Medford Free Public Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Medford Free Public Library
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Medford Free Public Library
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 Location in Wisconsin
Location in the United States
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| Location | 104 E. Perkins St. Medford, Wisconsin |
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| Built | 1916 |
| Architect | Hans T. Liebert |
| Architectural style | Prairie School |
| NRHP reference No. | 93000259 |
| Added to NRHP | April 1, 1993 |
The Medford Free Public Library is a historic building in Medford, Wisconsin. It was built in 1916 as a Carnegie library. This means it was funded by a grant from Andrew Carnegie, a famous businessman. The library building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. This list recognizes important places in American history.
Contents
How the Library Started
The very first library in Medford was not a big building. It began in 1903 as a reading room. This room was located in a building called Temperance Hall. The local chapter of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union helped run it. The Medford Women's Club also helped.
In 1909, the reading room moved to a bigger space. It was still in the same building. But soon, even this new room became too small. More and more people wanted to read books!
Getting a New Building
By 1913, the library needed a lot more space. So, the library board asked the Carnegie Foundation for help. They wanted money to build a brand new library. The city of Medford agreed to help too. They promised to give $600 each year to run the new library. In return, the Carnegie Foundation agreed to give $6,000 for the building.
A talented architect named Hans Theodore Liebert designed the library. He was from Wausau, Wisconsin. H. A. Giles was the builder. In 1915, a group called the Medford Woman's Alliance formed. Their goal was to support the new library. The grand opening happened on February 22, 1917. The new library opened with 2,221 books ready for everyone to enjoy.
Library Design: Prairie School Style
Hans Liebert designed the Medford Free Public Library in the Prairie School style. This was a popular type of architecture back then. It was known for its unique look.
What is Prairie School Architecture?
Buildings in the Prairie School style often have certain features:
- They emphasize horizontal lines. This means they look wider than they are tall.
- They usually have a hip roof. This type of roof slopes down on all four sides.
- They often use stucco on the outside walls. Stucco is a type of plaster.
- You might see abstract geometric patterns. These are often found in the frieze. A frieze is a decorative band on a building.
A New Chapter for the Building
The 1916 building served as Medford's public library for many years. It was a central part of the community. But by the 1990s, the library had grown too much. It needed even more space for books and people.
The community had a big decision to make. Should they make the old building bigger? Or should they build a completely new library somewhere else? After much discussion, they decided to build a new one.
A family named the Simeks gave a very generous gift. This helped pay for the new building. The new library was named the Frances L. Simek Memorial Library. In late 1998, about 20,000 books were moved to the new location.
Since the library moved out, the old 1916 building has a new purpose. The local Chamber of Commerce now uses it. This group works to help local businesses and the community.
