Civic Pride in a Lost America: Library Postcards
Public Libraries of Wisconsin
Cities R-Z
Racine
Replacement for the main Carnegie building, which is still standing.
According to the L.L. Cook card, it was dedicated May 18, 1958.
Still in use, albeit heavily renovated in 1991.
Are you squinting at the words on the building?
They read:
The World of Books
is the most remarkable creation of Man
Randolph (Hutchinson Memorial Library)
(L) Unattributed photo postcard, likely by the same printer as that of Oconto Falls. Mailed in 1947 to New Lisbon.
(R) Photo postcard, unattributed, but probably a Wisconsin product.
The multi-color sandstone (one source says limestone) library was built in 1936 by Clas & Clas, and is so highly regarded that it's on the National Register of Historic Places.
Still in use, with an addition. Given the size of Randolph, I'm surprised it was needed.
Rib Lake
878 people, and they have a library!
Pleasant building, probably from the 1920s. Google Maps evidence points to a replacement building.
The Library has recently developed a web site, but seems to have had a blog first.
After a long slog of postcard research, I have discovered that these letterset captions are on Excel brand postcards, out of Milwaukee.
Richland Center (A. Keith Brewer Public Library)
(L) Dexter Press postcard.
(R) L.L. Cook photo postcard, surprisingly recent.
The Carnegie building, which was demolished in favor of this, is featured on another of my pages, along with most of the library's history.
Rio
This building served as an American Legion Hall and the Library. Both institutions have found newer locations.
L.L. Cook card.
River Falls
River Falls Public Library has recently (2023) celebrated its centennial. In the newspaper article detailing its history, I learned that it was founded by a women's group, the River Falls Tuesday Club. Impressively, the club is still extant.
Not too impressive looking an institution for a university town. Sometime along the way, an attractive library building was built, which is still in use today.
The card, by L.L. Cook, dates from 1958 or later, judging by the Chevy near the corner. The little sign is a Navy recruitment poster.
City Hall and Library
Sauk City
Building believed to be standing, but replaced. In the right-hand background is a Cities Service gas station.
(L) Postcard probably by L.L. Cook.
(R) Postcard known to be by L.L. Cook.
Spring Green
This tiny limestone building was replaced in 1996 by a lovely facility designed by a protege of Frank Lloyd Wright. It serves as the village offices, which seems almost comical to me. Guess it's feasible in the computer age.
(L) RPPC identified via comparison with the card on right.
(R) L.L. Cook photo postcard.
​
Stanley (D.R. Moon Memorial Library)
(L) Multiview card.
(R) Bloom Brothers postcard.
(L) Another Bloom Brothers postcard, mailed in 1916.
An early Library Journal article states that Mrs. D.R. Moon ponied up the money for this building. Stanley has a population of only 3,500 today. The original building is still in use.
Stoughton
Stoughton City Hall & Library.
​
This building predated Stoughton's Carnegie library. By the time this card was mailed (10/1/1906), the Carnegie grant had been already given to house the library. Apparently the building is still standing, when looking at the city web page's photo gallery.
​
Unattributed card: its manufacturer is not so important to me that I care to peel off the stamp.
Sun Prairie
Founded in 1901. Referred to as the Main Street Library, this was the 1924 building, now replaced. Finally, the Library has a thorough history page.
Joseph A. Fagan 'Clear View' card. Normally, he's identified as J.A. Fagan on Madison-area postcards. Also, normally Clear View cards are clearly labeled as Fort Wayne Printing & Box products.
Thorp
Replaced. I doubt that it was preserved, but stranger things have happened.
Mailed in 1944 from Marshfield.
Two Rivers (Joseph Mann Public Library)
In use 1891-1914, when the Carnegie building (also demolished) was opened. This was actually built as a library, but looks like it would have been at home in New England. Wauwatosa's Carnegie library resembled this structure, too.
​
The ca. 1907 postcard was published by E.C. Kropp of Milwaukee.
​
​
Wabeno
Part of the Wisconsin Valley Library service. Still in the log cabin.
Another L.L. Cook postcard, surprisingly common. I guess that the thought of a log library in the 1950s was a novelty to be shared with the folks back home.
West Bend
This is a City Hall. And a horse stable. And a 1899 library, tucked away on the top floor.
Which function remains?
The last, expanded in 1999-2000.
​
(L) This is a M.F. Schwinn postcard, printed in Germany and mailed in 1909.
Whitewater (White Memorial Library)
(L) H.J. O'Connor card.
(R) Ft. Wayne Paper & Box card, likely printed during WWII, as the Sun Prairie card above.
(L) Printed for Main St. Variety Store by E.C. Kropp. This is unusual in that it bears an 'M' code, instead of the 'N' code that Kropp normally used on its printed cards.
The 1904 library was replaced by Irvin L. Young Memorial Library in 1991. According to its website, viewed several years ago:
​
The White Memorial building continues to serve the community as it provides office space for the Chamber of Commerce, Cable Station 13, and the Community Development Authority.
Wisconsin Rapids (McMillan Memorial Library)
Wisconsin Rapids, a paper mill town, is comprised by Centralia and Grand Rapids. I do not know if the former ever had a library.
This Mid-century Modern library is still in use.
Wittenberg
Tiny building, still in use in a town best known for Nueske's bacon. Now a branch library for Shawano City-County Library.
Excel photo postcard.