Thank You! Recent fundraiser tallies $58,000

On behalf of the Washburn Public Library Board of Trustees, the Friends of the Library, staff and patrons, I want to thank everyone who has been part of our tuckpoint project fundraising effort.

As many of you are aware, our 115-year-old Washburn Public Library has been in need of tuckpoint work and brownstone repair for several years. Estimates on the cost of the repairs approaches $300,000.

A recent letter mailed in August requesting donations has brought in $58,175. Paired with monies from the City of Washburn, the Washburn Community Education Foundation, and the Bayfield County Building Strong Libraries program, the library qualifies for a $100,000 matching grant from the Otto Bremer Trust. In short, due to the overwhelmingly generous response from the community, in just two years we raised enough money to have the work done. Early in 2021 we anticipate putting the work out on bid and sometime during the year repairs will begin.

There are so many people who deserve to be thanked in raising the necessary funds. Hundreds of people, families, and businesses gave hard-earned money during a time when money isn’t easily found. People participated enthusiastically in our benefits, raffles, and our gala.

As director of the Washburn Public Library, it’s humbling to look at the names of people giving and realize that on some level we know nearly every one of them, that they support the library, and that when necessary they will give what they can.

I want to say how proud I am to be a part of the Washburn community. I’m proud to be the director of the library. I’m pleased that I’m able to call so many of you my friends, and I am humbled that so many of you call me yours.

In closing, I want to say that it would be impossible to individually thank everyone who gave of their money, time, and talent – it’s literally everyone. Residents from Washburn, Bayfield, Herbster, Cornucopia, Port Wing, Iron River and Ashland all gave. We can all take pride in a job well done.

Darrell Pendergrass

Director

Washburn Public Library