This file part of www.watertownhistory.org website
Watertown Public Library
The Carnegie Building
100 South Water Street
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.
1859
02 03 Young
Men’s Association effort to expand their library, the only one in the
city WD
1902
04
15 Mr. Frank A. Hutchins of Free Library Commission promotes
starting a Free Public Library WDT
06 14 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. WDT
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
07 10 Alley
proposed behind library proposed as necessity when interurban is running WG
07 10 Voss and Wiggenhorn to succeed
themselves as members of the library board
WG
10 09 Finance
Committee consideration of request of the board of directors WG
1909
01 15 Euterpe Club has donated $15.00 towards
fixing up the grounds in the rear of the library building WG
01 22 Students
from state library school assigned to library WG
01 29 Miss Maude R. Macpherson resigned; librarian since its establishment over six years ago WG
02 12 Miss Gabriella Ackley appointed
librarian, to succeed Miss Maude Macpherson, resigned WG
02 26 Reception for Miss Maude MacPherson;
members of the Saturday Club were hostesses WG
02 26 Miss Hilgendorf, mentioned as
Assistant Librarian WG
04 09 Miss
Gabriella Ackley appointed librarian
WG
04 09 Second,
Third and Sixth grades classes held in library during school
construction WG
08 13 Miss
Clara Hilgendorf, Asst Librarian, resigned
WG
09 17 Miss Lilian Mundt,
salary of $5 per month WG
09 24 Miss Clara
Hilgendorf, Asst Librarian, married Dr. Louis H. Nowack WG
1910
02 11 Miss
Anna Skinner began practice work; gentlemen’s room open at the
noon hour WG
04 22 F. Kalina, Charles Lutovsky, John T.
Ryan-Standing Committee, Library WG
06 03 Bids for furnishing coal WG
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
1977
04
15 Miss
Betty Faber retires, librarian for 37 years 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
1982
07 12 Major repair projects, estimates on cost
of WDT
1983
02 21 Durrant
Architects Inc. chosen 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. Fee paid to the architect is
usually a percentage of construction costs.
Board said 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. WDT
03
26 Expansion and renovation plan approved
by board WDT
04
18 Proposal to have the library
temporarily located in the Job Service offices. WDT
06 05 Move to
temporary quarters on N Third St. WDT
07 01 Bids for new library opened. WDT
07 16 Library reopens in temporary quarters
at 119 North Third St WDT
09 10 Demolition
of the Cole Addition to library WDT
1984
02 06 Bids for furnishings, new library WDT
06 13 Ornamental Sheet Metal for old
section of Library WDT
08 07 Library to close on Thursdays WDT
09 22 Under
construction for more than a year, the library opens for business Monday at its
new address, 100 South Water Street. The
public is invited to tour the expanded facility Sunday beginning at 1:30
p.m. Although groundbreaking to
re-opening only took about 14 months, work on improving the library began long
before that. Discussions about how to
meet the increasing needs of the community for library services began may years
ago and in November 1981 the library board of trustees decided renovation and
expansion at the downtown site was perhaps the best avenue to pursue. The architectural firm of Sample and Potter
Inc., Madison, was hired to conduct a feasibility study. WDT
09 23 Watertown’s new public
library was dedicated “to enriching the lives of all who enter” at ceremonies
Sunday afternoon. A large crowd attended
the formal ceremonies which were followed by refreshments and tours of the
facilities. The formal ceremonies
consisted of brief comments from officials and setting of the date stone. A number of items were placed in the date
stone before it was set. They included
a brochure about the original library,
printed in 1903, the dedication program, a brochure detailing the floor plan of
the new library, directories of city officials and of the Mid-Wisconsin
Federated Library System, the library’s annual report of 1983, a 1984 street
map of the city, a listing of top selling books, and the library supplement of
the Watertown Daily Times which was
published on Friday. WDT
11 18 Expenditure to allow library to
operate six days a week WDT
1985
06 12 Beonda
Ida Wilford will, public library named a beneficiary 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
07 16 Library Director Hans Baierl announced his
resignation. WDT
2009
09 30 Fire
Department visit to Public Library at story time WDT
2010
05 05 Clifford Lueck,
34 years of service WDT
06 15 Director Diane Jaroch resigns; July 9 last day; had been the
director since 2007. Served as assistant
director for about a year before she was named the interim director in August
of 2007. Full text, WDT
article
Image Portfolio
Click to enlarge
|
Library occupies site of former Tremont Hotel |
1907 Construction of Library |
Library, Early Postcard |
Library, Early Postcard |
|
Library, Early Postcard |
Library, Early Postcard |
Library, Early Postcard |
Library, Early Postcard |
|
|
Library Park, Postcard |
Library Park, Postcard |
|
Cross-References:
No 1: Miss
Claire Herrmann, member of the library staff
No 2: Society has image
of demolition of Tremont Hotel, c1898
[WHS_004_NT058]
No 3: Ruth Wilkowski, member of staff
