USA > Wisconsin > Racine County > Racine > Racine, belle city of the lakes, and Racine County, Wisconsin : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Vol. I > Part 19
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In 1900 O. W. Johnson, H. E. Miles, E. L. Baker, the Horlick Food Company, H. M. Wallis, C. II. Lee and F. L. Mitchell, hav- ing the interests and welfare of the library in mind and desiring to see the institution in a home of its own, offered $10,000 for a
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Photo furnished by Billings
LAYING THE CORNER STONE OF RACINE PUBLIC LIBRARY
PUBLIC LIBRARY, RACINE
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library building, on condition that $15,000 more should be sub- seribed and that the West Park should be the site; the city an- thorities were also to obligate themselves to levy an annual tax not less than one-quarter of a mill on the assessed valuation of the taxable property of the city. However, many and great were the objections set up against the park being diverted from its original use, and the City Council was thereby prevented from meeting its part of the provisions of the offer. This seemed to be a body blow to the hopes of the city having a library building for years to come, but about this time "The baird of Skibo" was in the full flush of his desired efforts to die a poor man, and Car- negie libraries were popping up hither and yon like mushrooms in the night season. Letters had been in the hands of Mr. Car- negie's secretary, in which certain Racine people had asked the philanthropist to consider Racine as willing to take advantage of his benefactions, and that a library building was fervently de- sired and badly needed in this growing and prosperous town on the lake. After the lapse of a year's time R. F. Franks, financial secretary to the iron king, in a letter acknowledging the request of Racine, stated that Mr. Carnegie woud be pleased to extend his good offices to Racine and, with the inevitable conditions, ex- pressed his willingness to give the city $50,000 for a library build- ing. Congressman Cooper, representing this district, also ro- ceived a letter from Secretary Franks to the same effect, which communications were laid before the board of library directors in December, 1901. Mr. Carnegie's conditions that go with his gifts for library buildings are stereotyped and are the same in purport wherever made and accepted. These conditions were in due time given to the community at large and in substance were as follows: That the city of Racine furnish a suitable site for the proposed library building and guarantee for the support of the library a sum of money annually at least equal in amount to 10 per cent of the donation. The requirements of Mr. Carnegie were agreed to and the gift was legalized by the passage of an ordinance by the city council in January, 1902, accepting it and providing for the maintenance of the institution by an annual tax of $5.000.
PUBLIC LIBRARY BUILDING
Having $50,000 at its command, the library board had on its hands the difficult task of selecting a site for the proposed build-
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ing, and at a regular sitting of that body a building committee was appointed with Thomas M. Kearney as its chairman. At a later meeting, February 11, 1902, the chairmen of the three stand- ing committees were empowered to confer with the citizens' com- mittee. In March of the year last mentioned about $10,000 had been subscribed towards a stated amount for the site and the board of directors recommended to the council that the north- west corner of Wisconsin and Fifth streets, valued at $12,500, be selected as a site, and that the city be asked to appropriate the sum of $2,500 needed to make up the stipulated price of the grounds desired. But certain members of the citizens' committee were not in favor of this site, so that the council failed to act favorably upon the request of the library committees. There- upon the negotiations in progress with Mrs. Mary E. Hall were renewed and the site of the library was purchased of her for the sum of $15,000, of which Mrs. Hall very generously donated $1,000.
The next step was to secure an architect and the choice hap- pily fell upon John Lawrence Mauran of St. Louis, whose plans were accepted, presented for the criticism of the Western Library Association at Madison in August, and were pronounced by that body "The Library Beautiful."
The contract was let to A. H. Harens & Co. for $41,000 and the work of excavation commenced February 10, 1903. On Dec- oration day, May 30, 1903, the corner stone of the building was laid with the impressive ceremonies usual on like occasions. The late Charles H. Washburn was master of ceremonies and the stone was placed under the direction of Governor Harvey Post, G. A. R. Hon. Charles E. Dyer was orator of the day.
Racine is possessed of one of the most beautiful and sub- stantial library buildings in the country and she may well be proud of it. The structure stands on the southeast corner of Main and Seventh Streets, has a frontage on Main Street of 97 feet and a depth of 80 feet. It is two stories in height and has a high basement. The material used is Bedford ent stone, pressed brick and trimmings of terra cotta. On the main floor are two large reading rooms, rooms with modern appliances for books, offices of the librarian and other apartments; on the second floor is an assembly room, and museum; the basement is given over to
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the storage of newspaper files, toilet rooms, furnace and boiler compartments and other uses.
When the library was ready for the public in 1897 the event awakened in the community every sentiment that marks for re- joicing, and the world, Raeine's world, certainly knew that a ceremony of an unusual character was on. For, be it known, the rooms in the Secor building, arranged for the library, were for- mally thrown open and under the inspiration of a carefully pre- pared program directed by Charles H. Washburn, master of cere- monies, the people of the city were welcomed to their own and the Racine public library was declared open. But not so with the new-the "Library Beautiful." Blare of trumpets and high- sounding speech there were none. On the contrary, quietly and proudly, one may say, the big front doors of this storehouse of learning of the ages were opened wide and the rich and the poor, the learned and the unlearned, the haughty and the meek, in fact, the whole world was asked to enter its portals and partake of the rich abundance of mental pabulum provided for a reading public. The ever notable day was March 16, 1904, and it is marked on the calendar as one never to be forgotten "in these parts."
BRANCH LIBRARIES
To the Woman's club is due all credit for the movement re- sulting in the final establishment of the North Side Branch library. In 1898 the members of this club opened in that locality what was then known as the Children's Reading rooms, which continued as snch until October, 1906, when it became the North Side branch of the Racine public library, with rooms in a rented building at 1619 Milwaukee Avenue.
The South Side branch was opened May 30, 1914, in a beauti- ful new Carnegie building, which cost $10,000, and stands on the corner of Washington and Hamilton Avenues. The opening was a ceremonial affair, and that part of the city enjoys all the bene- fits of a book supply accorded the central district. Referring to this utility in her annual report for the fiscal year of 1915, Miss Calkins had this to say: "Any doubts as to the need of a branch library on the South Side near the Junction district must give way before the fact that the people in that part of the city have responded in so encouraging a manner to the library advantages offered to them. The circulation of books and magazines at the
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south branch for the year was 39,403. This is more than the ree- ord for the first year of the the public library, as it was then only about 31,000. Of the books read at the South Side two-thirds are juvenile, but the proportion of adult reading is very good, 14.655 having been taken by the 'grown up' patrons. Nearly all the work for the South branch has been done by Miss Lottie Ingram, the branch librarian, and Miss Hazel Buck, her assistant." In addition to these auxiliaries it should be stated that the main library circulates many books from stations established at eight of the public schools, among which is the Continuation school. To again revert to Librarian Calkin's report, it is learned that "the Continuation and Industrial schools are very grateful for the books sent to them, and the field of usefulness in that direc- tion is very large. Many of the students would never read if the books were not near at hand, and the teachers feel that the library is a great help in the further development of their pupils who are out of school, but yet are not old enough to be steady workers at trades. The evening classes of foreigners are also nmch helped by the books of easy reading, which enable them more easily to acquire om language, and they soon come to be steady patrons of the library. Of the number of books in foreign languages that have been read, the German ranks first, 2,202 vol- umes in this language having been circulated. The Danish-Nor- wegian class comes next, having 1,487, and the third largest is Lithuanian, which mimbers 812." The total member of with- drawals from the main library, its branches and the schools amounted to 152,601, an increase of 26,093 over the previous year's record.
TRIBUTE TO THE LIBRARY'S BEST FRIEND
In closing his annual report for the fiscal year 1915, John B. Simmons, president of the library board, remembered the services of a citizen, whose heart and hand were ever open to the best interests of the library. He has recorded in the archives of the library these words of praise and appreciation: "It is per- haps needless to say at this time that the library and library work in this city has sustained an incalculable loss during the voar in the death of Charles H. Lee, late president of the board. who had served in that capacity from the very beginning of its existence-vet I, who have had the privilege to succeed him in
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that office, cannot refrain from paying this final tribute to his memory by reminding your honorable body and the people of this city that to him more than to any other citizen of Racine do we owe the advantages afforded by this valuable civic institution."
Board of directors for 1916: John B. Simmons, president; Sarah Morrison, secretary; Dr. J. S. Keech, Fred H. Schulz, Ed- ward Hollister, Henry Hartman, Adolph R. Janecky, Susan Por- ter, Arthur Simonson, Miss Mary JJ. Calkins, libarian; Lillian E. Jones, Helen D. Gorton, Minnie Olive Hill, Miss Pearl Snell, Miss Ruth Melntyre, assistants; also Miss Hazel Buck and Miss Louise Boardman of the south branch library.
CHAPTER XI
THE NEWSPAPERS
THE FIRST NEWSPAPER -THE RACINE ADVOCATE -RACINE COUNTY ARGUS-SLOVAN AMERIKANSKY - MISCELLANEOUS EARLY NEWS- PAPERS-THE JOURNAL-NEWS-THE TIMES-CALL -THE WISCON- SIN AGRICULTURIST -FOLKETS AVIS-RACINE CORRESPONDENT - RACINE NORDEN - BURLINGTON STANDARD-DEMOCRAT - BURLING- TON FREE PRESS - BURLINGTON GAZETTE - WATERFORD POST- UNION GROVE ENTERPRISE.
THE FIRST NEWSPAPER
The first newspaper to be published in Racine was the Ra- cine Argus, bearing the date of February 14, 1838. This paper was a five column folio, under the editorship of N. Delavan Wood. Advertisements were confined to a half column and the other column spaces which required filling at various times were utilized for the publication of state, territorial and national statutes. Among the few advertisers in the first issue were a notice of the Racine House by J. M. Myers; Marshall M. Strong. attorney; C. R. Alton, distriet surveyor; Lorenzo Janes, attor- ney; F. S. Lovell, attorney; Knight & Capron, drapers and tailors; Heath & Parsons, cash dealers in merchandise; a sheriff's sale advertised by E. R. Hugunin, potatoes being the article mentioned for sale; and a notice of the sailing of the sloop, "Commodore Baron," A Leice, master, the following June. The first page of this first issue was taken up with prosaic reading matter, inelnd- ing an "Ode to Columbia." The second page was devoted to notices of the Canadian troubles and news from China. Presi- dent Van Buren and the proposed pre-emption laws were treated. The third page held the information that the Argus was owned by J. M. Meyers, A. Carey, Gilbert Knapp, Stephen Ives, Lorenzo Janes and M. M. Strong. The paper was stated to be Jeffersonian Democratic in politics and would not be delivered to anyone with- out the "ready coon." the popular expression for money. Some discussion was made as to the weather, recording that the coldest day of the season had been 13 degrees below zero. The arrival and departure of mails was published by Postmaster B. B. Cary. Eastern and northern mails arrived on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, usually in the evening, and departed upon the following
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morning. Western mails arrived Monday evening and were sent out Tuesday morning. The names of Sammel Hale, Jr., Roland Ives, Seth Warner, Origin Perkins and Adna Lampson were given as justices, and Lorenzo Janes, Henry F. Cox, Jr., and F. S. Lovell as notaries. There were just eighteen numbers of the Racine Argus issned, covering the period from February 14 until October 6, 1838. At the latter time the paper died from want of financial support and the difficulty in getting paper and other supplies. While it did last, however, the editors, Marshall M. Strong and Lorenzo Janes, made it a very creditable sheet. The material was removed to Madison, Wisconsin, and used in establishing the Wisconsin Enquirer.
THE RACINE ADVOCATE
The paper called the Racine Advocate was established on November 23, 1842, by Thomas J. Wisner, editor and proprietor, and F. B. Ward, printer. The office of the Advocate was located at the corner of Wisconsin and Sixth Streets. On August 12, 1843, Mr. Wisner died of typhus fever and the paper was left without an editor until October 31st of the same year, when Mar- shall M. Strong assumed the office. On December 17, 1844, Philo White became editorial and business manager during Mr. Strong's absence as a member of the Territorial Council. On March 24, 1846, Mr. White sold the Advocate to J. C. Bummer and O. A. Stafford, the former acting as editor. The first issue umder the new management contained for the first time a "local", depart- ment, which was very small. On January 19, 1848, after two years of doubtful value, the Advocate was enlarged to a seven- colunm paper. It then supported Martin Van Buren for the Presidency and advocated free territory principles.
After Bunner and Stafford the next editor was Jolm W. Trowbridge. On April 16, 1851, the names of Bunner, Stafford and Trowbridge again appear as proprietors of the paper. In August of the same year the firm of Bunner & Trowbridge again appears as an editorial caption. On December 21, 1851, John A. Harrison purchased the interest of Mr. Trowbridge. December 15, 1852, Mr. Bummer retired from the editorial staff and Mr. Harrison became sole proprietor. Mr. Bier removed to Dela- van, where he established the Walworth County Journal.
With the beginning of the eleventh volume of the Advocate
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on January 26, 1853, Charles Clement bought the interest of Mr. Harrison. On May 11th a daily edition of the paper was started and continued for about two years. On November 29. 1853, Andre Matteson became associated with Mr. Clement, but by April 24, 1854, Mr. Clement was again acting alone, but only until the end of the year. He sold his newspaper plant to A. C. Sandford. In January, 1856. John Tapley became associated with Mr. Sandford in the publication. With the beginning of the fifteenth volume the proprietors commenced the publication of a morning edition at a penny per copy. This daily did not make a success and in May the owners discontinued it and devoted their energies to the improvement of the weekly issue. On January 1, 1862, Mr. Tapley retired from the Advocate and Mr. Sandford became sole editor and proprietor. On January 2. 1867, the form was changed from that of an eight-column folio to a six-column quarto.
From October. 1884, until February, 1888, Eliza E. Batchelor edited the paper, with Mr. Sandford as manager. Then Racine Franklin Guild took charge, in company with Eliza E. Batchelor and E. O. Hand, with Albert F. Ransom as editor. The paper was suspended soon after this.
In early years the paper was Free Soil Democratie, then Anti-Slavery and finally Republican.
RACINE COUNTY ARGUS
The Racine County Argus, Democratie, was established Sep- tember 1. 1868, with William Innes Martin as editor. Z. C. and H. M. Wentworth were afterwards editors of this sheet. On October 5, 1871, H. M. Wentworth retired from the paper, but on March 8, 1872, he again took an interest in the publication. On JJuly 31, 1873, Z. C. Wentworth became the sole proprietor, and on August 13, 1874, associated his sons with him in the man- agement. In April, 1877, Mr. C. F. George purchased the concern and continued as proprietor until April 4, 1878, at which date E. A. Egery bought the office. Mr. Egery continued until Decen- ber, 1880, and shortly after the paper suspended publication.
SLOVAN AMERIKANSKY
This paper was the first to be published in the Bohemian lan- guage in America. It was established in Racine on January 1. 1860, by Frank Korizek, editor and publisher. During the first
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HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
year it had an average circulation of about 400 copies and was a small folio sheet. On October 30, 1861, the name was changed to Slavie, or Slavia, which meant the ideal mother or the personi- fication of the whole Slavonic race. The size of the paper was increased and the form changed to a small quarto. Korizek con- tinued as publisher and Voyta Masek became editor. On June 1, 1863, Charles Jonas assumed editorial control of the paper. Dur- ing the following years there were several changes in the owner- ship, and from April, 1870, to December, 1872, the paper was edited by Vaclav Snyder. Charles and Frederick Jonas were subsequently publishers of the Slavie. During the first year and a half of this paper's existence it was the only Bohemian news- paper upon this side of the Atlantic Ocean. Other publications were also issued by this firm, among them being the Amerikan, a weekly, devoted to the wants of newly arrived Bohemian set- tlers. There was a dictionary of the English and Bohemian lan- guages issued here, which book was compiled by Charles Jonas in part in 1876. It is said that this was the first English-Bohe- mian dictionary ever published.
MISCELLANEOUS EARLY NEWSPAPERS
The Racine County Whig was established by Edward Bliss in the spring of 1846.
A paper named the Racine Express existed about 1852, but evidently did not survive for any length of time, as very little record is obtainable of it.
The Hyrde Stemmen, a Danish paper, was published in Racine by Rev. Chr. Freider and C. Eltzholtz in 1876 and in the fall of 1877 is was removed to Chicago.
The Dannebrog, also a Danish publication, was started by T. Sornson in 1876. It was simply a campaign paper.
S. Cadwallader at one time published the Press.
The Racine Independent was started in November, 1877, by Wentworth Brothers, who sold it to A. C. Arveson, after which it died in April, 1879.
One of the carlier college papers published here was the College Mercury and it bore a good reputation.
A publication known as the Ladies' Reporter once existed in Racine for a short time.
The Son of Temperance was started in January, 1877, by
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THE FIRST RACINE NEWSPAPER
Portion of front page of Number 1. Volume I, of first newspaper published in Racine, The proprietors were: J. M. Myers, Alfred Cary, Gilbert Knapp, Stephen N. Ives, Lorenzo Janes and Marshall M. Strong.
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William R. Bloomfield, who conducted it for one year and then sold out to Levi K. Alden. The paper lived for two years, but financial non-support caused its demise. It was the official organ of the Sons of Temperance, an organization which was strong here at one time.
The Daily Herald was started December 16, 1878, by Levi K. Alden & Company and ceased its career on April 24, 1879.
The New Deal was started by Col. William L. Utley as an organ of the Greenback Party on June 1, 1878.
The Dansk-Luttursk Kirke Blad was started in August, 1877, by arrangements made with the Norwegian-Danish Conference. It was published by the Danish pastors of the society and edited by A. M. Anderson, pastor of the Scandinavian Evangelical Lu- theran Congregation of Racine,
The Racine Agriculturist, edited by A. C. Fish and published by George S. Bliss, was a prominent early paper in Racine.
About the year 1849 Dr. B. B. Cary began the publication of an eight-column weekly called the Democratic Union. He removed it to Milwaukee in 1850. The paper was printed by S. P. Rounds, who also published a temperance paper called the Old Oaken Bucket, which was edited by Rev. A. C. Barry and was the official organ of the Sons of Temperance of Wisconsin. It was printed in quarto form, with double sheets.
The Commercial Advertiser, published first by Butterfield & Warren as an eight-column paper and devoted to the interests of the Whig Party. It was bought in the fall of 1850 by Judge William R. Perry, who associated with him his son George. After the election of a Democratic President in 1852 the paper died, due to the cessation of political advertising from Washington.
The Wisconsin Farmer was published by Mark Miller, but was afterward removed to Janesville.
The Wisconsin Rode, published by Kohlmann Brothers in 1850, existed for just one year and was, according to record, the first German paper in Racine. Then came the Racine Volksblatt, first published in 1855 by Mr. Erdmann, who was succeeded by Henry F. Hillgard, at which time the paper bore the name of A. Winter & Company as publishers. At this period Sammel Ritchie became interested in the paper and subsequently became its sole proprietor. About the same time the National Demokrat made its appearance, published by C. Lohmann, with whom M.
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HISTORY OF RACINE COUNTY
Grahl was interested. It finally passed into the hands of Fred Krahe and went out of existence after one year.
The Wisconsin Volksblatt, published by A. Winter, contin- ned for three months. In 1860 a paper called the Volksfreund was started and lasted until 1863. The Omnibus, published by Henry Bonn, was started in 1869 and stayed thirteen months. There was also the Racine Post, which came out in 1876 and was discontinued after nine months' life.
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