NRHP Reference # 74000079 Architectural style Romanesque architecture | Area 4,047 m² Added to NRHP 7 August 1974 | |
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Location 105 Park Ave.
Beaver Dam, Wisconsin Similar Dodge County Historical, Harley‑Davidson Museum, Lake Michigan | ||
The Williams Free Library is a public building in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. It was the first public library in the United States to have open stacks. While the building is no longer used as a library, its Richardsonian Romanesque design remains one of the city's architectural gems.
Contents
Founding
The library was founded in 1884 as the Beaver Dam Free City Library and was housed in a room in City Hall. 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 Edward Townsend 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 inaugural 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 built a new library incorporating the Williams Free Library, and opened the new Beaver Dam Community Library on North Spring Street in March 1984.
Dodge County Historical Society and Museum
The historic structure that formerly housed the library holdings is now rented for $1 per year to the Dodge County Historical Society and houses its museum.