From the "Red Bud Centennial Souvenir Book, 1867-1967"
History of Red Bud Public Library
Red Bud, IL
A paragraph taken from the history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry Counties published in 1883 under Red Bud History reads as follows: “The City can also boast of two public halls, a cornet band, Public Library Association and a local board of insurance underwriters.” Evidence of a library association active in 1875 under the auspices of the Independent Order of Minor American’s and ending in 1901 has been found. An item from an issue of the Red Bud Courier 1879 reads: “The Members of the Red Bud Library Association and the public generally are requested to meet at Esq. Fred Guker’s office Monday evening, January 17 at 7:30 to further the interest in the Society, signed George L. Riess, President.” Fred Guker was the librarian and volumes of books numbering up to 115 have been found. Copies of Charles Reader’s novels, eight volumes of the Waverly novels, four business spellers and other types of books all published in the 1800s.
Sometimes during the years of 1908 and 1912, Mrs. Rebecca Boekoff decided that the children and folks of Red Bud should have an opportunity to obtain books, so she made plans to start a library. She made chicken salad and an Italian dish, spaghetti, and sold it at different affairs. The first order of books was $25.00 ($25 in 1908 = $836.38 in 2023) and these were rented for five cents a week each Saturday from a room which is now occupied by the Dieckmann barber shop. Mrs. Boekhoff’s daughter, Cleo, had friends who were attending the Morse School of Expression in St. Louis and they came an directed the play “Tom Thumb’s Wedding” which was a big success and more books were bought. A Fair was held in Red Bud and those who were interested in the library had a booth which sold soft drinks, ice cream and hot dogs.
Some o the other people who were interested in starting a library with Mrs. Boekhoff were Miss Alice Hattershire, Miss Anna K. Schmidt, Mesdames Ernest Budde, Albert B. Ratz an George Ratz. It seems to be a fact that the library was located in several different places before permanently locating in the City Hall. From what is now the Dieckman barber shop to the Wm. Schuck building which is now the Dashner furniture store, the Christ Burkhardt building which is now owned by Justine Cowell, upstairs in the Ziebold building, then to the present location in the City Hall in the early twenties. The group became an organization called the Red Bud Library Association. Besides those who instigated the organization, other members were: Mesdames John Helmer, Wm. Schuck, Philip Hahn, Ed Guebert, Henry Heuman, Arnold Shuette, Arnold Schrieber, Lyle Ratz, S.E. Mulligan, Art Boedecker, Orville Kaffenberger, Miss Elsie Boedecker, Miss Maddel LaSaulnier an names Downs, Morgan, Browning and Schellshmidt. For several years these members took turns each Saturday evening to open the library and loan out books. Each borrower paid five cents per book. There was a pot-bellied stove in the southeast corner which became overheated one time an burned some of the books. Money was raised for purchasing books by giving plays, holding bazaars, selling napkins and giving benefit moving picture shows. The Red Bud Women’s Club donated $15.00 a year after they became organized. The play “The Flapper Grandmother” was given in 1928 and a luncheon was given the cast by the library members. “Ann of Old Salem” was given in 1931. Members often enjoyed outings and get-to-gethers and sometimes served refreshments after the meetings. More interested perons joined the organization during the following years. Mesdames Wm. Berkhardt, E.A. Pautler, L.V. Finley, Oliver Schrieber, Sr., Vic Casperson, Vernon Dashner, Adrian Rathert, Wm. Merlenbach, Harold Coldwell, C.G. Smith, Mac Kalbitz, Miss Marguerite Jenkins, Miss Dorothy Burkhardt, Miss Vera Schmidt, Miss Marguerite Helber, Miss Erna Waldman and Miss Emily Helber.
The Red Bud Public Library was instituted as a City Library and a new board was approved by the City Council July 7, 1946. Board members were: Miss Dorothy Burkhardt President, Mrs. A.W. Saxenmeyer Vice-President, Mrs. Philip Hahn Treasurer, Mrs. Norton Snider Secretary, Mrs. Vernon Dasher, Mrs. L.V. Finley, Mr. Justin Zipfel, Mr. George Becker and Mr. H.C. Koelling.
Since the money through taxation would not be forthcoming right away, the members of the Library Board decided to try to obtain funds to operate the library the first year. Through non-interest bearing loans, contributions and two benefit shows, a total of $1,155.66 ($18,241 in 2023) was raised. This fund enabled the board to purchase furniture and books. The librarian’s desk was donated by A.D. Riess as a memorial to Frank A. Stepanek of Red Bud who was killed in action in World War II. In the fall of 1946 a new furnace and stoker was installed in the City Hall, a gift from the American Furnace Company. Miss Millie Peterson was the first librarian to receive a salary. Different projects have been sponsored through the years to create more interest in the library. A “Craft Class” was held one summer, “swimming groups”, whereby a bus was made available to take youngsters to Chester to use their pool, “Open House” during the holiday season which was carried out for many years, “Poster Contests” for grade school children, for several years, and “Story Hour” which is still sponsored each summer an was started in 1945. In the spring of 1955 the City Hall was renovated and the Library was thoroughly painted and cleaned. New drapes were made and put to the windows and floor covering was purchased. An upholstered chair was donated for the room by Mrs. Vernon Dashner. Also in the spring of 1955 thirty-three red bud trees were planted, financed by members of the board. In 1960 a moving picture projector and screen were purchased, these to be loaned to borrowers in the community. The library recently joined the Shawnee Library System, whereby more services are available. Other people who have served as librarians since the library has been tax supported are: Miss Marjorie Ratz, Mrs. Frank McCutcheon, Mrs. Wm. Burkhardt, Mrs. Glenn Horrell and Mrs. L.V. Finley who is presently the librarian and has served in that capacity the past 13 years. Mrs. Vernon Muench is the assistant library and Mrs. Margaret Niermann keeps the library clean.
The present library board consists of the following members: Mrs. Roland Kalbitz, Mr. George Lochner, Mrs. Vernon Dashner, Mrs. Cletus Reagan, Mrs. Ardie Helber, Mrs. Odis Stellhorn, Miss M.J. Ratz, Mr. Olin Kettlekamp and Mr. Henry Thielen.
History of Red Bud Public Library
Red Bud, IL
A paragraph taken from the history of Randolph, Monroe and Perry Counties published in 1883 under Red Bud History reads as follows: “The City can also boast of two public halls, a cornet band, Public Library Association and a local board of insurance underwriters.” Evidence of a library association active in 1875 under the auspices of the Independent Order of Minor American’s and ending in 1901 has been found. An item from an issue of the Red Bud Courier 1879 reads: “The Members of the Red Bud Library Association and the public generally are requested to meet at Esq. Fred Guker’s office Monday evening, January 17 at 7:30 to further the interest in the Society, signed George L. Riess, President.” Fred Guker was the librarian and volumes of books numbering up to 115 have been found. Copies of Charles Reader’s novels, eight volumes of the Waverly novels, four business spellers and other types of books all published in the 1800s.
Sometimes during the years of 1908 and 1912, Mrs. Rebecca Boekoff decided that the children and folks of Red Bud should have an opportunity to obtain books, so she made plans to start a library. She made chicken salad and an Italian dish, spaghetti, and sold it at different affairs. The first order of books was $25.00 ($25 in 1908 = $836.38 in 2023) and these were rented for five cents a week each Saturday from a room which is now occupied by the Dieckmann barber shop. Mrs. Boekhoff’s daughter, Cleo, had friends who were attending the Morse School of Expression in St. Louis and they came an directed the play “Tom Thumb’s Wedding” which was a big success and more books were bought. A Fair was held in Red Bud and those who were interested in the library had a booth which sold soft drinks, ice cream and hot dogs.
Some o the other people who were interested in starting a library with Mrs. Boekhoff were Miss Alice Hattershire, Miss Anna K. Schmidt, Mesdames Ernest Budde, Albert B. Ratz an George Ratz. It seems to be a fact that the library was located in several different places before permanently locating in the City Hall. From what is now the Dieckman barber shop to the Wm. Schuck building which is now the Dashner furniture store, the Christ Burkhardt building which is now owned by Justine Cowell, upstairs in the Ziebold building, then to the present location in the City Hall in the early twenties. The group became an organization called the Red Bud Library Association. Besides those who instigated the organization, other members were: Mesdames John Helmer, Wm. Schuck, Philip Hahn, Ed Guebert, Henry Heuman, Arnold Shuette, Arnold Schrieber, Lyle Ratz, S.E. Mulligan, Art Boedecker, Orville Kaffenberger, Miss Elsie Boedecker, Miss Maddel LaSaulnier an names Downs, Morgan, Browning and Schellshmidt. For several years these members took turns each Saturday evening to open the library and loan out books. Each borrower paid five cents per book. There was a pot-bellied stove in the southeast corner which became overheated one time an burned some of the books. Money was raised for purchasing books by giving plays, holding bazaars, selling napkins and giving benefit moving picture shows. The Red Bud Women’s Club donated $15.00 a year after they became organized. The play “The Flapper Grandmother” was given in 1928 and a luncheon was given the cast by the library members. “Ann of Old Salem” was given in 1931. Members often enjoyed outings and get-to-gethers and sometimes served refreshments after the meetings. More interested perons joined the organization during the following years. Mesdames Wm. Berkhardt, E.A. Pautler, L.V. Finley, Oliver Schrieber, Sr., Vic Casperson, Vernon Dashner, Adrian Rathert, Wm. Merlenbach, Harold Coldwell, C.G. Smith, Mac Kalbitz, Miss Marguerite Jenkins, Miss Dorothy Burkhardt, Miss Vera Schmidt, Miss Marguerite Helber, Miss Erna Waldman and Miss Emily Helber.
The Red Bud Public Library was instituted as a City Library and a new board was approved by the City Council July 7, 1946. Board members were: Miss Dorothy Burkhardt President, Mrs. A.W. Saxenmeyer Vice-President, Mrs. Philip Hahn Treasurer, Mrs. Norton Snider Secretary, Mrs. Vernon Dasher, Mrs. L.V. Finley, Mr. Justin Zipfel, Mr. George Becker and Mr. H.C. Koelling.
Since the money through taxation would not be forthcoming right away, the members of the Library Board decided to try to obtain funds to operate the library the first year. Through non-interest bearing loans, contributions and two benefit shows, a total of $1,155.66 ($18,241 in 2023) was raised. This fund enabled the board to purchase furniture and books. The librarian’s desk was donated by A.D. Riess as a memorial to Frank A. Stepanek of Red Bud who was killed in action in World War II. In the fall of 1946 a new furnace and stoker was installed in the City Hall, a gift from the American Furnace Company. Miss Millie Peterson was the first librarian to receive a salary. Different projects have been sponsored through the years to create more interest in the library. A “Craft Class” was held one summer, “swimming groups”, whereby a bus was made available to take youngsters to Chester to use their pool, “Open House” during the holiday season which was carried out for many years, “Poster Contests” for grade school children, for several years, and “Story Hour” which is still sponsored each summer an was started in 1945. In the spring of 1955 the City Hall was renovated and the Library was thoroughly painted and cleaned. New drapes were made and put to the windows and floor covering was purchased. An upholstered chair was donated for the room by Mrs. Vernon Dashner. Also in the spring of 1955 thirty-three red bud trees were planted, financed by members of the board. In 1960 a moving picture projector and screen were purchased, these to be loaned to borrowers in the community. The library recently joined the Shawnee Library System, whereby more services are available. Other people who have served as librarians since the library has been tax supported are: Miss Marjorie Ratz, Mrs. Frank McCutcheon, Mrs. Wm. Burkhardt, Mrs. Glenn Horrell and Mrs. L.V. Finley who is presently the librarian and has served in that capacity the past 13 years. Mrs. Vernon Muench is the assistant library and Mrs. Margaret Niermann keeps the library clean.
The present library board consists of the following members: Mrs. Roland Kalbitz, Mr. George Lochner, Mrs. Vernon Dashner, Mrs. Cletus Reagan, Mrs. Ardie Helber, Mrs. Odis Stellhorn, Miss M.J. Ratz, Mr. Olin Kettlekamp and Mr. Henry Thielen.
