Monroe County, Wisconsin - Chapter 29: The Sparta Free Library, 1912

AVhat is now the "Sparta Free Library," was, at the time of its first organization and starting in the world, in the winter of 1861 and '62, termed the "Young ]\Ien's Library Association" of Sparta. It had its origin in the desire of a number of citizens, at that time, who possessed culture and literary tastes, to found a library which should be a credit to the place and which should not only be a public benefit in the direction of promoting a greater knowledge of books and the higher aesthetic culture Avhich comes from the study of standard works by well-known writers, and valua])le also as a means of reference, but which should be the basis for an association of kindred minds and tastes, for purposes of mutual intellectual improvement. The matter of organizing a library association had been discussed in public and private for some two or three years before it finally took shape and formed itself into a definite purpose. Among the citizens who took a prominent part in the l)eginning of the Young Men's Library Association, and to whom the credit of its inception and organization mainly belong, may be named ^Messrs. Romanzo Bunn, afterwards United States district judge for the western district of "Wisconsin ; Thomas B. Tyler, J. T. Hemphill, Judge George E. Pratt, D. McBride, Dr. M. R. Gage, Milton Montgomery, :\r. A. Thayer, E. S. AVhitaker. H. R. Hayden, L. B. Noyes and a number of others. The exact date of the first meeting of the association cannot be stated with certainty, owing to the fact that the early records of the institution have been lost ; and for the same reason but tew details of the organization and progress of the association can be given, except such as can be gathered from the memories of the early projectors of the enterprise. It was organized as a stock association, and the members subscril)ing for shares at $5 each. AVitli the fund thus raised, the light preliminary expenses were defrayed, and a small but judiciously selected assortment of books procured. Not an inconsiderable part of the infant library also Avere the donation of members and others who gave such volumes as they could spare

The officers elected at the start were a president, vice president, secretarv, treasurer and librarian. R. Bunn was chosen first president of the association, with E. S. AVhitaker secretary and T. B. Tyler treasurer, and, subsequently, by Judge George Pratt, who filled the office for a considerable time. He was succeeded by Dr. R. S. Wells as librarian.

The new Young Men's Library Association, during the first year of its existence, experienced the usual vicissitudes of such institutions, the interest in it being active for a time, and then subsiding in to rather a state of quietude, broken at intervals by spasmodic revivals when a concert or dramatic entertainment was arranged for its benefit, or when an annual election of officers took place. The Civil War was then at its height and filled too large a share in men's minds to permit their giving much attention to matters literary and, moreover, the class really imbued with a love of books and reading was, as is generally the case in western towns, exceedingly limited part of the total population. It is not singular, therefore, that although expenses were kept up and frecjuent additions were made, on the whole the association rather languished after the first year of its organization. The library rules were defective in not requiring a deposit on the loan of the books, and as a consequence, large numbers of the volumes became scattered and lost. The labor of keeping track of them was not a paying task, and as may be imagined, could not be performed effectively under the circumstances. After a time, and during one of the occasional periods of activity, a change was made and new rules were adopted, one requiring a deposit from those borrowing books from the library, the deposit being refunded, less 10 cents, on the return of the book. This reform kept the library intact, but the question of the revenue was still a perplexing problem. The membership dues had been originally fixed at $2 per annum, but as the number of members diminished from neglect and non-payment of dues, this source afforded no surplus for incidental expenses and the procuring of new books. The Sparta Dramatic Club, a local dramatic organization, came to the rescue at several different occasions and gave entertainments for the benefit of the library, from which considerable amounts were realized and for which the members thereof, among whom were prominent Messrs. ]\I. S. Powell, the brothers H. R. and Harrison Hayden, D. S. Whitaker, George Farbham, Mrs. George Whitcomb, Mrs. M. A. Harris, Mr.

Finally it became apparent that the library would have to be put on some different basis in oi'dt'r to give it permanence and provide for its growth and stability. The membership had dwindled from TOO down to tliirteen in the winter of lS7;5-4. A meeting of the thirteen was held in the office of llie librarian. Dr. AVells, and it was proposed to form a new organization under the state law, then recently passed, authorizing villages and cities to estal)lish free public libraries. The first meeting was held May 8, 1874. at whidi the organization, under the state law. was effected. By this arrangement the library became a village institution, subject to municii)al authority, and its afiFaii-s in charge of a board of trustees.

AVhen the library had finally become a village institution, it Avas located in the upper room of a store Iniilding opposite tin* old Ida House, which is now the Hotel Lewis; when Dr. AVells left town the library was removed to the second floor of the Schram building on Water street, where it remained for a good many years, until the present library building was erected.

In 1900 there was considerable agitation with regard to the erection of a building for the library, and Dr. AV. T. Sarles had taken some steps towards calling a meeting for the purpose of making some arrangenu^nts looking to that end, but in the meantime Dr. F. P. Stiles, having learned through reliable sources that money could be procured from Andrew Carnegie for a library building in this city if proper application was made, prepared such a letter, which resulted in ]\Ir. Carnegie agreeing to give the sum of $10,000 for the construction of a library, upon the condition that a permanent provision should be made by the city of an amount each year equaling 10 per cent of the gift to maintain the same. Tiiis was very readily granted by the Common Council, and the libi-ary board, after considering several sites, purchased the old Cilobc Hotel property, at the corner of IMain and Court streets, being a lot 150 north and south and 130 east and Avest ; in 1901, plans for the building having been adopted, the library board appointed C. I\I. ]\1 asters, F. P. Stiles and George A. Kichardson as a building conunittee. The work was commenced early in 1902 and linished during tlu^ month of April, 190;{.

It was found when the building was nearly completed, that the sum given would not be sufficient to complete the building and to build sidewalks, grade and si^cmI the ground, and an appli- cation -was made to jMr. Carnegie, who granted the sum of $2,000 more, upon the same condition that the provision amounting to 10 per cent of the gift shoukl be provided.

The library building, a handsome brick and stone structure containing commodious and nicely furnished reading rooms with hot water heat and electric lights, is one of the most convenient and tasteful buildings of its character to be found anywhere. Considerable credit is to be given to the building committee for the tliorough manner in which their work was carried out, and especially to George A. Richardson, who devoted a great deal of time in superintending the construction of the building and in the furnishing and fitting of it to its present condition; he has served for more than twenty years as president of the library board, all without any compensation whatever and purely for the satisfaction of seeing the library succeed ; that it has been an institution of great value to the citizens of Sparta there can be no question, containing as it does at the present time 7,288 volumes, consisting of all classes of literature and comprising valuable reference works. At the present time there are about twenty-five periodicals, consisting of magazines and newspapers taken. The library is open daily under the charge of Miss Jennie Scouten, who has been librarian since 1894, and whose extensive knowledge of library work and her invariably courteous treatment to patrons of the institution has made her hosts of friends. At the present time Miss Lila Newberry is assistant librarian, and has been for three years. The present library board consists of George A. Richardson, Dr. F. P. Stiles, Dr. Carl Beebe, Mrs. C. C. Newton, IMrs. Paul Schaller and Mr. H. J. Masters.