LANDMARK DESIGNATION
Building is the first in the city to obtain such a recognition
A plaque recognizing the Lake Geneva Public Library as a local historic landmark building has been installed to the library.
The Lake Geneva Public Library recently was designated as a local historic landmarked building. The "Landmark Night at the Library" event will be held 5:45 p.m. Oct. 22 to honor the designation.
LAKE GENEVA PUBLIC LIBRARY
The Lake Geneva Public Library is celebrating a special designation and everyone is invited. Library officials are set to host "Landmark Night at the Library" on Oct. 22 at 918 W. Main St.
"Landmark Night" is scheduled to begin at 5:45 p.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony conducted by VISIT Lake Geneva, followed by an open-house at 6 p.m. to honor the recently completed renovations to the Smith Room. Lake Geneva Historic Preservation Commission members Kenneth Etten and Christine Brookes will conduct a presentation at 6:30 p.m.
The event is to honor Lake Geneva Public Library being designated as a local historic landmarked building, the first building in the city to obtain such a recognition.
Lake Geneva Historic Preservation Commission approved the designation in January, which recognizes a building for its historic, cultural and architectural significance to a community.
In order to obtain the designation, a building must be at least 50 years, have a connection to local history, have a historic architectural design, had a famous or well-known person once living or occupying the building or related to prehistorical events.
With the landmark designation, the library building cannot be demolished, and any exterior renovations have to be reviewed and approved by the Historic Preservation Commission.
Brookes said exterior changes must be related to the time period in which the building was constructed, as well as the original materials and designer of the building.
“There would be some kind of deign review with the certificate of appropriateness and we get to approve that,” she said. “So, we would work with the Building and Zoning Department to find out if the changes are going to be appropriate.”
During his presentation, Etten, chair for the Lake Geneva Historic Preservation Commission, will discuss the mission and responsibilities of the commission.
Brookes will discuss how residents may nominate their home or city building to be designated as a historic landmark. Nomination forms are available at www.cityoflakegeneva.gov.
“We’ve had a couple of homeowners say, ‘I think my house would qualify.’ Well, now you can go on the website, look at the form and do a practice fill out of the form,” Brookes said. “We will review the form and may say, ‘Well, I think it does. Go for it.’”
The original library building was donated to the city in 1894 by Mary Delafield Sturges, under the condition that the surrounding property be used as park space.
The current library building was constructed in 1954 and designed by James R. Dresser, who was a protege of Frank Lloyd Wright. A renovation project was completed in 2022.
Library Director Emily Kornak said she is excited that the library has been designated as the first historic landmarked building in Lake Geneva.
“It’s the perfect way to kick off a local landmarking program for the city of Lake Geneva,” Kornak said. “I think this is just the right building to try it on for starters because it means so much to so many people.”
Brookes said the Historic Preservation Commission is considering other city building for the landmark designation.
“There’s so much history in this town and so much that is documented and this just adds to the documentation,” Brookes said.
