May 2, 2018 at 6:08 p.m.
GFWC Rhinelander Woman's Club marks anniversary
GFWC Rhinelander Woman's Club marks anniversary
By By River News Staff-
A number of members dressed in period clothing and a summary of the club's history was shared.
According to the summary, the organization was formed on Jan. 11, 1898 when 20 women interested in study, fellowship and improving the city gathered to form a club. Soon after, they joined the State Federation of Women's Clubs and in 1905 the Rhinelander Woman's Club affiliated with General Federation of Women's Clubs.
Relationship with library
The club was instrumental in securing the first library in the city which was a room above the Merchant's State Bank Building on Brown Street. It was the city's first public library and housed about 300 books, according to the summary shared at the meeting. Additional collections of books were donated.
Five years after a Library Board was formed by the city, philanthropist Andrew Carnegie was contacted and he offered $12,500 for a new library building with a condition of a donated site and a pledge of 10 percent of the monetary gift. The Brown Bros. Lumber Company offered the site on the corner of Stevens and Rives and the Woman's Club pledged the necessary $1,500. Carnegie then increased his gift to $15,000.
"Our club has contributed to the Rhinelander District Library in many ways over the course of the club's history," the summary states. "We funded books, its first piano, $5,000 toward an endowment book fund, film strips and a copier. In 1985 the club donated nearly $12,000 to the Library for a lower level meeting room, a new piano and sponsored a Library Tea for visiting dignitaries and interested public. The club financially supported the Bookmobile. Today, in 2018, the club financially supports the Library Children's Department with funds for summer programming and pays for the cost of books and kits for three community book clubs. The Library houses the club's archives; a partnership is forming to digitize the historical records of the club."
The club's next meeting is set for 11:30 a.m. May 8 at Hodag Steakhouse in Rhinelander.
For more information, call 715-369-1972.
New members are welcome.
WEATHER SPONSORED BY
E-Editions
Latest News
E-Editions
Events
August
To Submit an Event Sign in first
Today's Events
No calendar events have been scheduled for today.
Comments:
You must login to comment.