Williams Free Library facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Williams Free Library
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| Location | 105 Park Ave. Beaver Dam, Wisconsin |
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| Architect | Walter Holbrook |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000079 |
| Added to NRHP | August 7, 1974 |
The Williams Free Library is a historic building in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. It was once a very important public library and was the first in the United States to let people freely browse the bookshelves. This was called "open stacks."
Even though the library moved to a new building in 1985, the old Williams Free Library building is still special. It has a beautiful design called Richardsonian Romanesque style, which makes it an important part of the city's history and architecture.
Contents
History of the Williams Free Library
How the Library Started
The library first opened in 1884. It was called the Beaver Dam Free City Library and was located in a room inside the City Hall.
In April 1890, a rich local businessman named John J. Williams made a generous offer. He said he would give $25,000 to build a brand new library if the city would buy the land for it.
The city leaders, called the Common Council, agreed on April 15, 1890. They bought two lots of land for $12,200. These lots were at Park Avenue and Spring Street.
Building the New Library
The plans for the new library were finished in May 1890 by an architect named Walter Holbrook. He worked for a company in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The library's design was inspired by a famous architect named Henry Hobson Richardson.
Construction started in July 1890. By August, the land was ready. On August 26, the mayor, E. Elwell, announced a special half-holiday for the ceremony where the first stone, called the cornerstone, was laid. Local Masons helped with this important event.
Getting all the special sandstone and limestone needed for the building took some time. But the construction was finished in July 1891. The building was officially opened on July 15, 1891. Thousands of people came to the dedication, as it was part of Beaver Dam's 50-year celebration.
The doors of the Williams Free Library opened to the public on September 1, 1891. Mary J. Doolittle was the first librarian. The library started with about 4,500 books. After Mary passed away in 1897, her sister Hattie became the librarian. Hattie worked there for the next 47 years!
Library Grows and Moves
The Williams Free Library building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
By 1979, the library had grown a lot, holding over 52,000 books. The city of Beaver Dam was also growing, and the Williams building became too small. So, the city decided to build a new, bigger library.
The new library, called the Beaver Dam Community Library, opened on March 4, 1985. It was built on North Spring Street and took over the services of the old Williams Free Library.
Dodge County Historical Society and Museum
Since 1985, the historic Williams Free Library building has been used by the Dodge County Historical Society. They rent the building for just $1 per year!
Today, the building is home to the Dodge County Historical Society and its museum. Here, you can learn about the history of Dodge County.
Gallery
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Front view of the historic building.
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Rear view of the Williams Free Library.
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The distinctive tower of the library.
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A vintage postcard showing the library.
