1898
The history of the Oregon Public Library began in 1898 when a group of families subscribed to a traveling library from the H. Parmalee Library Company which was founded in 1882 out of Des Moines, Iowa. As a vendor of "traveling libraries," Parmalee developed a rotating "package" collection which was marketed as the University of the Traveling Library.
In Oregon, thirty-five families participated in the subscription library that they lovingly called "Parmalee's." These families paid $3.00 a month and every three months a box of 50 books arrived at the library, which was located above C.C. Peast's Drug Store. This library structure, a subscription library, was fairly common at the time.
1908
Photo Courtesy of OAHS.
After about 10 years of operating as a subscription library, the Village of Oregon started partially funding the Library and also got involved with the Wisconsin Free Library Commission, which provided rotating collections around the state from 1895-1914. The Village's funding allowed the Library to be a "free" library rather than a subscription library, but it was not yet a fully free public library.
On July 2, 1908 the Village of Oregon appropriated $12 to be paid to the Wisconsin Free Library Commission which would send 100 books to Oregon every 3 months, the Village just had to pay freight. The Board also authorized the Village President to appoint three members to a library commission and the following month on August 6 or 8, the Village President appointed library commissioners.
Mrs. William (Jean) Bennet housed the library above the Criddle Drug Store located at 113 S. Main Street where the rent was $5 a month. Money for maintenance and rent came primarily from donations and fundraisers. For instance, the bowling alley donated all money taken in one day and the Ladies Aid of the Methodist Church gave a squirrel and rabbit pie dinner to raise funds. At the time, the Village population was about 700.
1910
Photo courtesy of OAHS.
In 1910, the Library became a Village of Oregon Department rather than being partially funded by the Village and run by Mrs. Bennet. On September 3, all three Library Commissioners resigned to make way for a seven-member Board per the Wisconsin Chapter 43, the statutes that regulate public libraries.
In October of 1910, the Village of Oregon voted to place a levy against the taxable property of the Village to collect $200 for the support of the Free Public Library.
On November 3, 1910, the Village President appointed the seven-member Library Board and hired its first librarian, Mrs. R.D. (Nellie) Ozburn. She was paid $50 a year.
1914
The Library moved to a room over the McDermott Building at 105 S Main Street. The rent was $7.50 a month.
1916
1916 Library Location.
Picture courtesy of OAHS.
Two years later in 1916, the Library moved again, to the Netherwood block where it remained until 1941. Rent was $100 a year and the Library housed 1,923 volumes.
In 1926, Mrs. O.E. Richards was appointed to the Library Board. 40 years later in 1966 she retired from the Board. In the article “Mrs. Richards Retires from the Library Board After 40 Years,” Mrs. Richards recounts what it was like in the early days in the Netherwood building:
Going back to the early days in the Netherwood building, out of a possible $500 per year alliance by the village board, after expenses were paid, comparatively little was left for books. Magazines were not on the list. First of all there was at least $100-$125 for annual rent, heat and light. Heat was provided by a wood stove and a boy was hired to provide the wood and start the fire when needed. Then there was the librarian’s salary, about $10-15 per month, and the necessary equipment for processing books for the shelves, all of which left comparatively little for new books. Children’s books were practically non-existent. In fact, children weren’t expected to come to the library. If you could take a peek into the present library during afternoon and early evening hours you would understand why the greater part of the book money today goes for children’s books. Hence, the new county library system beginning March 21st, which will make even more books available to the reading public, is anxiously awaited.
As Mrs. Richards recalls, rent was $100 a year in 1916 and at the time, the Library housed 1,923 volumes and there were 551 borrowers.
1941
In 1941, Village Hall at 117 Spring St. was built and the Library moved into the building along with Village staff.
An open house was held in June of 1941 and we have the guest book of attendees (PDF).
1970
In 1969, the Village Board had extensive discussions about if Village Hall should be remodeled or if the Library should get its own building. In 1970, the Village remodeled and the Library moved into the new rooms in Village Hall.
In 1970 Library hours are Monday 1-5pm & 7-9pm, Tuesday 1-5pm, Wednesday 1-5pm & 7-9pm, Thursday 1-5pm, Friday 1-6pm, Saturday 9am-1pm.
May 1980
219 Park St. Location
In May 1980, the Library moved yet again. This time into Paul’s Supermarket Store at 219 Park Street. The Library occupied the southern ⅔ of the building and the rest of the building was used by the Oregon Area Senior Center.
Almost immediately, the Library was bursting at the seams and a new and larger facility was badly needed in the immediate future.
December 1995
1995 library location.
Photo from 2014.
In December, 1995, a new Library was opened at 256 S. Brook Street to better serve the growing Oregon community. During the move, grade school kids passed books from the old building to the new Library, like a fire brigade! It was so cold that kids could only help for about 15 minutes at a time.
Dane County grants were used to fill out the Youth, Adult, and Reference collections and many new volumes were added!
2010 Centennial Information
2010 marked 100 years of the Oregon Public Library! Celebrations were planned throughout the year.
Members of the Library Board also began planning for expanding or building a facility to better serve the community.
January 2024
