The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1907-02-01
THE NEW LIBRARY DEDICATED.
Continued from local b0ge.

THE NEW LIBRARY DEDICATED.
Continued from local page.
The society, having become inactive,
on the 18th day of Nov, 1904, passed a
resolution authorizing the conveyance
of the church lot and building to Nellie
Aiken, Mary E. Bentley, j. j. and @. l..
Culton, the children of JAS. and Eliza
Culton, in order that they in turn might
convey the same to the city OF Edgerton
for the purposes of free public library.
Pursuant to that resolution deed
was executed Jan. 4, 1905, by G. W. Har-
grave, Pres, John Dave, Secy, Austin
Riley. G. P. Holm and Heber Zacharias,
directors, and the children of Jas. and
Eliza Culton, as memorial to their par
ents. conveyed such lot to this city upon
the condition that any building erected
thereon should be used, kept and occu-
pied as a free public library, reading.
lecture and assembly room, and such
other purposes as shall 10 the opinion of
the library directors tend to promote the
intellectual, moral and civic welfare OF
the citizens of Edgerton.
This deed was rendered to and &C
copied by the common council April 4th,
1905, and in appreciative recognition of
the gift designated the auditorium 10
any building to be erected on said prem
ises "Culton Memorial Hall"
March 10th, 1905, Andrew Carnegie Of
fered $4,000 to the city for the erection
of free public library building, pro
vided a suitable site be furnished, and
not less than $1,000 year be levied to
maintain euch library This offer was
accepted and an ordinance enacted pro
vidng for an annual levy of Sl,COO for
the support and maintenance OF such
library.
Under the inspiration Of these gifts, so
simply and freely made, the citizens, aud
many persons not residents of EdgertOD,
but we'll wishers, raised nearly $4,000 by
substitution, and TO the further muniti
cence of Florence and Harold w. Child
we owe $500 contributed at a much
needed time.
The solicitation Of funds by public
subscription is generally an onorous and
distasteful task, but in this instance it
was one that afforded the keenest pleas
ure, 50 willing and liberal were the re-
spOnSes.
A building committee consisting of {.
+. Mabbett. Writ Wright and Ell. W.
Child employed FL. A. Foeller of Green
Bay, Wis as architect to prepare plans,
his designs having been selected from
those submitted by nine different archi-
tects. Upon the death of H. W. Child,
the vacancy in the building committee
was filled by the appointment of l.. G.
Whittet.
The contract for erection Of the build
ing was let to Appleton Construction Co.
O.. IN Of
1906 and completed Jan. Is, 1907. The
consisted of L. Fl. Gettle, President,
Angie f. Towne' Secy., Mrs. 7. B. Earle,
Mrs. E, G. Hopkins, Mrs @. w. Birken-
meyer G. T. Mabbett, J. NJ. Conway,
Writ Wright and L. G. Whittet.
The complete cost of building and fur
uishing being Sl2,662.
The library has over 1900 vols and a
fund of nearly $1,000,
During the existence of the library
over $4,000 have been drawn, and | ven
ture to predict that within the next ten
years a like number will have been
drawn and 5000 will have been acquired,
which will be the easy capacity of the
building.
II is not for us to extol words the
classic outline, economy of construction,
availability of space and largeness of
purpose here revealed, lest our pride in
its progenitors and their purpose be mis-
taken for pride in the substance. Yet
10 gratitude to those
who wrought with loving care
That we it's joys might share
there falls upon our ears with fulsome
pleasure the words Of the late Senator
Hoar: There is no city SO great Or re-
nowned that it does not wear its public
library as the brightest jewel in its
crown, nor is there any town SO humble
that If it but have public library is not
thereby dignified and distinguished"
The women's clubs of Edgerton, by
their untiring efforts, have inspired and
uurtured the present day library move
ment. AS in the past, so in the future,
to their fostering care must we entrust
the duty of stimulating and continuing
its triumphant progress.
Following another song by the male
quartet, Miss L. E. Stearns of the State
Library Commission, gave most inter
estiDg address upon 1.-THE Library and
the People" She brought out very
plainly the educational features of the
free public libraries and the great good
to be accomplished in every community
by them. She congratulated the people
of Edgerton upon the completion of SO
handsome library building and told us
that she knew of no other in the state
more attractive and complete in all it's
appointments. The members of the IL
brary board received many compliments
upon the GROWING success of their eff
forts in building so much admired by
all present.
Humane Society After Porter Farmer.
Leroy Fessenden of the town of Porter
appeared in municipal court to answer
to charges preferred by the Humane So
'ciety, through Wilson Lane, it's presi-
dent. 1t was alleged that he has been
keeping II cattle and some horses in a