Elisha D. Smith Public Library - Menasha, WI
Posted by: 
RJ McKenzie
N 44° 12.193 W 088° 26.795
16T E 384417 N 4895461
The Elisha D. Smith Public Library in Menasha, WI
Waymark Code: WMDB18
Location: Wisconsin, United States
Date Posted: 12/17/2011
Views: 3
The Elisha D. Smith Public Library in Menasha, WI, also known as Menasha Public Library.
Menasha's public library has been serving the citizens of Menasha since 1896, when the first Menasha Library and Reading Room opened in rooms above a store at the corner of Chute and Milwaukee Streets.
Lucinda Lee Pleasants (sister-in-law of George Banta, founder of the Banta Corporation) was the driving force in establishing the first library, and she became its first librarian. She held this position until her retirement in 1919. On the first day of operation, the library checked out 39 books, some of which may have been in German or Polish to serve the readers who lacked proficiency in English. The first reading room provided information, recreation, and education, which still describes the library's role. Today, Miss Pleasants' portrait hangs in the library's Children's Room, and the storytime room is called Lucy Lee's Park in her honor.
In 1898, Elisha D. Smith, founder of the Menasha Woodenware (now Menasha Corp.), donated land and money to build a library on Mill Street. He died shortly after, and the library was named the Elisha D. Smith Public Library in his honor. Today, one of the portraits of Mr. Smith owned by the library hangs above the fireplace. The building on Mill St. was used until 1969, when a new building was built at 440 First St.
In 2003, renovation began on this building. During three phases of construction, 18,000 square feet were added to the already existing 28,000 square feet of the library. The $4.5 million project involved gutting and rebuilding the old building. Features of the new facility include a spacious new Children's Room, a Grand Concourse in the center, a solarium with a fireplace known as the Fireside Lounge, and new meeting rooms.
Dedication of the renovation project took place at the Grand Opening on Saturday, January 31st, 2004.
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