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Fremont receives $100,000 grant

Neuschafer Community Library plans furniture update

By Angie Landsverk


Neuschafer Community Library’s interior is getting an upgrade.

The library is receiving a $100,000 grant from the Marilyn W. Taylor/Wohlt Cheese Fund, which will be used to purchase new furniture and fixtures for the space.

“We’re thrilled about the grant,” said Library Director Natalie Snyder.

She said the grant will be used to update all the tables, chairs, computer desks and shelving, as well as the circulation desk.

The circulation desk is original to the space.

“The most realistic expectation is that installation will be in early 2021 due to lead times required for furniture and fixture orders,” Snyder told the Waupaca County Post.

Village officials learned this month the library was among those receiving grants.

“I was so grateful that they considered us. I knew Fremont was one of the targeted areas for this,” said Judy McGowan, the library board’s president.

Louise Thauer said everyone was excited.

She is president of Friends of Neuschafer Community Library.

Wohlt Cheese was founded in Fremont in 1941 by Taylor’s parents, Edwin and Sarah Wohlt.

The company expanded to Weyauwega before closing those two facilities and moving to a newly built, consolidated plant in New London in 2001.

Taylor is the late president of Wohlt Creamery in New London – now Ellsworth Cooperative Creamery.

She died in February 2017, and the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region announced in late 2018 that Taylor had willed her business to the foundation, resulting in a multi-million gift.

The fund established in her name is distributing grants for community improvements in Fremont, New London and adjacent municipalities.

It is also giving scholarships to students who attend Taylor’s alma mater, Lawrence University in Appleton.

“She’s impacting so many people with that bequest,” Thauer said of Taylor.

McGowan said much of what the library does and offers is community oriented.

Taylor graced the community with a “wonderful endowment to keep things going,” she said.

Library goals

Both Thauer and McGowan said the main goal continues to be expanding the library.

“We have tried hard to expand. Right now, we are not doing anything with expansion or finding a larger facility,” McGowan said. “That’s kind of on hold right now, but it has not disappeared.”

Thauer said the $100,000 grant allows them to purchase what the library needs.

The plan is to choose items that are portable and user friendly.

Thauer and McGowan said Snyder is taking her time to get the best prices.

They want to work with local businesses.

“Now that we have time and finances, we can make it look nice,” Thauer said. “We will take it one step at a time and see what the future brings.”

She said they want area residents to know how the $100,000 is being used.

“We’re being good stewards of the money,” Thauer said.

The cost of the furniture and fixtures has to be paid upfront.

Thauer said the Friends group will help pay for the items.

Funds in the library board’s donation account will also be used to cover the cost.

Both will then be reimbursed by the Marilyn W. Taylor/Wohlt Cheese Fund over a three-year period.

As a result, the Friends group is not putting fundraising efforts on the back burner, McGowan said.

Raising funds

Thauer said the Friends group is moving its annual fundraiser to a different weekend this November.

The gift basket fundraiser is usually held on the opening day of Wisconsin’s gun deer hunting season.

Thauer said it is instead being planned for Saturday, Nov. 28, the same day Light up Fremont is scheduled.

The fundraiser will have a different look this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Friends of Neuschafer Community Library usually sells hundreds of gift baskets.

Thauer said they are scaling back and will just have raffle baskets.

The plan is to hold the event in the building Friends of Fremont renovated, instead of in the gym at Village Hall.

The basket raffle sale will end at 3:30 p.m. and be followed by Light up Fremont’s Christmas parade.

“We’re hoping to get restaurants involved,” Thauer said.

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