La Crosse in La Crosse County, Wisconsin — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Gillette and Kane

— La Crosse Heritage Tour —

December 1, 2024

1. Gillette and Kane Marker

Inscription. The La Crosse Public Library, North Branch, was built in 1941-42 as an English Tudor style bungalow. It was designed by the noted local architect Otto Merman to blend with its residential surroundings. The library was moved to this building from a storefront reading room on Caledonia Street.

Erected 1999 by the City of La Crosse, the City's Historic Preservation Commission and the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. (Marker Number 3.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1942.

Location. 43° 50.78′ N, 91° 14.46′ W. Marker is in La Crosse, Wisconsin, in La Crosse County. It is at the intersection of Gillette Street and Kane Street, on the left when traveling west on Gillette Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1552 Kane St, La Crosse WI 54603, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Western Wisconsin. It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Corn Belt,

in the Driftless Area — Bluff Country,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies: George and Gohres (approx. 0.2 miles away); Logan and Kane (approx. ¼ mile away); Logan and Caledonia (approx. 0.4 miles away); Wood and Hayes (approx. 0.6 miles away); St. James and Caledonia (approx. 0.7 miles away); The Development of Copeland Avenue (approx. 0.8 miles away); Campbell Cemetery G.A.R. Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away);

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

Red Cloud Park (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in La Crosse.

Also see . . . La Crosse Public Library Archives :: 130 Years of Library Service. Excerpt:

"In 1905 a branch library was opened in the Brakke Drug Store at the southwest corner of Logan and Caledonia streets, starting with a collection of 225 books. By 1914, the collection had grown to more than 2,500 books and its circulation rate represented one-fourth of the total library circulation.

By 1933 it was apparent that both the north and south side branch libraries needed new facilities. North suffered from poor lighting and ventilation and had a severe shortage of space for collections and programming. The North Community Library was completed in 1942 at Kane & Gillette Streets after construction delays, caused by a number of issues including wartime conditions. The north facility was remodeled in 1992 as part of the building’s 50th anniversary."

(Submitted on January 6, 2025.)

Gillette and Kane Marker, from the east image. Click for full size.

December 1, 2024

2. Gillette and Kane Marker, from the east

Gillette and Kane Marker & the La Crosse Public Library, North Branch Building image. Click for full size.

December 1, 2024

3. Gillette and Kane Marker & the La Crosse Public Library, North Branch Building

North Community Library, La Crosse Public Library image. Click for full size.

December 1, 2024

4. North Community Library, La Crosse Public Library

Credits. This page was last revised on January 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 6, 2025. This page has been viewed 234 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 6, 2025.