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Libraries

Libraries have a remarkable array of knowledge available to us. The following Manitowoc County libraries have materials for everyone – from the maritime enthusiast to the family historian.

Manitowoc County Historical Society

www.mchistsoc.org
1701 Michigan Avenue
Manitowoc, WI 54220
920.684.4445 The Manitowoc County Historical Society, formed in 1906, is one of the oldest historical societies in Wisconsin. It is also one of the earliest societies to become an affiliate of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.

It was organized for the discovery, collection, preservation and publication of historical records and data of and relating to Manitowoc County, that establish the growth and progress of population, wealth, education, arts, science, agriculture, manufacture, trade and commerce.

The first president was Judge Emil Baensch. Other founders were Ralph Plumb, Dr. W. G. Kemper, John Schuette, James S. Anderson and FredChristiansen of Manitowoc; H. P. Hamilton and W. F. Nash of Two Rivers; and Dr. Louis Falge of Reedsville.

The Society continues through the efforts of a small, capable staff, and is dedicated to preserving and sharing local history, together with the financial support of individuals and businesses through memberships, special gifts and endowments. The offices of the Manitowoc County Historical Society are located at the Heritage Center, 1701 Michigan Avenue, Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The society is a non-profit, tax exempt 501(c) 3 corporation.

Manitowoc Public Library

www.mchistsoc.org
707 Quay Street
Manitowoc, WI 54220
920.683.4863 A Brief History of Manitowoc Public Library
During 1898 and 1899 a committee comprised of five members of the Clio Club, a women’s literary group, raised $4,700 to establish a public library supported by public taxation. In November of 1899, the city council accepted the gift from the committee, provided a tax to support the library, and appointed the first library board consisting of C. F. Canright, John Nagle, and Norman Torrison.

The library opened on March 13, 1900, on the second floor of a building owned by the Torrison Company. From the start, this location was too small. The library board applied to Andrew Carnegie for money for a new library building. On December 29, 1902, it received this reply, “If the city agrees by resolution of the council to maintain a Free Public Library at cost of not less than $2,500 per year and provides suitable site for the building, Mr. Carnegie will be glad to furnish $25,000 to erect a Free Public Library building.”

On August 1, 1904, the library was opened to the public and it served the community very well for many years. However, in the mid-1950’s it became apparent that the building was becoming inadequate to provide proper service to the people of Manitowoc. The issue was studied thoroughly for years before the Hamilton Street library building was built in 1966 and occupied in January of 1967.

After thirty years the need for more space and new technology led to the opening of the current library at its present location at 707 Quay Street on September 2, 1998.

Construction and furnishing costs for the current facility totaled $6.2 million. The building is 52,000 square feet on two levels, in comparison to the Hamilton Street library which had 32,000 square feet on three levels.

Lester Public Library

www.tworivers.lib.wi.us
1001 Adams Street
Two Rivers, WI 54241
920.793.8888 Library History
In 1890, members of the Two Rivers Branch of the Chautauqua Reading Circle met to consider the establishment of a public library and reading room. Leopold Mann donated $500 and the land for the building and Mrs. Mary Mann donated an additional $1,000 toward the building on the condition that the new library be named after her late husband, Joseph.

On December 17, 1891 the Joseph Mann library opened to the public. The total cost of the library including building, heater, furniture and the initial book collection was $3,363.73. Lizzie H. Yahnke was the first librarian.

In 1914, Two Rivers built its new Carnegie library, still called the Joseph Mann Library, but located across the street from the original library. Though extensively remodeled and expanded during the 1950s and 60s, community leaders soon recognized that a more modern and spacious facility would be needed.

On May 15, 1995, James Lester, chairman of the Board and CEO of Eggers Industries of Two Rivers, and his wife Barbee offered the Two Rivers City Council $1 million toward the construction of a new library. The City Council readily accepted and on June 28, 1997 the Lester Public Library--named in honor of Jim's parents, George and Marcia Lester--opened for business.

Kiel Public Library

www.kiel.lib.wi.us
511 Third Street
Kiel, Wisconsin 53042
920.894.7122 History of Kiel Public Library
In the fall of 1924, nine interested citizens met at the home of Mrs. D.F. Nauth to discuss the possibility of establishing a library in Kiel. They named themselves the Kiel Public Library Association and launched a house-to-house fundraising campaign, asking residents for a pledge of $1 per year.

The first "official" library home was in the Arnold Building at the corner of Fremont and 4th Streets. The library moved there on July 1, 1925, and was staffed entirely by volunteers. There was no heat, other than a pot-belly stove.

In 1928, the library moved into the Kiel City Hall, where it remained until 1972. Clara Oesau served as the first full-time librarian, with a salary of $10 a month. Miss Eleanor Druecker served as evening librarian with a salary of $2 per month. The total operating budget in 1930 was $600.

Growing pains began in the early 1960s, when Ann Detjen was serving as librarian. In 1971, heirs of the Adolph Stoelting estate offered the family home on Indian Hill, its adjacent property along the Sheboygan River, and $50,000, if the city would provide matching funds. City officials accepted the offer. Two of Adolph's children, Fred Stoelting and Marie Lee, oversaw the relocation campaign. The city broke ground in 1971 for a new 40 x 60 sq. ft. building at a cost "not to exceed $100,000." Dedication of the new library took place June 25, 1972.

Current director Julia Davis is only the 8th director to serve the city of Kiel since 1924. Others who served were Nancy Knepful, Vicki Lenz, Aileen Fitzgerald, and Nanette Bulebosh. Our inventory of books has grown to more than 38,000 books, as well as numerous audio books, CDs, videos, DVDs, magazines and computers.

Wisconsin Maritime Museum

www.wisconsinmaritime.org
75 Maritime Drive
Manitowoc, WI 54220
920.684.0218 Welcome Aboard
Welcome to a great place to learn, play and explore the rich maritime history of Wisconsin and the Great Lakes region. Located on the shores of Lake Michigan, the Wisconsin Maritime Museum offers visitors a unique place to spend hours learning about the sailors, shipbuilders and submariners who made that history, and to have some great family fun!

Founded in 1970 as the Manitowoc Submarine Memorial Association, the Wisconsin Maritime Museum has grown into one of the largest maritime museums in the Midwest. In addition to commemorating the maritime heritage of the Manitowoc-Two Rivers area and the submarines built here during World War II, the Wisconsin Maritime Museum is now a leader in preserving the maritime history of Wisconsin and the Great Lakes region.