LIBRARY BOARD SELECTS W. G. WILLIAMSON 1901

WILLIAMSON, STOUT, SPENCER

Posted By: Cheryl Locher Moonen (email)
Date: 12/16/2016 at 10:22:12

Dubuque Daily Telegraph – March 4, 1901

NAME ARCHITECT
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LIBRARY BOARD SELECTS
W. G. WILLIAMSON, OF CHICAGO
AND JOHN SPENCER
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WILL PUSH THE WORK ALONG
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The Board Will Let Contracts
as Soon as Possible and Get
Building Underway
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The Board of Trustee of the public library held a meeting at 10 o’clock this forenoon at the Second National Bank. The object of the meeting was to select an architect to draw plans for the construction of the building, as the work must be pushed. While the trustees do not purpose to do things in a hurry, they intend to keep the work moving as rapidly as possible, and get the new building underway. In the selection of the architect the board chose a man they thought fittest for the work. He is W. G. Williamson of Chicago, with whom John Spencer of this city will be associated. Among the local works of Mr. Williamson are the Bank and Insurance building, the Julien House and the residence of the late H. L. Stout. Mr. Williamson has a reputation, however, that extends far beyond local lines he having been the architect of the Illinois Building at the World’s Fair in Chicago, the state library building at Springfield, Ill, the library building at Peoria, the Columbia Memorial building, Chicago and the public library at Atlanta, Ga.

It is intended to make the Dubuque Public Library an ornament to the city. The building will be of substantial, as well as a beautiful style of architecture, and it will be arranged in apartments to suit all classes and conditions. It is planned to have a basement auditorium which will seat five hundred, the newspaper room and a general reception room, as well as other apartments arranged for the convenience of the public. The building will stand back from the street, and will be well lighted. The location is as such to insure quietness, as there will be no street cars, heavy teaming or other noise making contrivances on any side.

Contracts for the new building and other work will be let by the board just as soon as practicable, as they are keeping everything on the move, and the public can rest assured that everything pertaining to the structure will be hurried along as fast as possible, and just as soon as practicable.