Director

historic cheese factory sites around Stanley

In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, communities all over the state called for libraries to be built and funded for public use, though the concept of public libraries as they operate today would not have been familiar to everyone at that time. Book collections available through membership or subscription were increasingly being replaced by public collections, with the initial costs of building and equipping the library usually provided by charitable donations. In Wisconsin alone, the most famous library philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie, provided $1,045,511 to 63 libraries (Colson 1976, 198). Colson identifies 16 other individuals who made large contributions to Wisconsin libraries between 1882 and 1900. One of those sixteen was D. R. Moon, whose Northwestern Lumber Company was active in the area and who provided $12,000 to build Stanley’s library after he passed away in 1898. (The donation was made by Sally F. Moon in his honor). Though not on the scale of Carnegie’s grants, the people of Stanley were extremely proud of their benefactor’s generosity; on February 22 of 1902, one contributor to Stanley’s local newspaper, The Stanley Republican, wrote the following:  “Chippewa Falls is to be congratulated on the probable acquisition of a Carnegie Library which promises to equal the Moon Memorial Library of this city. To receive it from Mr. Carnegie is better than having none but it should cause a blush to suffuse the cheeks of several opulent gentlemen who have accumulated millions of dollars within the sound of the musical waters of the lordly Chippewa and who are now chiefly engaged in setting on their money bags. There are men in Chippewa Falls who have missed the greatest opportunity of their lives and the fact will dawn on their benighted vision when, alas, it is to [sic] late. There are a few rich men in this country who have discovered something better than riches. Future generations will produce more of them.” (Letter to the Editor, The Stanley Republican, Feb. 22, 1902.) M. T. McKnight, D. R. Moon’s successor as president of the Northwestern Lumber Company, also expressed interest in providing the funds for a library in Stanley. Though Mrs. Moon ultimately financed the library building, furnishings, and initial book collection, McKnight bolstered the library's holdings with a donation of 500 books in the library’s first year. (Taylor, 1985, section 8 and “A Rich Gift of Choice Books,” The Stanley Republican, May 17, 1902). Another staunch supporter of the library was the editor of the Stanley Republican, which offered space for the library to publish reports, announcements, and lists of new books. W. H. Bridgman also presented a bound volume of the year's newspapers to the library each year. Hanna Ellis and Martha E. Dunn were among the first to serve as librarians. From its earliest days, the library offered not only books, but also programs and services. The library installed a telephone in 1902, hosted a yearly Teacher Reception, arranged public lectures, held a Story Hour for children, supported four literary societies, and provided event and meeting space for several high school groups. Annual reports for 1908 and 1909 also listed 30 periodicals, some of them in Norwegian, and visits from the Traveling Libraries, which were provided by the Wisconsin Free Library Commission among the library's offerings. Over the years, traveling Libraries with materials in English, Danish, German, and Norwegian supplemented the offerings in Stanley. A strong partnership quickly developed between the public library and the school. Teachers had special checkout privileges and also made use of the library's collection of pictures, which according to the librarian's 1908 annual report "now numbers 595 and illustrates biography, literature, history, travel, religion, birds, trees and flowers." ("Need More Funds," The Stanley Republican, July 18, 1908.) In 1985 the library was accepted to the National Register of Historic Places, notable for both its architecture and community significance.The description in the library's application reads: "[T]he building's interior, composed of three rooms and a central open space, is largely unaltered. Dark antique oak ceiling beams, classical window moldings, and columns (These are Doric columns which stand on pedestals) distinguish the reading rooms and stack areas, with the same wood used to highlight the large fireplace in the east wing." (Taylor, 1985). Whitney’s neoclassical design with its interior and exterior columns, original dark wood, and fireplace remain prominent features of the interior today, though over the years a side entrance and basement door have been added. In 1904 the Wisconsin Free Library Commission featured photos of the interior in a book about public library spaces. A caption reports 913 borrowers for the library at that time (Wisconsin Free Library Commission, 1904). Roughly 120 years after its establishment, the library remains central to community life in Stanley, providing library services to 2,655 registered borrowers in 2017 (Public Library Development Team, n.d.). It offers books, periodicals, public computers, programs, video games, movies, audiobooks, and a seed library. It is a member of the IFLS Library System, sharing resources with 52 other public libraries in 10 counties.

The public library in Stanley was established in 1901.  It was presented to the city as a gift by Sally Moon in memory of her husband Delos Rensselaer Moon, president of the Northwest Lumber Company. The building was designed by architect William Channing Whitney of Minnesota and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. Today the library continues to serve the community from its original building.

A portrait of D. R. Moon hangs above the fireplace in the library. The library is decorated for the 2019 holiday season.. 

D. R. Moon Memorial Library

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The French and Indian war took place in America. It involved conflicts between the French and English living within the American colonies. The tension originated from the conflicts brewing overseas between the mother countries of the American colonies, and eventually reached American soil. The French and Indian war is called the French and Indian war due to the Native Americans aiding both parties in the conflicts. The Native Americans bore the brunt of this conflict.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Fort Bon Secours was established by Nicolas&nbsp;Perrot. It was only occupied for four to five years before being abandoned. A new fort was created with the same name by the same individual, but was also only occupied for 4 to 5 years. The location of the fort now serves as a reenactment sight of French life during the French and Indian War. One can experience the essence of French life when visiting this location or can take part in the different activities and events offered at the location.

Fort Bon Secours is a battle site of the French and Indian War. The site was founded by Nicolas Perrot. The Fort was occupied for four or five years. It was then abandoned. Another fort was created using the same name, but also lived a short life of being occupied for only four to five years. The location of the original Fort Bon Secours is now a tourist location of French life during the time of the French and Indian War.

Entries on This Tour

Stanley area cheese factory sites trail

Description

Share