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Summary
Medford Free Public Library
104 East Perkins Street, Medford, Taylor County
Architect: Hans T. Liebert
Date of Construction: 1916
As with many towns, Medford women's groups focused on events and activities leading to social betterment. The Medford Women's Club joined with the Women's Christian Temperance Union to organize the first library, opened at Temperance Hall in 1903. In 1913 the library board applied to the Carnegie Foundation for a grant to construct a library building. The Medford Woman's Alliance was organized to help furnish and maintain the new library.
Wausau architect Hans T. Liebert's design exemplifies Prairie School ideas. The wide overhang of a low hipped roof, beltcourse and ribbon windows give the building a ground-hugging appearance favored in Prairie design. Liebert also incorporated geometric patterns in the frieze windows and brick and tile motifs. The building's natural surroundings are echoed with colors of brown, yellow and green.
The one story, brick building is located in a mixed use area on the edge of the city¿s downtown. It has a prominent entrance on the exterior and a small, enclosed vestibule on the interior. The library has a typical Carnegie plan with a large rectangular reading room and centralized circulation desk. A portrait of Andrew Carnegie sits at the head of the basement stairway. The basement contains a one large room that was formerly used as a meeting hall for the Woman's Alliance meetings. It now operates as a children's library.
The library is still in operation and is open during regular hours.
Property Details
Resources Within The Property
Designations
NR1933
State & National Registers of Historic Places
The State Register and National Register recognize buildings, sites, districts, structures, and objects that are significant in national, state, or local history. The State Historic Preservation Office in conjunction with the National Park Service maintains the list for Wisconsin and makes the data available to the public for research and education.
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