The Schmitz family, a pillar of the Spooner community, has left a lasting legacy through
an incredibly generous gift from father and son, Dave and Ted Schmitz. As the community
mourns the loss of Dave, his profound impact on Spooner remains undeniable. His kind heart,
the generosity he inspired in his family, and his deep love for the community were beautifully
evident during a heartfelt meeting with Spooner Library Board President Audrey Kevan, Library
Director Angie Bodzislaw, and City Administrator Nick Koverman. At that meeting, Dave
Schmitz shared treasured memories of his family’s early days in Spooner, when they settled here
along the railroad. Proud of their long-standing roots in the area, Dave spoke with pride about
Spooner’s history, including memories of the building at the corner of Summit and Walnut
Streets. When Audrey and Angie discussed the library’s dream to turn that building into a vibrant
new library, Dave’s curiosity and enthusiasm were clear. With his generous spirit, and with his
son Ted by his side, Dave simply said, “Ted, let’s buy this building for the library and give extra
to cover future costs.” His words and actions reveal a true heart of kindness and a strong
commitment to the community’s future.
Their donation of $200,000 was a remarkable act of kindness that has enabled the
Spooner Memorial Library to purchase a historic building in the heart of downtown Spooner,
which will serve not only as the library’s future home but will also expand its impact, further
reinforcing its role as an vital center for the community.
This act of generosity does more than improve the library; it leaves a lasting legacy
rooted in community, history, and hope. The support from Dave and Ted will inspire generations
to come and help keep the spirit of Spooner strong.
Thanks to their support, the library now owns the historic “Old Fire Hall” on Summit and
Walnut Streets. Built in 1892, this building has served many roles in Spooner’s history, from
Town Hall to jail, opera house, planning office, fire station, and more. Today, the building awaits
the community’s vision to transform it into a bustling space that will support the library’s
mission of providing opportunities, fostering community, and promoting literacy for everyone
who walks through its doors. In that important meeting, everyone agreed that a renovation would
be a meaningful way to preserve the building’s rich history and strong connection to the
community, while also recognizing that a new build would also be meaningful.
Dave and Ted truly created a pivotal moment for the library and thus the community.
With the site now secured, the community’s vision for a vibrant new space can begin to take
shape. Thanks to the generosity and heart of the Schmitz family, the dream of a revitalized
library, one that honors the past while shaping the future, is moving closer to reality. Thanks to a
legacy of giving, a new chapter for the community begins.
Building project updates can be found at spoonerlibrary.org/building.