| Additional Information: | 2023 - In 1899, D.O. Stine donated space for a public library at the southwest corner of Main Street and Market Street. The library grew and moved to the no-extant Fire Department and City Hall building soon after. Land was donated for a separate library building for the city in 1910 and the local Industrial Association applied for and received a grant of $10,000 from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation to build a library in the small city. Architects Claude and Starck of Madison were hired to design the building and Reedsburg Home Lumber & Construction did the work. For more information on Claude and Starck refer to Chapter 9 Architecture. The Library was completed in 1911 and opened in 1912 with 6,000 volumes, a lecture room, toilets, boilers, and an open library space on the main floor with built-in furniture and a fireplace. A prominent addition to the building was completed in 1971 along with the attached City Hall building and the front entry was replaced in 1981. The Reedsburg Public Library moved to a new nearby building at 370 Vine Street in 1998 and the old building was converted into office space for the city.
A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation. J IN THE PHOTO CODES IS SHORT FOR JMD.
Architectural Statement:
An addition (24' x 29') was put on the west and the building connected to the City Hall on the north in 1971; vestibule entry was changed to a gable roof (because of water leakage problems) c. 1977; two gable roof ells in front south with tripled windows, red brick, green trim, white stucco in gables, low roof pitch, leaded glass on entry doors, interior, lecture room is now children's library and classroom is archieves, only one fireplace panel remains and pastels not changed (too fragile to keep putting up and taking down).
Architectural Statement of Significance:
The library has retained much of its integrity but the addition on the west (although in the same style) has changed the proportions; the vestibule roof change (also consistant with the original style) has altered the original appearance. For these reasons the building has no architectural significance.
Historical Statement:
The first known mention of a library in Reedsburg was in 1890 when P.S. Carver came to the City and installed a "public library" where for $1.00, you could take out two books (of 300 in the library) per week for one year (location unknown)(A). In 1898 local citizens began planning for a library and in 1899 D.O. Stine donated space in his building in the south-west corner of Main Street and Market Street for a library (SK45/24). In 1901 the library was moved into the engine house/City Hall building (gone).
In 1910 Mrs. George T. Morse (SK29/2, 133 South Locust Street) donated land for a library. The local Industrial Association and businessmen applied for and received $10,000 from Andrew Carnegie to build the library. The city agreed to a stipulation to provide $1000 for maintenance. Claude & Stark of Madison were the architects, Reedsburg Home Lumber & Construction, the builders and C.N. Rebety of Reedsburg did the interior work (B). The plan is a mirror image of the one in Jefferson, Wisconsin.
The basement had a lecture room, class room, toilet, coal and boiler rooms. The first story had a centrally placed flat roofed vestibule and stairs on the east leading to the basement. A fireplace with wood panels was on the east. "During the WPA years" Ethel Allen Nott did pastel seasonal scenes for the fireplace panels (C). They depict each season and were to be put up accordingly. She also did many other panels. Nott was born in Columbia County in 1890. She attended the Columbia Academy of Art, taught drawing in Battle Creek, MI and became a photograph retoucher and artist. In the 1920's her work was for sale locally (C).
The Reedsburg Public Library moved to a new building at 370 Vine Street on January 26, 1998. 345 Vine Street was renovated for use as office space. (E). In 1999, old library is used as a city meeting room but has not been subdivided. |
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| Bibliographic References: | 2023 - Reedsburg Remembers 150 Years: A History of Reedsburg, Wisconsin, 1848-1998.
A- "Reedsburg Free Press", January 30, 1890.
B- "Reedsburg Free Press", January 1, 1912.
C- Information on file at Reedsburg Public Library.
D- "Reedsburg Times-Press", August 2, 1973.
E. December 1998 phone conversation with Nancy Lukes, Assistant Library Director. |
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