ARGYLE - The Argyle Community Building, also known as the Waddington Memorial, has been a fixture in the village since it was dedicated on Oct. 15, 1925.
The building was built as a memorial to J.S. Waddington by his two sons with the condition that all functions held in the building be free of charge.
The library was organized on the second floor of the building. The Women's Club issued a call to residents to provide books. For several years before a library was built, a small collection of books was available for people in the rear of the local drug store, with John Waddington serving as the first librarian.
When the Community Building was constructed, library patrons had books, magazines, table space and large windows.
The memorial building also included an auditorium on the second floor, featuring a place for the village council to meet.
Originally the building contained public baths for people who didn't have running water in their homes and also for people who spent the day in Argyle on business.
On April 1, 1960, then Sen. John F. Kennedy visited Argyle and spoke to residents in the community building. Voters in Argyle gave Kennedy 80 votes in the Wisconsin primary a few days later. Kennedy's rival in the spring election, Sen. Hubert Humphrey, received 136 votes.
In the 1970s the Community Building was remodeled. The village clerk's office was placed in the former library area and the library was moved to the former courtroom on the first floor. The council chambers were converted into kitchen space for senior citizens.
In 2005 the building was renovated once again to meet federal requirements for accessibility. The public library was expanded and the village clerk's office was moved to the lower level. The police department was also relocated to the building.
The Community Building is located at 401 E. Milwaukee St.
The building was built as a memorial to J.S. Waddington by his two sons with the condition that all functions held in the building be free of charge.
The library was organized on the second floor of the building. The Women's Club issued a call to residents to provide books. For several years before a library was built, a small collection of books was available for people in the rear of the local drug store, with John Waddington serving as the first librarian.
When the Community Building was constructed, library patrons had books, magazines, table space and large windows.
The memorial building also included an auditorium on the second floor, featuring a place for the village council to meet.
Originally the building contained public baths for people who didn't have running water in their homes and also for people who spent the day in Argyle on business.
On April 1, 1960, then Sen. John F. Kennedy visited Argyle and spoke to residents in the community building. Voters in Argyle gave Kennedy 80 votes in the Wisconsin primary a few days later. Kennedy's rival in the spring election, Sen. Hubert Humphrey, received 136 votes.
In the 1970s the Community Building was remodeled. The village clerk's office was placed in the former library area and the library was moved to the former courtroom on the first floor. The council chambers were converted into kitchen space for senior citizens.
In 2005 the building was renovated once again to meet federal requirements for accessibility. The public library was expanded and the village clerk's office was moved to the lower level. The police department was also relocated to the building.
The Community Building is located at 401 E. Milwaukee St.