Two Rivers’ Carnegie Library Dedicated in 1914

New Free Public Library, Two Rivers, Wis., 1914; H. C. BENKE POSTCARD

The Joseph Mann Library was built in 1891 on Main (now 16th) Street in Two Rivers. By 1912, the library had outgrown its space and a larger building was needed. A building committee, consisting of John F. Magee, Henry C. Wilke and Dr. Eugene Gates, was appointed to consider a larger facility.

In August 1912, the building committee sent a letter to James Bertram, Andrew Carnegie’s secretary, requesting a donation of $20,000 to build a library. The previous year, the Carnegie Corporation had endowed $125 million to support all of its charities, including libraries.

On January 9, 1913, the committee was notified that $12,500 from steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie would be received.

The site selected for the new free public library was the George Wehausen property, just east of the old library. When some difficulty arose in obtaining a clear title to the property, a lot on the north side of 16th Street, directly across from the existing library, was donated by brewery owner Charles Mueller.

A Prairie School-style building, 60 × 34 feet, designed by the Madison architectural firm of Claude and Starck, was completed in 1914. The building was constructed of cream brick and featured an arched front doorway, low-pitched green tile roof with wide eaves, white stone trim, steam heat and electric lights.

Lizzie Baetz, librarian, in front of the Joseph Mann (Carnegie) Library, c1914-1919

HUBERT R. WENTORF PHOTO COLLECTION, LESTER PUBLIC LIBRARY, TWO RIVERS

The main floor consisted of reading, reference and children’s rooms. Rooms were softly lit for reading books, magazines and newspapers. Floors were covered with heavy linoleum. A meeting room, storage and furnace rooms and restroom were located in the basement, or lower level.

Frank Wolfe, brick mason, submitted the low bid of $11,643 and was awarded the contract on October 16, 1913. Local labor and materials were used in construction. John Reiss did the carpentry and woodwork. Interior painting was done by Fred Viel. Fixtures and tables were made by the Alberts & Meyer Mfg. Co.

By February 1914, the new library building was nearly completed. A public drinking fountain and light pole, erected in memory of Leopold and Clara Mann in 1902, was moved across the street from the old library and placed in front of the new building.

On June 4, 1914, the Carnegie library was dedicated. An open house and afternoon reception with music by the Gloe-Naidl orchestra was held. An evening program featured speeches by J. F. Magee, library board president, Mayor Conrad Baetz, and Matthew Dudgeon, of the state library commission, who spoke on ‘The Library, A Community Asset.’ Musical selections included a vocal duet by teachers Gleason Scoville and Josephine Treat and the Liederkranz Male Quartet.

Although a Carnegie Library, the name of the old Joseph Mann Library was retained.

The first head librarian of the new library was Lizzie Baetz, employed at the old library since 1900. She was replaced by Rosalie Beale in 1919. Three librarians, each serving a few months, followed in quick succession during the early 1920s – Edith Hess, Mary Dow and Dena Lindley.

In 1924, Bernice Hocking Knight became librarian, serving 17 years until her death in 1941.

In 1953 and 1969 major library building additions and renovations were completed as more space was needed for collections and programs.

Other librarians included – Theodora Haman (1942-1957), Gertrude Kaminsky (1957-1958), Lee Gregory (1959-1965) and Jessie Lyman (1965-1975). The last Joseph Mann Library directors were Elsie Heitkemper (1976-1992) and Ken Hall (1992-1998).

In 1997, the Joseph Mann Library closed when the new Lester Public Library opened in Lakeshore Park. The arched lead glass JOSEPH MANN LIBRARY sign from above the front door of the 1914 Carnegie library is displayed on a wall in the modern, single story facility.

The Carnegie library building, vacant for a number of years, was razed in 2006. Today, the city-owned property is a parking lot.

Memories of the 83-year-old Carnegie library connect us to the past. Generations of local residents recall using the card catalog to find a book, browsing encyclopedias for a school report and attending story hours in the children’s room.

The arched lead glass JOSEPH MANN LIBRARY sign from above the front door of the 1914 Carnegie library is displayed in the Lester Public Library

BOB FAY PHOTO