Community Life in Lancaster, Wisconsin

History of Lancaster Library Facilities

June, 2005
Information from Library Scrapbook

March, 1902	The first library is a rented upstairs room at 205 West Maple.
January, 1906	The library rented the upstairs at 125 North Jefferson.
March, 1911	The library moved into the former George Ryland home in Ryland Park.
April, 1957	While the Ryland house was being demolished and a new Library was being built, the library moved to temporary quarters in the "Grantland Club Rooms" above City Hall.
April, 1958	The new library was completed at a cost of $61,000. A bequest from Emma Schreiner of $25,000 had grown to $38,800 by 1957. In addition there was still $5,706 in the "Ryland Trust." The City funded the rest, committing $10,000 originally. (The City's contribution must have been approximately $16,500 in the end.)
May , 1982	A sizable addition was completed at a cost of $231,000 (including furnishings and equipment). $122,000 came from a bequest of Eva Taylor. Trust funds used from previous gifts were reported in one place as $42,000 and another at $58,000. The City contributed the rest (either $51,000 or $67,000), after committing "up to $75,000."


Lancaster City Hall 206 S. Madison Street Lancaster, WI 53813-1799 Phone: (608) 723-4246 Fax: (608) 723-4789 E-mail: CityHall@lancasterwisconsin.com	Lancaster Area Chamber of Commerce 206 S. Madison St., PO Box 292 Lancaster, WI 53813 Phone: (608) 723-2820 Fax: (608) 723-7409 E-mail: Chamber@lancasterwisconsin.com
Revised March 15, 2007.