Williams Free Library

Heavy sandstone Romanesque building that housed Beaver Dam's Williams Free Library for over 100 years.

Photos 

Overview Looking Southwest

That's the old Milwaukee Road depot on the far left side of the photograph, which now houses the Chamber of Commerce. It is also a NRHP listing and is shown on this site.

Photo taken by J.R. Manning in July 2012

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Map 

Description 

"The building is Romanesque in style and its beauty and massive symmetry grows upon the mind as one studies it. The foundation, which rises a number of feet above the ground, is of Wauwatosa limestone, the superstructure is of Cleveland sandstone. A massive square tower with open belfry stands at the northwest corner. The roof is slate, crested with terracotta; the windows, plate glass, except that a rich stained glass above the bay window add to the beauty of the front. The floors of the first floor are of tiling and hardwood. Red birch was used for the interior finishing and the effect is admirable."

--The Argus July 16, 1891.

(For the rest of the description, follow the link below to the Dodge County Historical Society website.)

The Williams Free Library outgrew the building and moved in 1984. In 1985, the city leased the building to the Dodge County Historical Society.

National Register information 

Status

Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on August 7, 1974

Reference number

74000079

Architectural styles

Other architectural type; Victorian: Romanesque; Richardsonian Romanesque

Area of significance

Architecture

Level of significance

Local

Evaluation criteria

C - Design/Construction

Property type

Building

Historic function

Library

Current function

Library

Period of significance

1875-1899

Significant years

1890; 1891

Tags 

Update Log 

• August 11, 2012: Updated by J.R. Manning: Updated status, added description and added photos.

Sources 

• J.R. Manning - Lugnuts969 [at] gmail [dot] com
• Dodge County Historical Society - The page of the website that describes the Williams Free Library building.
• National Register database - Reference number 74000079 (Search for documents)

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