Library Park, about 20 miles southwest of Madison and one of five parks in the Village of Belleville, is central to life in this community straddling Dane and Green Counties. The park is bounded by Pearl, Park, Vine, and Main Streets in the heart of Belleville. The park’s first permanent structure, a brick building built in 1894, still stands to this day. Library Park and the building were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.
As noted in the National Register nomination, “Library Park is a reminder of the civil development of the Village of Belleville.” John Frederick of Belleville, Ontario, Canada, acquired property around the Sugar River in 1845 and began the first construction in the namesake Belleville, Wisconsin—a dam and a sawmill. Four years later, he added a grist mill. Frederick and other early settlers platted Belleville in 1851 around a central village green space designated as public ground. This was the site of Library Park.
According to its history, the area was used to graze cows and there was a shallow well providing a public source of water. Library Park became a tent city for laborers who built the railroad that came through Belleville in 1887. The land occupied by Library Park was crossed by an early Native American trail that led from a Winnebago (Ho-Chunk) camp in Green County to another camp near Lake Waubesa.
Currently, the Badger State Trail crosses Library Park. “The trail brings people into Belleville,” says Rhea McGee, Belleville’s village clerk. “Many stop for lunch as they’re biking the trail.”
Ten Junk Miles Racing will be using the trail for six races July 29 and 30 ranging in length from a half-marathon to a 100-mile race between Belleville and Orangeville, Illinois. “In fact,” says Scott Kummer, CEO, “ultramarathons have put Belleville on the map. No one had run a race on the trail until we started in 2019. I wanted to show it off. Runners from all 50 states and from countries as far away as Thailand have run the Badger Trail Race. When they fly in and pass through customs, the usual response they get from agents is ‘Where is Belleville?’ Now they know!
“We encourage race participants and spectators to spend money in Belleville. We leave a big footprint in the village with donations to Friends of the Badger State Trail and Shop with a Cop (where economically disadvantaged kids can purchase family Christmas presents with a Belleville police officer).”
From its founding, Belleville served farmers in northern Green and southern Dane Counties. Early settlers raised wheat for the first 25 or so years following Belleville’s founding. However, once wheat farming depleted the soil’s nutrients and an outbreak of chinch bugs destroyed the wheat crop, dairy farming became popular. For a community of less than 400 people at the time of its incorporation, 1892, Belleville had a bustling commercial sector. One of the first public libraries in Wisconsin opened in Belleville prior to its even becoming a village.
As Belleville grew, it became apparent that a village hall was needed, and consequently, a 30-foot-square, two-story cube building was erected on Library Park in the middle of the block. The cream bricks for the building were manufactured in Watertown, Wisconsin. A bell tower, open on all sides, is positioned at the top of the building in the middle. Decorative brackets enhance the perimeter of the roofline. Small arched dormers are centered on each side of the building’s sloping mansard roof. Initially, the roof was covered with cedar shingles.
A jail and firehouse were originally housed on the first floor of the building. The village hall and library occupied the second floor. The story goes that the village constable allowed wandering laborers to spend the night in the jail portion of the building. Bands of Romani also camped on the grounds, according to early newspaper accounts.
Over the years, several other structures were built on the park grounds. A bandstand and fountain were added in the early 1900s and were rebuilt in the 1980s. Today, there are benches and picnic tables in the park. The building and park grounds are maintained by Belleville’s Public Works Department. “The park is well used,” says Rhea. The building’s first floor was refurbished into a museum and meeting room. The Belleville Area Historical Society maintains exhibits in the museum, and various community groups and private individuals use the meeting room.
In the past, village residents gathered in the park for holiday celebrations, fairs, political rallies, free summer movies, high school graduation ceremonies, and concerts. The music tradition has not changed, and for the 10th year, Belleville Public Library is sponsoring these events. Residents and visitors to Belleville can enjoy free concerts in the park on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. through July. From 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. a block away at Park and Church Streets, the Belleville Farmers Market is open for the season.
More music is on tap for Sunday, July 16, when the Belleville Community Club hosts the Brother Love Music Festival. Six bands will be featured beginning at 11:00 a.m. Food and beer will be available for purchase, and visitors can bring camp or folding chairs or just spread a blanket on the grass.
The Belleville Village offices and the firehouse in the Library Park building were relocated in the 1920s. The library remained until 1979. In March 2021, a brand-new Belleville Public Library and Community Center opened across the street from Library Park. Fittingly, the library hosts events throughout the summer at Library Park. A volunteer fair will coincide with music in the park on June 27. A picnic in the park is scheduled for July 27 at 6:00 p.m.
The activities at Library Park extend beyond the summer season. In October, Public Safety Night, a free event with activities for the entire family, is hosted by the Belleville Police Department with the Fire Department and EMS. Food and drinks are provided. A Christmas tree lighting ceremony takes place in December.
The livability of the Village of Belleville has been enhanced by the presence of Library Park in its midst. Within this peaceful environment, Belleville residents can come together, enjoy the community activities, and just relax in the outdoors.