6,000 of
them. But Watertown's first letter to
the steel king for $25,000 must have been too bold a plea for funds because
Carnegie's secretary sent back a curt refusal.
James Moore and William F. Voss then sent a more tactful letter, and
this time the secretary wrote that Mr. Carnegie would be glad to donate
$20,000, provided that the city furnish a suitable site and agree to maintain
the library.
A bone of contention
now arose between the east and west sides as to the location of the new
building. The Library Board favored the
east side, but the City Council, then under the control of west-siders, had its
heart set on the site of the old Tremont Hotel.
After six months of wrangling the Council voted $6,666 for the site, all
the law allowed, the balance, $1,334 being raised within 48 hours by private
subscription, mainly on the jubilant west side.
Dedication Day, June 14, 1907, was a happy one, however, as Watertown
citizens proudly viewed the classically styled structure and were assured by
visiting librarians that it was a model library for the price paid and for a
town this size.
The history of the
library since 1907 has been one of continuous expansion. Its affairs are managed by a Board of
Commissioners appointed by the mayor with the approval of the City
Council. Dr. J. H. Ott was the first
president of the Board and H. T. Eberle the
first secretary. Miss Betty Faber has
been head librarian since 1940, more than half the years the new library has
been in existence. The building that
seemed to be spacious when it housed a collection of only a few thousand books
is now overcrowded with 57, 000 books and nearly 9, 000 pamphlets. Cole Memorial Hall, added in 1931, provided
comparatively little library space.
A sinking fund was
begun several years ago, and before long the old structure will have to be
replaced. There will be no Carnegie to
supply money, but Watertown has never shied away from a major improvement
because of cost. When the new library
becomes a reality, it is likely to be called another "model" for a
progressive town on the eve of a new century.
In the early 1850s
there was a young men's association that collected a stock of books, but after
a few years it languished and then disbanded.
In the '80s some of their books were turned over to the Northwestern College
Library, but many of these were destroyed in the fire of July, 1894. However, Hinton Rowen Helper's
"Impending Crisis," containing a book plate of the Young Men's
Association is still on the shelves of the college library.
In the '90s a small
fund of money, part of the profits of a lecture course, was set aside as a
nucleus for a library fund. Very few
people at that time, however, thought that they would ever see or have a chance
to use this library. In fact the library
made its appearance sooner than any one expected it.
In the forepart of
May, 1902, some twenty to thirty representative citizens were invited to the
home of Mr. Frank E. Woodard,
Mrs. Woodard having sent out the invitations.
Here Mr. F. A. Hutchins, the secretary of the Wisconsin Free Library
Commission, addressed the meeting, showing the benefits of a public library and
urging the citizens to establish one. Dr. J. H. Ott, having been asked to
act as chairman, was requested to appoint a committee of twelve to see what
might be done. This committee made
arrangements to have a public meeting of citizens on the 26th of May at the
Turner Opera House. Pres. A. F. Ernst of Northwestern College
presided, and Mayor J. Brusenbach,
the Reverend Haupert of the
Moravian Church and ex-Mayor W. F. Voss
spoke in favor of the project. The main
speakers were F. A. Hutchins and Miss L. A. Stearns, both of the library
commission. Then and there a committee
of twelve was appointed, Professor Ernst and Mayor Brusenbach being authorized to
choose the committee.
The
twelve citizens, in the order of appointment, were: J. H. Ott, Julius Wiggenhorn, W. D. Sproesser, Edward Schempf,
C. F. Viebahn, G. Terbrueggen, Jas. W. Moore, F. E. Woodard, H. T. Eberle, John Habhegger, William F. Voss and Carl
Manz. This committee with the aid
of public-spirited women succeeded in raising $5,000 by October. The city council looked favorably upon the
project, the library all along having the wholehearted support of Mayor John
Brusenbach. The council then agreed to
pay the running expenses of the library; on November
20, 1902, the board of library directors was appointed by the
mayor. They were: Wm. F. Voss, Julius Wiggenhorn, J. W. Moore,
H. T. Eberle, W. D. Sproesser and J. H. Ott, C. F. Viehahn as
superintendent of schools being ex-officio member. The board secured the services of Miss Maud R. McPherson and rented the lower
floor of the building at No. 104 Main Street.
The library was opened to the public on March 2,
1903. From its very inception the
library was popular, and it can truly be said that it filled a long-felt want.
In the forepart of
1906 overtures were made to Mr. Andrew Carnegie for a gift of $25,000, this
amount being suggested by the city council.
Mr. Carnegie after some haggling on the part of his private secretary
gave the city $20,000 on the usual conditions.
The only available lot on Main Street suitable for the library was the
site of the old Tremont House. The majority of the library board did not
care to go so far away from the center of the city, and it is doubly
unfortunate now, seeing that the new high school is on Eighth and Wisconsin
streets. But since the library board had
to ask the council to pay for the site, and since the old apportionment into
seven wards gave the West Side an inequitable preponderance; the board, rather
than drop the project, chose the only site that would be accepted by the
council. The council voted $6,666 for
the site, all that the law allowed, the balance - $1,334 - being raised by
private subscription, mainly on the West Side.
Claude and Stark of
Madison, Wis., drew the plans of the new library; on July 10, 1906, the
contract was awarded to Stuart & Hager of Janesville, who agreed to erect
the building for $16,311. The building
with fixtures and sidewalks cost nearly twenty thousand dollars.
The old library was
closed on June 5, 1907; the new library was opened June 14, 1907, dedicatory
exercises and a reception taking place in the afternoon. In the evening a meeting of friends of the
library was held in the Turner Opera House, in which Miss L. A. Stearns and Mr.
Legier, now librarian of the Chicago Public Library, were the main speakers.
The library has been
in charge of the following librarians: Miss Maud R. MacPherson, Miss G. Ackley, Miss
E. M. Smith, Miss G. Lutkemeyer, and Miss V. G. Little, the present
librarian. The library now contains
about seven thousand eight hundred books and has a circulation of nearly forty
thousand volumes annually.
The library has been
fortunate in receiving bequests of public-spirited citizens. Mr. Carl
Manz bequeathed $500, Mr. Charles Straw $2,000, and Mr. Michael Carroll $2,000. According to the decision of the Supreme
Court of Wisconsin the library will some day inherit valuable property under
the will of Mr. John Cole.
1902
Watertown Daily Times, 06 14 1902
The Watertown Public
Library committee has issued the following address to our citizens:
We would respectfully
call your attention to a movement in our city that deserves your support. It is
to establish a Free Public Library. At a general mass meeting recently held at
Turner opera house the unanimous sentiments seemed to be that steps should be
taken in that direction.
In accordance with
the vote of the meeting, the chairman and the mayor of the city appointed a
committee of twelve to devise ways, and solicit means for such a library. It is
proposed to raise by subscriptions at least $5000 with which to buy the first
supply of books, fit up and furnish the rooms, and provide other essentials for
starting the library.
The payment of the
subscriptions will be made subject to two conditions. 1 - That the total amount
subscribed shall be at least $5000; 2 - That the city will agree to take charge
of the library when it is ready to be started and pay for its running expenses.
The subscriptions will be collected as soon as those two conditions are
fulfilled. The running expenses of the library will be for rent, light and
fuel, librarian salary, janitor's services and finer items. The general expense
to the city will be from $1200 to $1600 annually. The taxpayer whose taxes
amounts to $10 will contribute from 15 to 20 cents.
Until larger means
are at our command, it is not proposed to buy or erect a library building, but
to rent a few good rooms convenient in location and adapted to the purpose.
Formal opening of
library
02
24 1903
At
The president of the
library commission, Professor Ott, will deliver a brief address, and it will be
responded to by Mayor Brusenbach, his honor, and the full council having been
invited to be present.
All our people are
invited to call and inspect the library on that evening, and, of course, at any
time in the future that they may wish to enjoy their privileges, they are
welcome and entitled to do so.
The librarian, Miss
Maude MacPherson, and her temporary assistant, Miss Mae Mathes, have all the
books properly indexed, labeled, etc., for the occasion, and the building is
now receiving the finishing touches. The
library will open with about 2000 volumes, and within the next six months at
least 1000 more volumes will be added.
Watertown was rather
slow in establishing a free public library, but now that she has started in the
matter, it is safe to say that she will, after Monday next, have one of the
best arranged and most up-to-date libraries in any city of this size in the
state.
Great pains have been
taken in the selection of books, and the library commission has been greatly
assisted in this matter by Miss MacPherson, who has had much experience in the
Carnegie library at Pittsburgh, one of the largest and best in the United
States.
Miss Mathes, her
assistant, was sent here by the state free library commission and one-half of
her expenses while here are paid by that commission. In the course of 60 or 90 days, it is the
intention of the local library board to have one or more local apprentices at
the library.
1904
Sunday
Hours
09 30 1904
On and after Sunday,
October 2d, the library will be open for reading from 2 to 5 p.m. The work of
keeping the library open on Sunday is done by the volunteer service of a number
of citizens of the city. The board of Directors and the librarian gratefully
acknowledge this kindness.
Dr. Edward Johnson
has presented to the public library a copy of John Finnerty's Ireland in Pictures. It is a very
creditable work, and shows in pictures many interesting scenes in Ireland,
taken by Mr. Finnerty while on a visit to the green isle. Each picture is
accompanied with a well-written description of the scene presented.
S. A. Hutchins, of
the State Library Commission, Madison, was in the city on Tuesday and Wednesday
and visited our Public Library. He complimented it very highly and believes out
people should now begin to consider a public library building, and says that we
should have no trouble getting Andrew Carnegie to donate a $15000 building to
our city for library purposes.
1905
|
06
07 1905
At the meeting of the
council held Tuesday evening, the Library Board made a report as to its
preferences for a site for the proposed $20,000 Carnegie library. The board
favored as a first choice what is known as the Kennedy property and city
property in First Street, opposite the post office and Commercial hotel. This
site was given first place by the board provided the city property was vacated.
This site would cost $4000, being 60x100 feet. The second choice was the
Randall corner, west Main and N. Water streets which is 66x158.
The council strongly favors the Manigold site, however, at the corner of Water
and West Main streets, provided that the same can be purchased at a reasonable
figure.
While the east side site may be more centrally located, it certainly is true that
the Manigold place is larger, on a corner, is on Main street and the library
would be far more conspicuous than at the Kennedy place.
1905
07
11 1905
The question of a
site for the public library is being agitated and there is a difference of
opinion as to which site should be chosen - the Kennedy site on the eastside or
the Randall site on the west side. The Library Board prefers the Kennedy and
the common council at a special meeting held Friday evening expressed a
preference for the Randall location corner of North Water and Main streets. It
is a matter in which every inhabitant in the city is interested and there
should be a full discussion as to which is the best, both central and available
location. It is natural that individual interests will influence the individual
choice but such interests should be made secondary to the public good in the
final determination of the matter. The Library Board is composed men of good
judgment, who are interested in the betterment of the city. They prefer the Kennedy
site. The aldermen are also men of good judgment and have the best interests of
the city at heart. The question will probably be decided at the regular meeting
of the common council on the evening of the 18th, inst., when an appropriation
will be made to purchase a site, or an appropriation may be refused, which
would be an unfortunate termination of the matter.
1905
07
26 1905
At the last regular
meeting of the common council the annual report of the public library
librarian, Miss Maud Macpherson was read. It showed that the people were
readers and library a necessity. Our space will not admit of our publishing the
entire report, but the following excerpt will suffice to show that the library
has been well patronized:
Total number of books
in the reference department
Total number of books
in the loan department
Total number of
borrowers cards in force,
Total circulation,
36,543
Accession department
... 658 books have been added during the year ... 557 were by purchase, 67 were
gifts and 37 were periodical bound.
50 Years Ago
1905
08
29 1905
It now looks as if
our new library building had been lost in the shuffle between the library board
and the common council. The Carnegie donation has not been accepted for a site
agreed upon. If the building is to be erected this season work should begin at
an early day, or the expense will be greatly increased, for as everybody knows
it is more expensive to build in cold than it is in warm weather. Under the
circumstances the library board and council should get together, decide upon a
site centrally located, accept the donation and get the building up and
enclosed before the old weather sets in, so that the work on the interior can
be continued regardless of the cold weather.
1906
01
16 1906
At a regular meeting
of the city council last Tuesday night the library board made a unanimous
report for the purchase of what is known as the Mannegold
or Old Lindon House property, at the corner of West Main and Water streets
as a site for the proposed Carnegie library. The library report stated that the
Board had a 90 days' option on the property from Mrs. Henrietta Mannegold for
the sum of $7500, and agreed to raise $1000 by popular subscription, the
balance to be paid by the city by an issue of library bonds. The report was
unanimously accepted by the council and a resolution unanimously passed by that
body pledging the city council to purchase said site when the sum of $1000 has
been placed in the city treasurer's hands by the library board for the purchase
above stated.
A large portion of
this $1000 has already been pledged and there will be no difficulty in raising
the balance. Plans and specifications will be at once arranged for, and work on
the new building will begin as soon as the weather will permit in the early
spring. Under the state law, only one-third of the price of a library building
can be provided for by taxation for the purchase of a site, hence the necessity
of resorting to a popular subscription for an additional $1000.
1906
04
24 1906
Miss Maud R.
MacPherson, city librarian, has returned from Madison where she spent a day on
business connected with the city library. Miss MacPherson informs the Leader that
the plans for the new city library are completed by the library commission and
Architect Claud of Madison. It is expected that the work will be commence on
the new $20,000 library in time to have it completed by December 1st.
1906
06
02 1906
Plans for the
proposed new Carnegie library were received yesterday from the architects,
Claude & Stark of Madison. A meeting of the library board will be held soon
and proposals for bids for the construction of the building will be published.
The billboards which have been an eyesore at the corner of West Main and Water
streets for many years were removed yesterday and will be erected on a lot near
the Junction. The new library is to occupy the site.
1907
01
11 1907
The furniture for the
new Carnegie Library was ordered Wednesday by the members of the library board
and the same is expected to arrive and be ready for installing upon the
completion of the building. The
contractor has assured the members of the board that he will complete his
contract by the first of February, although one of the members of the board
yesterday in speaking of the matter said that this seemed improbable. He added that after the contractor had
finished, there would be considerable work to perform and he expressed the
opinion that it would be well along in March before things would be far enough
along to hold the dedicatory exercises.
1907
03
01 1907
The new Carnegie
library is practically completed. Only the finishing touches remain and then
the permanent home of our free library will be at the service of the public
bound in one of the finest structures ever erected on an appropriation of a
like amount from the great philanthropist whose memory will be perpetuated for
ages to come. The process of painting, putting in the lighting fixtures and
carpeting is about all that remains to be done before the receiving of the
furniture and fixtures, which are expected sometime in March from the Library
Bureau at Chicago. Considerable interest is now centering in the dedicatory
exercises, which will be held no later than April and possibly some time the
latter part of March. In most cities where Carnegie libraries have been built,
the cost has exceeded the appropriation. This is not the case in Watertown,
however, and the members of the committee are entitled to credit for keeping
within the bounds of the appropriation, $20,000, outside of the site which was
appropriated by the city.
1907
10
19 1907
Miss Valfrid Palmgren
of the Royal Library, Stockholm, Sweden, was a guest at the Public Library yesterday. She was accompanied by Mrs. Harriet Sawyer of
the State library commission. Miss
Palmgren has been sent by the Swedish government to study library conditions in
this country. She was most favorably
impressed in every respect with our building.
The Libraries visited by her in Wisconsin are Madison, Milwaukee,
Oshkosh and Watertown.
1908 Alley
proposed behind library proposed as necessity when interurban is in
running. July 10 WG
Voss and Wiggenhorn to succeed
themselves as members of the library board.
1911 On the West Main Street entrance to the
public library two fine electric lamps have just been added at an expense of
several hundred dollars, the gift of a First Ward gentlemen, who does not wish
his name published in connection with the affair. The lamps are the only ones of their kind in
the city and add greatly to the appearance of the library. The board of library commissioners wish to
add a public sanitary drinking fountain to the park in the rear of the library,
build a cement walk to it and a circular walk around it, as early in the spring
as possible, and it is hoped some philanthropic citizen will donate the fountain
before that time. This is an improvement
we know will be greatly appreciated by our people. Nov 16 WG
1915 The library interior was redecorated
during the summer.
1955 The
Watertown Free Public Library received an 1857 map of the city of Watertown
from New Hampshire. The donor is Warren G. Bakie of Kingston, charted 1694, in
that state. When the Bakie Brothers
decided to remodel the map of Watertown, Wisconsin turned up in their archives.
As people in the East are extremely historically minded, Mr. Bakie wrote to the
library and generously offered to send it.
Despite the fact that Watertown was settled by people from the East, a
hurried search both in Kingston and in Watertown failed to disclose any one
from there coming to Watertown so how the map got into the Bakie Brothers
archives is a mystery. 07 26
WDT
1981 The
decision to pursue a possible remodeling and expansion program of the Watertown
Public Library was made Thursday evening by members of the library board of
trustees. The panel selected the architectural firm of Sample and Potter Inc.
of Madison to conduct the feasibility study on costs of the renovation and
expansion. In making that choice, library trustees also will request the
Watertown City Council to transfer funds not to exceed $2,500 from the library
building fund to cover the cost of the study. .
11 22 WDT
1983 Durrant
Architects Inc. was chosen Thursday by the Library Board of Trustees to
complete design work for the expansion-renovation project at the local
library. Details of the contract
agreement are being worked out, librarian Mary Carol Powers said today. Fee
paid to the architect is usually a percentage of construction costs. The board, in announcing its selection, said
the decision was based on a combination of responses on a questionnaire to the
architects, presentations by the seven firms being considered, and visits to
previous work by the businesses and reference checks. Special consideration was
given to design and engineering expertise, compatibility with the board,
construction supervision and fee structures.
02 21 WDT
o
Proposal to have the library
temporarily located in the Job Service offices. 04 18 WDT
1987
80th
anniversary
Watertown
Daily Times, 06 13 1987
This
week marks the 80th anniversary of the Carnegie building, the large section of
the Watertown Public Library which was remodeled when the expansion of the
library took place in recent years.
That
library has withstood the test of time and is still one of Watertown's pieces
of architecture.
Members
of two Watertown Women's Clubs - the Saturday Club and the Euterpe Club, were
largely responsible for the "push" that opened Watertown's first
library in 1902.
That building was located at 104 Main Street.
Long
before 1900, however, the idea of a free public library was in the dreams and
wishful thinking of many Watertown residents.
In 1857 the young men's association rented a room and opened a reading
center in the old Bank of Watertown building
on Main and North First streets. So many
readers came that the association moved to the top floor of the Cole building.
In
1900, Mrs. Frank Woodard, a newcomer and a Euterpe Club member, and Mrs. G. C.
Lewis teamed up to help put on a play in behalf of a library. The play was a great success and promoted a
lot of interest in a library. The $60
profit was put into a bank account.
Two
years went by. Finally a mass meeting
was called and held at Turner Hall. This
meeting generated enough enthusiasm for the ladies to outline a house to house
campaign for funds. The campaign went
well over the goal of $5,000. Someone
then suggested the possibility of a Carnegie library.
Carnegie
turned down early requests for a library fund, but when James Moore, editor of
the Watertown Gazette, and William
Voss, a two-term mayor, wrote Carnegie, they received a "yes" answer,
with certain conditions.
When
these were met, a contribution of $20,000 would be sent. The conditions were that the city secure a
site and pass an ordinance for the annual contribution that would maintain the
library. Later, enough money was left when the library was built to complete
its furnishing with Carnegie funds.
The
library was opened to the public for the first time on June 14, 1907. The new building was 45 feet by 80 feet and
was constructed of St. Louis brick. It had a boiler room, coal room,
gentlemen's room and janitor's room on the lower level and the balance of the
library needs were on the upper floor.
The
successful bidder was Stewart and Hager of Janesville at a price of $16,413.
Watertown
Library ‘best born’ in Wisconsin
Contributed by Jim Braughler / 02 20 1998
"The
Watertown Library was the best born library in the state."
So
went the quote on the 15th anniversary of the Watertown Public Library. In just a few weeks this Watertown landmark
will be celebrating a birthday; it is only fitting that the good folks of
Watertown be reminded of the founding and history of this institution which has
well-served its citizens.
Members
of two Watertown women's clubs - the Saturday Club and the Euterpe Club - were
largely responsible for the "push" that opened Watertown's first
library in 1902. Before coming to rest
on its present location, the first site was at 104 Main St. But the history, however, started long before
the turn of the century.
The
Young Men's Association, as early as 1857, rented a room, subscribed to foreign
and domestic magazines, purchased books and opened a reading center in the old
Bank of Watertown building. So popular
was the reading room that they moved the collection to the top floor of the
Cole building. When the Association
disbanded, the collection was presented to Northwestern College. At that time the people of Watertown were
limited to their private collections, or book rentals from stores in town. But the cost was prohibitive; after putting a
deposit down equal to the full price of the book, patrons could then rent the
selections for three cents a day and 10 cents every day afterwards.
A
newcomer to town and a member of the Euterpe Club, Mrs. Frank Woodard inquired
why Watertown did not have a library.
Oconto and Watertown were the only two towns over the 4,000 population
without one. The only solution to the
lack of a library-lending institution was that the John Cole estate would
eventually provide an endowment which was designated for a library. But Mrs. Woodard was unwilling to wait. Soon Mrs. G. C. Lewis joined the cause and
following the presentation of the play - Lord Bulwer Lytton's "The Lady of
Lyons," the fund had $60 and the library was under way. Soon followed mass meetings, information from
the state commissioner of libraries, a house-to-house campaign and the writing
to Andrew Carnegie, known philanthropist and supporter of libraries.
Carnegie
turned down early requests for a library fund, but finally under the writing
skills of James Moore, editor of the Gazette and William Voss, a two-time Mayor
of Watertown, the beginnings of a $20,000 fund (with certain conditions), soon
arrived in Watertown. Those conditions
included a city-obtained site and an ordinance for annual contributions. A plaque is still located on the outside of
the original portion of the library. But
the problems were just beginning.
Location
of the library was a problem. Hassles
went on for six months between the east and west side of town. Everyone wanted the building; but the side of
town that donated the most money won.
The new building was 45x8O feet, of St. Louis brick with a boiler room,
coal room, gentlemen's room and janitor's room in the lower level. Balance of library needs were located on the
upper floor. Additions to the complex
have been made through the generosities of patrons, Andrew Carnegie again,
finally receiving the John Cole estate and most recently the excellent new
addition which wonderfully compliments the original portion.
The
library has come a long way since its early days.
2007
Watertown Daily Times, 07
16 2007
Watertown
Public Library Director Hans Baierl announced his
resignation.
Click to enlarge
|
Library occupies site of former Tremont Hotel |
1907 Construction of Library |
Library, Early Postcard |
Library, Early Postcard |
|
Library, Early Postcard |
