While construction crews reshape the outside of Ashland’s historic Vaughn Public Library, something equally transformative happened inside on February 19. Families packed the reading room for a heart-themed night that turned science, art, and music into Valentine’s Day magic.
The evening proved that small-town libraries remain beating hearts of their communities — even when wrapped in scaffolding.
Growing Crystals and Curiosity
The main attraction? Chemistry sets meets Valentine’s Day.
Kids mixed Borax powder and water to grow their own heart-shaped crystals, watching science unfold in real time. It’s the kind of hands-on learning that sticks with a child long after the experiment ends — way better than any screen.
Parents watched as their kids became junior scientists, asking questions about saturation and crystal formation. One Borax solution and a pipe cleaner heart created teachable moments that would make any Wisconsin educator proud.
More Than Just Test Tubes
The crystal-growing station anchored the evening, but Vaughn Library staff created multiple ways for kids to explore.
- Heart stamp art stations let children create Valentine’s cards and decorations
- Sensory bins filled with heart-themed items engaged younger siblings
- Coloring sheets kept hands busy between activities
- Free admission meant every Ashland family could participate
Local musician Joel Glickman provided the soundtrack, his banjo filling the historic space with Northwoods charm. There’s something perfect about folk music echoing off 136-year-old brick walls while kids create art.
A Library’s Journey Through Time
Vaughn Public Library opened in 1888, making it Wisconsin’s oldest operating library in its original building. Emeline Patrick Vaughn funded the Romanesque Revival structure to honor her late husband Samuel, an early Chequamegon Bay businessman.
The building has witnessed everything from lumber boom days to modern digital access programs. Now it’s undergoing a major Building Renewal Project — you can spot the construction lift from blocks away.
The library shares weekly renovation photos online, letting the community watch their historic gem get refreshed while still hosting events like this family night.
Vaughn Avenue stays closed from the alley to Main Street during construction, but programming continues inside. That commitment speaks volumes about priorities.
Why These Nights Matter Up North
In a region where winter stretches long and entertainment options thin out after tourist season, library events create gathering spaces. They’re free, they’re educational, and they bring neighbors together.
Ashland sits on Chequamegon Bay, part of that Lake Superior shoreline we all treasure. Winter here means finding indoor community connections that keep families engaged when the thermometer drops.
Events like this Valentine’s night check multiple boxes. Kids learn actual science. Parents get an evening activity that doesn’t break the budget. The community strengthens its social fabric one Borax crystal at a time.
Supporting Small-Town Infrastructure
Libraries evolved beyond book repositories decades ago. Modern library services include technology access, genealogy resources, meeting spaces, and programming like this heart-themed night.
The Ashland Historical Society Museum once shared space here after a 1967 fire displaced it. Now relocated to 216 Main Street West, that history shows how community institutions support each other.
Vaughn Library connects patrons to Wisconsin Historical Society databases and local research tools. But the human connections — kids laughing over crystal experiments, families creating art together — those matter just as much as digital resources.
Looking Ahead Past Construction
The renovation will eventually finish. Vaughn Avenue will reopen. The construction lift will disappear.
What remains? A refreshed historic building ready for another century of service. And memories of winter nights when families gathered despite scaffolding, when science experiments sparked curiosity, and when a small-town library reminded everyone why these spaces matter.
Check vaughnlibrary.org for upcoming programs and renovation updates. Your next family memory might be waiting in those historic reading rooms.
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