The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1907-02-01

The Beautiful New Structure Given a
House Warming.

THE NEW LIBRARY DEDICATED.
The Beautiful New Structure Given a
House Warming.
Edgerton's new Free Public Library
was dedicated with appropriate exer-
cises on Wednesday. carrying out the
program announced last week. The af-
ternoon exercises were devoted to the
entertainment of the public schools and
the teachers and public schools were out
in full force. The library board acted
as reception committee to receive the
large assembly of citizens who were
present at the evening exercises and
took keen delight in showing the visi-
tors through the beautiful structure now
complete in all its appointments. Nearly
three hundred were seated in Culton
Memorial Hall to listen to the evening
program presided over by L. E. Gettle.
Rev. L. A. Parr offered an invocation.
after which the male quartet sang. In
his Introductory remarks Mr.. Gettle told
the history of the library movement and
said the public in general were slow to
regard the value of this means of educa-
tion but a great awakening had occurred
in later years. Speaking for the library
board he said they most earnestly desir.
ed cooperation, good will and support of
all citizens of Edgerton in support OF
this project now so we'll started.
The STORY of the Library" prepared
by l.. FL. Towne and read by l.. A. Parr,
owing to the illness of the writer, was
substantially as follows:
THE STORY OF THE LIBRARY
The inception of the Edgerton Public
Library was at an annual school district
meeting held on the Oath day of Sept,
1865, when it was voted "that $50 of the
teachers wages fund be appropriated
toward district library" This was the
largest sum that could then be taken for
such purpose in any one year, the dis
district not having over 200 children of
school age.
Ia each of the years 1867, 1868 and
1859 like amount was transferred from
the teachers wages fund to the library
fund, and W. I'll. Stillman, E A. Burdick
and j. z. Towne were appointed COM
mittee to expend the fund accumulated
in the purchase of books. This same
committee continued in charge of the
library for some years.
1t is therefore peculiarly fitting that
to the memory of Mr.. Burdick case OF
books is about to be placed and main
tanned in this ripe product of his early
labOrS
In 1869 the need of funds for the erec-
ton of a new school building became so
urgent that the library fund was used
to meet the expense incurred in build
ing. Only through persistent effort by
the promoters of the library Was this
fund rescued, but repayment was Sc
cured in 1870 and the committee report
ed the purchase of $50 volumes for
1886 81.
w. FL. Stillman, who had taken keen
interest in the movement, was appointed
the first librarian and so acted until 1873.
The seal of public approval was
the first year, and a majority Of the
are still in the library.
From 1870 until 1900 the library was
maintained by the school district by an
average appropriation of 500 per an
mum. which included the librarians sal
airy Of $40 to $50 year. Necessarily it's
growth was slow, but its popularity was
unchecked. the average annual circula
ton being 2370 Its ebb tide was reach
ed ia 1885 when but 1918 vols. were is
sued, there then being 400 vols in the
library, of which but 1926 were fit for use.
1t found many and strange resting
places under its various caretakers,
among whom were Chas. Kinney, j. G.
Croft, B. B. Rice, Ell. Ell. Judd, Hortense
Rogers, f. G. Sherman, Mrs. @. A. Kee-
gan, Mrs D. K. L. ons and Hannah Croft.
Jul II, 1900, the library came under
city control by adoption Of the provisions
of the Free Public Library Law of 1899,
which gave the common council power
to maintain any public library already
esta blished, and appoint board of di
rectors who should have exclusive con-
troll Of all monies levied for it's support,
and authority to purchase Or erect
building for library purposes, which
should be forever free for the use of the
inha bitants of the city.
The first board of directors was ap-
pointed by Mayor Jensen and consisted
of f. L. Moore, Pres; Ell. w. Child,
Treas; Angie F. Towne, Secy.; Mrs. Z.
B Earle, Mrs E J. Symons, Mrs. E. G.
Hopkins, c. f. Mabbett, L. @. Whittet
and j NJ. Conway.
At this time the library consisted of
S47 vols Hitherto the care and nurture
of the library was left in no particular
persons hands, and was often entirely
lost sight of in the greater and more i'm
mediate duty of maintaining the public
schools. Upon being transplanted to
soil more carefully tended, in six years
it's growth has trebled and it's circulation
more than doubled.
In 1900 an appropriation of $3.50 was
obtained from the city and $1,000 raised
by subscription; $500 was appropriated
by the city during the years 1901, 1902
and 1903, and 500 in each of the years
1904 and 1905.
The need of more cOmmodiouS quart