History Williams Free Library

1 history

1.1 founding
1.2 construction
1.3 expansion

history
founding

the library founded in 1884 beaver dam free city library , housed in room in city hall. in april 1890, john j. williams, wealthy local businessman, offered library s board of directors $25,000 construct new building if, in exchange, city pay land. common council agreed on april 15, 1890 purchase lot belonging w.h. , t.d. lawrence @ park avenue , spring street, adjacent lot owned joseph wagner on park, $12,200.

construction

plans completed walter holbrook of edward townsend mix & co. of milwaukee, wisconsin in may 1890. library s design inspired henry hobson richardson. construction began in july, lot preparations completed august. on august 26, mayor e. elwell declared half-holiday cornerstone laying ceremony, executed local masons. collection of required sandstone , limestone slowed construction, work completed in july 1891, building s dedication held on july 15, 1891. thousands in attendance, held in conjunction beaver dam s semi-centennial celebration.

the doors of library opened on september 1, 1891, mary j. doolittle inaugural librarian. initial holdings made of 4,500 volumes.

expansion

as collection , city grew, library outgrew williams building. city built new library incorporating williams free library, , opened new beaver dam community library on north spring street in march 1984.