WAUPUN — In honor of National Library Week, the Waupun Historical Society will be hosting a program on the history of the Waupun Library Association and Heritage Museum, covering the Carnegie Library’s construction, its three different lives, and its close encounter with demolition.
The program, “Our Best-Kept Secret: A Fascinating Program on the Life of Waupun’s Carnegie Library”, will be held at the Waupun Public Library on Wednesday, April 26th at 6PM.
The presentation will cover the early history of the Waupun Library Association, background on The Andrew Carnegie Foundation, and the construction of the Waupun Carnegie Library, presently serving as the Waupun Heritage Museum. The presentation will be given by Historical Society president Zac Dickhut, secretary Tracie Nichols, and member Jaedon Buchholz.
The Waupun Library Association was founded in 1858 by a number of Waupun settlers, spearheaded by Edwin Hillyer who served as librarian for 37 years without pay. In 1895 the library collection was turned over to the City of Waupun on the condition that it remain forevermore a free public library.
The Waupun Carnegie Library completed construction in 1905, and in 1911 a room in the lower level was furnished as the “Waupun Public Museum.” The museum included a teaching collection of rocks and seashells, artifacts from China, American Civil War memorabilia, and other things of local significance.
For the rest of the story, members of the public are encouraged to attend the program.
Artifacts will be on display during the presentation and throughout the library.
