On the Same Page: Reedsburg in 1899 at RPL next week
Headlining Reedsburg Public Library’s schedule next week is a presentation by Paul Wolter, executive director of the Sauk County Historical Society, at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 2, in the library’s Community Room. The program, Reedsburg in 1899, is the first in a series of historical programs in October celebrating Reedsburg Public Library’s 125th anniversary.
Wolter will focus on what Reedsburg was like in 1899 when the library started at the cusp of the 20th Century. From the local news to the prices of everyday products, a glimpse of the bustling and growing city will be presented. It was a time when the automobile was about to be seen on the city streets and air flight was just around the corner. At the time it opened in May of 1899, it was hoped that the first free library would become “the pride of Reedsburg.” Its founders would be proud and quite amazed at what a modern library has to offer! The program is free and no registration is required.
Those seeking more information about Reedsburg’s early years, and specifically in 1899, should consult Reedsburg Public Library’s Recollection Wisconsin collection. Recollection Wisconsin is a website that contains the digitized archival collections of libraries and historical societies across the state. To access RPL’s contributions, go to the library’s website at www.reedsburglibrary.org, find the “Local History” tab, and then “Historic Photographs” on the left hand side. Alternatively go directly to the RecollectionWisconsin.org website.
Here you will find a wide range of RPL resources, most of them digitized in the past two years. The fourth item on the list is “Reedsburg Historic Books.” Click on “View Collection” to see the four books the library currently has online. The last in the list is “The Reedsburg Times Souvenir Edition,” published on May 5, 1899, a mere three days before the opening of the first library! Transcriptions for each page can be found at the bottom of the screen. The photographs from 1899 of buildings, residences and people, some of which were shown in Wolter’s presentation, speak for themselves!
Other RPL collections interesting even to the casual browser are the Old Settlers Photograph and Letters collections. The Reedsburg Old Settlers Association existed from 1876 to 2022 and its photographs and letters were given to the library. Click on “Reedsburg Old Settlers Photographs”, and then “view collection.” An advanced search box at the top right hand side will allow you to search for your ancestor by name.
Be sure to join us over the next few weeks as we celebrate Reedsburg Public Library’s 125th anniversary. The following Wednesdays at 6 p.m. Oct. 9, 16 and 23, presenters will include the Reedsburg Historic Preservation Committee, Local Historian Lee Gnatzig, and Reedsburg Public Library Director Sue Ann Kucher, respectively.
If you have questions about Reedsburg in 1899, RecollectionWisconsin or any library program or service, call the library at 608-768-READ (7323).