History Of Menomonee Falls Public Library
It was in 1906 that the Menomonee Falls Public Library was first approved by the Village Board. It began in a small room on a second floor next to a dental office, but one day became the beautiful 52,941 square foot building that it is today. MFPL is where everyone can explore, learn, grow and connect. It’s where community members can access hundreds of thousands of resources while attending welcoming and dynamic programs for all ages.
To get here, it’s important to know where we started. Take a trip down memory lane, beginning in 1906.
First Library Location
1906: Commissioners appointed by the Village of Menomonee Falls first approved the Menomonee Falls Public Library on March 26, 1906. It was first located on the second floor of the Fraser building in a small room next to the dental office of Dr. William B. Campbell.
The Fraser Building is now the Bank of Flowers building at the Four Corners on Appleton Avenue.
Maude Shunk, First Librarian
1906-continued: Miss Maude Schlafer helped with the founding of the Library and did double duty as receptionist to Dr. Campbell, and as Librarian.
First Library Officers:
- W.B. Campbell, President
- Edward Puehler, Vice President
- John A. Pratt, Secretary and Treasurer
The Traveling Library
1906-continued: The Library’s first collection consisted of about 100 volumes on loan from the Wisconsin Free Library Commission. It was part of the traveling library program. Traveling libraries such as this travelled the state bringing a different selection of books to the community every few weeks.
Early book purchases were made with funds raised through ball games, garden parties, donations from community groups, and a small appropriation from the village. Material choices were made by the board from a list supplied by the Wisconsin Free Library Commission.
The Library Moves to the High School
1909-1912: A few years after its establishment, the Library moved to two rooms in a building on Main Street. Based on the address, it was in a building near the old fire station on Appleton Avenue.
1920: The Library moved to Lincoln School. It served as a resource for the school children as well as to the general public.
The Library Moves a Fourth Time
1930: When the new Village Hall and Fire Station were built, space for a Library was included. It was in August of 1930 when the Library moved for a fourth time to the cozy quarters on the second floor of the Fire Station on Appleton Avenue.
The Spanish Revival-style fire station is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was used as a fire station until 2015. The building originally served as a city hall, a library, and a corrections facility.
It was then converted to a restaurant, the Hot House Tavern.
Nehs Family Grandfather Clock
1935: The clock, built before 1800, was brought to Menomonee Falls from Pennsylvania in a covered wagon in 1844 by Frederick Nehs and his son Jesse.
It was willed to the Library in 1935 by Frederick’s great-granddaughter, Mrs. Stella (Nehs) Dousman, a relative of Maude Shunk.
It has been in each Library ever since and it still works today. It can be found on the second floor. To this day, a dedicated group of Library staff wind the clock every Wednesday morning.
Library Renamed
1956: On April 7, 1956, the Library was renamed to the Maude Shunk Library in honor of Maude’s 50 years of service to the community. The plaque shown in this picture can be found in the Maude Shunk Local History Room.
Although Maude retired in 1956, they couldn’t find a suitable replacement. She stayed on as Librarian/Library Director until 1958.
Community Growth
1967: Rapid population growth in the late 1950s and early 1960s necessitated the construction of another Village Hall. This time, a separate, two story, 17,010 square foot building for the library was planned as part of the municipal center on Pilgrim Road.
1967-continued: In October of 1967, with the help of the Kiwanis Club and members of the Menomonee Falls High School Key Club, 30,000 books and library furniture were moved to the new location.
Menomonee Falls Book Mobile
1967-continued: The Library acquired a bookmobile in order to service people living in outlying areas who may have not been able to come to the library.
Librarian – Rob Rapp is pictured with the bookmobile
WCFLS Library System
1981: The Menomonee Falls Public Library/Maude Shunk Library played a strong leadership role in the development of the Waukesha County Federated Library System, now the Bridges Library System.
Staff members initiated and administered cooperative demonstration projects, and both the President of the Village Board and the President of the Library Board served on the study committee and recommended the adopted plan.
Library of the Year
1981-continued: Maude Shunk Public Library was named “Library of the Year” by the Wisconsin Library Association for its achievements and accomplishments.
Current Library Building
2003: In the mid-1990s, the Library at the Village Hall was already running out of space and plans for a new building began. In 2003, the current 52,941 square foot building opened east of the municipal center.
Open to the public 60 hours each week, Menomonee Falls Public Library is acknowledged as a vital center of activity, where all can come to explore, learn, grow, and connect.
Maude Shunk Local History Room
2003-continued: As the current building was being built, the decision was made to rename the Library to its original name, Menomonee Falls Public Library, and a resolution was made to honor Maude Shunk in a more visible, ongoing way in the new building.
The Maude Shunk Local History Room was established on the west side of the building in the spot where the current Teen Space is located.
Addition of the Teen Space
2020: The Library underwent a remodeling project to add a Teen Space in the former location of the Local History Room.
The Teen Space was built to meet the educational, social, and recreational needs of teens in our community with input from the Teen Advisory Board.
It has always been a great place for teens to study, or even to take a break from studying! To this day, features of the Teen Space include: collaborative study areas with smart boards, teen-only computers, lounge and cafe-style furniture, a white board and chalk wall, a Playstation 5, and tabletop games and card games, all of which make it an excellent space for continual Teen programs and activities.
Maude Shunk Local History Room
2020-continued: The Local History Room was moved to the former quiet room on the second floor.
The room houses a Digital History Lab which includes a Digital Archive and equipment to digitize photos, books and documents.
Also available is a collection of historical photographs, news articles and historical information on the town and village of Menomonee Falls, Fussville, and surrounding communities. Much of the documents and photographs in the collection were collected by the Menomonee Falls Historical Society and are housed in the Local History Collection. It was a vital resource to create this History of Menomonee Falls Public Library.