Joseph Dessert came from Canada to Mosinee, then known as « Little Bull Falls », in 1840. He decided that a library was needed and built and equipped a free library for the community.
Dedicated on February 11, 1899, the building was used as a library as well as a post office, village hall, and school, and it was the scene of many community events, including dances and balls. The library was the only place in town with theater facilities, so amateur plays were often presented there, and school commencements were held in the Grand Hall. The library existed as a city library until 1974, when the library and municipal boards recommended that the Joseph Dessert Library should join the Marathon County Public Library, MCPL). Since then, it has also come to be known as the MCPL - Mosinee Branch.
Celebrations have marked two significant anniversaries for the library, the first in 1949 at the 50th anniversary, and the second in 1999 at the time of the library's 100th year. Several renovations have also taken place, with the most recent occurring in 1995 as part of a county-wide building and improvement program for libraries. Today, the library maintains its status in the City of Mosinee as both an important community service and as a building significant to the history of the community. The library building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Term: Dessert Joseph 1819 - 1910
Definition:
lumberman b. Maskinonge Quebec Canada. He came to Wisconsin in 1840 to work for the American Fur Co. at La Pointe 1840-1844 and in 1844 began his lumbering career as a laborer at Little Bull Falls now Mosinee on the Wisconsin River. With two partners he rented a sawmill in 1849 and by 1859 had become sole owner. His business prospered and in 1880 he made his nephew Louis Dessert a partner. In 1890 the firm was incorporated as the Joseph Dessert Lumber Co. He participated in Mosinee politics operated a large farm and for some time owned a tannery and gristmill. In 1905 he moved to Milwaukee after the depletion of his timber supply. He had amassed a large fortune and lived in retirement until his death. E. B. Usher Wis. 8 vols. Chicago 1914 - L. Marchetti Hist. of Marathon Co. . . . Chicago 1913 - Wausau Pilot Jan. 3 1911 - WPA MS.
The Wisconsin Historical Society has manuscripts related to this topic. See the catalog description of the Dessert Family Business Records for details.
View newspaper clippings at Wisconsin Local History and Biography Articles.
[Source: Dictionary of Wisconsin biography]
: Paroisse municipale
: Municipalité
: Lieu à préciser
: Cimetière
: Hôpital
: Lieu historique
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Portraits
DESERRES Joseph Photo tirée d'un daguerreotype pris en 1846 à S.Louis MO (37 ans), tirée de la copie no. 5 de 12, du livre Joseph Dessert A Biographical Sketch and Genealogy, Imprimé par The Philosopher Press At the Sign of the Green Pine Tree, Wausau Wisconsin, 1905, pour Mrs Henry M. Thompson née Stella Dessert et offert par cette dernière à Joseph Landry
1819 - 1910 (90 ans)
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: Paroisse municipale
: Municipalité
: Lieu à préciser
: Cimetière
: Hôpital
: Lieu historique
: Indéterminé
