St. Paul's Evangelical Church history @Hedberg Public Library

Hedberg Public Library has the entire run of our local newspaper, The Gazette, on microfilm dating back to the 1840's.  Using our microfilm readers, you can print a hard copy or save an electronic copy of any article found.   

However, there is no *index* to the entire newspaper.  Unless you know the time frame in which an article appeared, you may not be able to locate the information you seek.  Reference librarians can help!   We have access to online and print resources that may assist in your search.

A longtime member of St. Paul's Evangelical Church called the library to ask questions about the history of the church, especially the German Lutheran church that was dedicated in 1883 and still stands in Janesville at 169 S. Academy (All Saints Anglican Church).

The patron knew that the church was dedicated December 2, 1883 so we checked one of our online newspaper resources and found an extensive article in the December 3, 1883 Gazette about the dedication.  Our patron wanted to know who the contractors were and the article listed the names of the contractors and the mason!  The total cost for building the church was $10,000. 

We were also able to find obituaries for Pastor Droegemueller and also for one of the wives (Emma Treu) of his predecessor, Rev. E.A.L. Treu.  Our online newspaper resource, Access Newspaper Archive, used in conjunction with our online database subscription to Ancestry, and Google searches, brought up many 'hits' and our patron was thrilled with the information. 

Here's the Janesville Gazette article from Access Newspaper Archive, dated Wednesday, May 25, 1966, page 2:

Access Newspaper Archive is available through any Internet connection using your library card. 

Contact Hedberg Public Library's reference librarians to learn more. Email referencedesk@hedbergpubliclibrary.org or call 608-758-6581.

Posted 11/12/2013 by sb/dm

Lavinia Goodell - Wisconsin's first Woman Lawyer

"Rhoda Lavinia Goodell came from a family dedicated to public service.  Her grandfather Goodell was a missionary to Constantinople; her father was an active abolitionist, temperance advocate, and supporter of women's rights.  What I wanted to convey in this play is that Lavinia Goodell is more than a name on a dusty list of Important Women in Wisconsin History.  She was a woman who desired to serve, but perhaps more importantly, more humanly, she was also just a woman who wanted to be able to use her gifts to the fullest degree possible, and if that meant taking on the patriarchy, well, then that's what it meant."   --Playwright Betty Diamond's notes from program

HPL Reference librarians attended a reading of a new play about Lavinia Goodell, the first woman to be admitted to the Wisconsin bar.  Wisconsin Chief Justice Shirley S. Abramson introduced the play and playwright Betty Diamond.  Here's the March 8, 2013, program cover:

Lavinia is one of several women depicted in a mural on the outside of the Rock County Courthouse building. Read about the mural dedication here.

Hedberg Public Library's Local History Database is an index to newspaper clippings and other materials in the library's local history collection.  Find references to Janesville's famous female lawyer on the search page to the
Local History Database.  Enter the words:  lavinia goodell in the search by Subject Heading box. 

The library's Janesville's Past collection of digitized materials points to other resources. 

For assistance, contact Reference Librarians at Hedberg Public Library 608-758-6581 or referencedesk@hedbergpubliclibrary.org

-posted by sb