The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1895-11-21
(From Fridays Daily.)
A LIBRARY IN SIGHT
THE PRELIMINARY STEPS TAKEN
THURSDAY EVENING.
ASSOCIATION WE'LL STARTED.
A Committee Composed of Messrs. Strong,
Johnston, Cavanagh, Yule and
o'Donnell instructed to In
corporate at Once.
ASSOCIATION WE'LL STARTED.

in the parlOfS OF the Grant house
Thursday evening to incorporate an
association whose object it is to be to
establish and maintain just such an in
stitution as the citizens of Kenosha
have so long stood in serious need.
And thanks to the munificence Of that
most public spirited citizen, Z. G. Sim
mons, the movement was given such Il
splendid impetus that it is not be-
lieved that surmountable obstacles, of
whatever size, will be able now to stop
the movement.
Owing somewhat to the inclemency
of the weather the meeting was not
quite as largely attended as had been
expected but notwithstanding this
there were fully forty Of the most pro-
gressiyc Of our citizens present.
The hour set for the meeting was
1880 o'clock, but it was fully s before
the people had gathered in sufficient
numbers to consider organization eX
pedient Shortly after the temporary
organization had been perfected quite
a number Of others struggled III one
after another, until the meeting grew
to respectable proportions.
Col. w. W. Strong opened the meet
ing by nominating James Cavanagh
for temporary chairman. He was at
once elected and took the chair, G..
w. Johnston was next proposed for
secretary and he was also elected.
These things having been done the
meeting was thrown open for general
discussion.
G. W. Johnston opened the discus
sion By outlining the plan upon which
the public library of Fond du Lac had
been organized. The crying need Of
Kenosha for free public library had
found expression i'll a public way, Of
which this meeting was a testimonial.
He proposed that an association be
formed and that it be divided into
three parts, or rather that it's work be
laid out in three sections; one to be
the payment Of regular dues by mem
bers, another to be the giving of enter
tainments for the benefit of a public
library and the other to be the solicit
ing of books and money in every nook
and Craney in the city. Then be men
toned that MI Simmons had author
lied him to say that he hot only favored
but was anxious to see the old Unita-
rian church building and lot turned
over to properly organized associa-
ton for library purposes.
Col. Strong followed and spoke of
the need of a public library. He said
he did not believe that the matter need
be discussed. Everybody seemed to
see the need Of it and he thought that
steps should be taken at once toward
the forming OF such an association as
had been proposed.
T. FL. Lyman said he would like to
see the association formed. He said
he had had an idea about the establish
ment Of such an institution winch had
taken in the necessity for building.
The plan proposed seemed to cover the
ground. He wanted to see q course of
lectures kept up IN connection with
such a library by local talent on such
subjects as citizens need enlightenment
on. Public questions are constantly
coming up here. and there should be q
proper place to go where we can hear
them discussed by our public men.
Mrs. kimhall thought the fact of the
people being ut ihe meet was evidence
that they were in readiness to organize
and she desired to see tile proper steps
taken at once.
James Cavnnagh's idea was, that if
such a thing be done that some kind of
provision be made for an abiding place
for all such literary societies as may be
organized in this city We need such
building for this as we can be proud
of, but sometimes great things grow
out of small beginnings and it was
necessary to have corporation formed
so that gifts and requests could be re-
ceived by it. He mentioned the fact
that bequest had once been made of
So, 900 for a public library but it was
lost for the reason that there was no
association TO take it. He rapidly
sketched one Of the difficulties which
might have to be overcome and said
the building up of good library here
would be the work Of years.
F. FL. Hall thought that the most
necessary thing to do was to start in at
once upon the steps necessary to form
corporation.
Mr.. Cavanagh suggested that it
would be proper to have committee
appointed to draft and report plan of
organization.
Col. Strong moved that committee
of five be selected to incorporate an
association aud that this committee
have power to act.
The following were then nominated
and elected as such committee: Col.
w. w. Strong, G.. W. Johnston, James
Cavanagh, George A. Yule, and John