Preserving the History of LaCrosse

Explore the heritage of our community through photos, stories, and archives.

History of the Library

The LaCrosse Public Library heritage begins in May 1936 as a township library and occupied a room in the Methodist Annex Building. In October 1938, it relocated to a room at the rear of the J. V. Collier Insurance and Attorney Howard DeMyer offices.

In 1934, the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad furnished a site on the corner of Main Street (Indiana 8) and Gibson Street for a log cabin. Men from LaCrosse, the Kankakee Valley Conservation Club, and veterans from World War I constructed the log cabin. Stone was brought from Joliet, Illinois, by the Monon Railroad. The original purpose of the log cabin was to provide a place for the local Boy Scouts. In 1940, the Boy Scouts discontinued using the cabin, and a decision was made to move the library into the log cabin. The log cabin was demolished in 2000, with the chimney left standing and a picnic shelter built around it at the corner of Main and Gibson Streets.

In December 1961, the library moved to the back portion of the Regional News building. The library then purchased and renovated the Regional News building in December 1985, which allowed the library to expand into the whole building, doubling its size to 1,035 square feet.

The LaCrosse Public Library outgrew that building. The Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) gave the library a planning grant to hire an architect to develop building plans. As a low-to-moderate-income community, the library was eligible to receive a construction grant from OCRA. Local commitment funds were raised to help secure the OCRA grant, providing shelving, furniture, technology, and miscellaneous items for the new library.

The library became a Class I library in December 1982 with a seven-member board. The new library is four times larger than the previous location, allowing adequate space for programs, an expanded community meeting room, and staff work areas.

The dedication and open house for the new library was held on September 26, 2009.

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Construction Photos

Photos documenting the construction of the current LaCrosse Public Library building.

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Dedication Photos — September 26, 2009

Photos from the dedication and open house of the new LaCrosse Public Library.

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World War II Scrapbook

Clara Klawetter of LaCrosse, wife of Jule Klawetter, served as a clerk on Selective Service Board No. 3. Clara kept a scrapbook during World War II of the men and women from this area: English Lake, Hamlet, Hanna, Kingsford Heights, Kingsbury, LaCrosse, LaPorte, Mill Creek, Otis, Stillwell, Union Mills, Walkerton, Wanatah, Wellsboro, and Westville. Photos were taken as the inductees prepared to board the bus. Clara collected newspaper clippings, letters, V-mail, and postcards throughout the war years. Nevin Sheely, great-nephew of Clara, donated the scrapbook to the LaCrosse Public Library.

The gallery below shows some of the photos and articles from the 120-page scrapbook.
Visit the library to read about your ancestors!

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Omar-Krueger-4

Rowley-Sheely

scrapbook

Simpkins-Family

Wayne-Sheely

William-Earle

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Arvine-Newman

Betty-Stonecipher

Burnell-Aigner-John-Gorski-Maurice-Abbott-Aaron-Peterson

Cecil-Fay-Bell

Charles-Hall-Louis-Uridel-LaCrosse

Charles-Meyers-LaCrosse

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Chauncey-Bruder-Wyvil-Flanagan-Leroy-Coleman-and-William-Enselman

Delbert-L.-Swartzell

Donald-Lawrence-and-Melvin-Benham-LaCrosse

Entered-service-April-9-1945

Entered-service-February-25-1943-Names-Unknown

Entered-service-July-21-1944-Names-Unknown

Entered-service-June-12-1944-Names-Unknown

Entered-service-November-14-1942

Eugene-Stoller

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Frank-G.-Trinosky

Frank-Machler

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Fred-Volkee

Grant-Hayes

Harland-Shireman-Henry-Germann-Ralph-Fritz-LaCrosse

Harold-Butz-LaCrosse

Harold-Mockler

Harold-Wilson-LaCrosse

Harris-Mockler

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Inducted-December-3-1942

Inducted-January-19-1943

Inducted-June-10-1943

James-DeHaven

Jesse-Swing-Fred-Volkee-Charles-Shireman-LaCrosse

Jewel-Jackson-Babcock-LaCrosse

John-and-Martin-Zahn

John-T.-Phegley

Keith-Knapp-and-Herbert-Swartzell-LaCrosse

Kenneth-Sheely

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Ken-Sommerville2

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LaVerne-Meiss

Leroy-Wimer

Lester-Heinold

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Hometown History

The LaCrosse Public Library has a significant collection of local historical photos and will continue to post new photos. If you have additional information about a photo, please contact the library at (219) 754-2606.

Click on any photo to enlarge.