News: Greenwood – Business Enterprises (1872 - ?)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
 
Surnames: Schofield, Bishop, Hunt, Imig, McMillan, Ganz, Johnson, Carpenter, Begley, Hartson, Neuenfeldt, O’Connell, Shield, Buland, Pfunder, Kennedy, Palms, Williams, Raymond, Wollenberg, Heilman, Corey, Pfeiffer, Thomas, Arends, Andrews, Spears, Noyes, Larson

----Source: Tribune/Record/Gleaner (Loyal, Wis.) 14 Jan 1971

One of the first musicians and music teacher was Mrs. Robert Schofield. She gave music lessons and at one time conducted a large singing class. Through her efforts and under her direction, several cantatas were given in the old Begley Opera House. Mrs. Clare Hunt, Miss Imig and Miss McMillan were also well remembered music teachers. Miss Mabel M. Bishop is a very able musician, a graduate of the Chicago Musical College, where she studied uner Rudolph Ganz and for two years was president of the National Association of Donning teachers.

Greenwood’ first newspaper was a little folder about eight by ten inches. It was called “Greenwood Gazette,” and was owned and edited by C.W. Carpenter. Mr. Carpenter was an experienced and education man. Owing to the limited population at that time, the experiment was soon ended. In 1889 the “Greenwood Headlite” was published. The locals were collected by Hank Johnson and the paper was printed in Neillsville. In 1891 W.H. Spears brought the first printing press to Greenwood, and with George Begley, started the “Greenwood Gleaner.” Later editors have been H.H. Hartson (1892-98), L.E. Noye, and again H.H. Hartson. In 1916 William Neuenfeldt purchased it and in 1922 John O’Connell became part owner, and now in 1934 they still own and edit it. Their office is located just west of Shield’s Service Station.

The first library was stated by the W.C.T.U. as a circulatory library. They placed a tent over the basement of the L.W. Larson home, which burned in the fire of 1885, and gave a big dinner there. Each person was to give a book. In 1887 they gave a social and purchased more books with the money made. Finally, memberships were sold.

Each person giving a book or the purchase price of one, became a member. This circulating library was kept in Buland’s Drug Store. The books were burned in the fire which destroyed the F. Pfunder Drug Store. Today, in Greenwood, we have a well-equipped and up-to-date library located in the city hall. The first meeting for the purpose of establishing a library was at the home of Mrs. Will Palms on January 22, 1913. The officers elected were: President, Dr. Kennedy; Vice President, Mrs. Wm. Palms, and Secretary, Allie Williams. Arrangements were made to use a room in the Farmers and Merchants Bank building for the library. Ward Raymond built sectional bookcases, the lumber used being donated by the Greenwood Heading and Lumber Company. Mrs. Ed Wollenberg was appointed chairman of the committee to look after the affairs of the library until the city took it over, which was May 6, 1913. There are 3,685 volumes in the library, besides seventeen magazines and two newspapers taken by yearly subscriptions. For the last two years the Women’s Club has made a donation each years. The library board at present consists of Mrs. G. Heilman, Mrs. H. Corey, Rev. E.G. Pfeiffer, Dr. Mr. Thomas, Mrs. J. Arends and Miss Irene O’Connell. Mrs. J.S. Andrews has been the librarian continuously since 1919, holding a grad four, state certificate. Persons in rural districts are allowed to borrow books and that the library is very much appreciated is shown by the fact that 21,760 volumes were loaned in 1933, besides many magazines.

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