Williams Free Library

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name = Williams Free Library
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location = 105 Park Ave.
Beaver Dam, Wisconsin
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architect = Walter Holbrook
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added = August 7, 1974
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refnum =74000079
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governing_body = The Williams Free Library, located in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin was the first public library in the United States of America to have open stacks. [cite web|url=http://www.beaverdam.lib.wi.us/history.htm|title=Library history|first=|last=|publisher=Beaver Dam Community Library|date=|accessdate=2007-01-25] While the building is no longer a library, its Richardsonian Romanesque design remains as one of the city's architectural gems.

History

Foundation

The library began as the Beaver Dam Free City Library, housed in a room in City Hall at its creation in 1884. In April 1890, John J. Williams, a wealthy local businessman, offered the library's board of directors $25,000 to construct a new building if, in exchange, the city would pay for the land. The Common Council agreed on April 15, 1890 to purchase a lot belonging to W.H. and T.D. Lawrence at Park Avenue and Spring Street, as well as an adjacent lot owned by Joseph Wagner on Park, for $12,200.

Construction

Plans were completed by Walter Holbrook of E.T. Mix & Co. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in May 1890; the library's design was inspired by Henry Hobson Richardson. Construction began in July, with lot preparations completed by August. On August 26, Mayor E. Elwell declared a half-holiday for the cornerstone laying ceremony, which was executed by the local Masons. Collection of the required sandstone and limestone slowed construction, but work was completed in July 1891, with the building's dedication held on July 15, 1891. Thousands were in attendance, as it was held in conjunction with Beaver Dam's semi-centennial celebration.

The doors of the library opened on September 1, 1891, with Mary J. Doolittle as its innagural librarian. Its initial holdings were made up of 4,500 volumes.

Expansion

As the collection and city grew, the library outgrew the Williams building. The city chose to build a new library incorporating the Williams Free Library, and opened the new Beaver Dam Community Library in March of 1984. The former building which housed the Williams Free Library became the permanent home of the Dodge County Historical Society Museum.

References

General sources

* [http://www2.powercom.net/~dchs/Library.htm Dodge County Historical Society - Library]