Rubusch donation begins the funds for Boyceville Library move
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HANNAH RUBUSCH
By Amber Hayden
BOYCEVILLE — Hannah Rubusch, who was 100 at the time of her death, has left part of her estate to the Boyceville Public Library.
Library director Ginny Julson was in shock because in her time as the director she couldn’t remember ever seeing Rubusch in the library.
“I have worked here since 2001 and she was not a library user, but I do know she supported public education and public libraries.” said Julson.
Rubusch, who was originally of Elk Mound, had spent most of her life in the Village of Boyceville when her and her husband Willard built Rubusch’s Sales and Services in 1949 in downtown Boyceville that sold Allis Chalmers Tractors as well as selling well drilling and plumbing supplies.
Rubusch passed away on December 9, 2018.
Hannah and Willard never had any children so when she passed, part of her estate was given in the amount of $20,000 to the local library.
The donation was placed into a savings account with People’s State Bank and will be used at some point to help the library to move into a new location or have a building built to make room for more books and a larger space for performances.
“Our biggest complaint is the steps if you need the ramp it is almost a full block to walk,” Julson explained. “And if you have a hard time walking you don’t want to have to walk that far.”
There are a few more issues with the building other than the ramp, according to Julson, the steps make it harder for seniors to come into the current space and there are constant water leaks throughout the building.
The library director and the board have discussed putting the money to use to fix up the current space they reside in, but in the end the space is too small to house the computers and books.
“We did look several years ago into getting an elevator,” Julson said. “But it is hundreds of thousands of dollars. So we decided at the time to not do it and that we needed to look into a new building.”
Julson explained there is plenty she could do with the money they received from Rubusch’s estate, such as a water fountain and the new steps, but in the end the money is best served for a new building.
The board and Julson know at anytime they could change their minds as it is not set in stone, but the agreement is the Library needs to be proactive.
“Some people love the old building and the stage, and the youth area is a pretty nice size space to have our programs in but it could do to be a bit bigger,” Julson explained.
The library does receive quite a bit of foot traffic from students as they are one block over from the middle/high school, and that kids tend to hang out in what little space they do have.
But the main concern is for the seniors and super seniors and making sure there are accommodations for them.
“Now with cell phones we are saying call me, and we will bring you your items,” she said.
Julson expressed that the library would accept other donations for the new building fund if anyone wanted to help, but for now the library is happy with what they have received.
