Places to go and things to see by Gypsy Bev

Posts tagged ‘Dickens Marathon Reading’

Carnegie Library Celebrates 120 years

The Andrew Carnegie Library on Steubenville Avenue holds many great memories since it has been around for 120 years. But did you know that Cambridge had previous libraries?

Today’s Downtown Branch of the Guernsey County District Public Library

Today’s library was preceded in 1832 by the Guernsey County Library and Reading Room. There were fifty charter members, all men, who felt a library gave evidence that the residents were people of intelligence.

In 1899, Cambridge Library Association held their first meeting. Col. Joseph Taylor, a prominent citizen, gave the upstairs of one of his buildings on Wheeling Avenue as space for the library. His wife organized the library effort.

Library cards cost $5 annually but only one book could be borrowed at a time for a period of two weeks. Overdue books were charged three cents a day. By 1901, all interested residents were given a free card to the library.

Andrew Carnegie

That same year, a committee from Guernsey County met with Andrew Carnegie in New York City. This was unusual as business with Carnegie was normally conducted by mail. Carnegie felt a library was the most important thing a community could have to benefit its people.

He remarked, “It was from my own early experience that I decided there was no use to which money could be applied so productive of good to girls and boys, who have good within them and ability and ambition to develop it, as the founding of a public library.”

This was an early picture of the Carnegie Library shortly after it was built.

On Jan. 22, 1902, the Carnegie Corporation sent a letter saying they would furnish $18,000 to erect a free library building at 800 Steubenville Ave since all the requirements had been met. Frank Packard became the architect with C.W. Dowling being the builder.

Once it was finished, the committee needed more funds to finish the interior and landscape the outside. Mr. Carnegie again provided those funds.

Books were very important to Carnegie from his childhood in Scotland and his teen years in Pennsylvania. Andrew Carnegie built 1,689 libraries throughout the United States and a total of more than 2,500 throughout the world.

The staff was presenting a book to a patron in 1950.

When the Carnegie Library opened in Cambridge emphasis was placed on religious and moral content. They initially purchased 1,334 volumes at $1300 with more books being donated by local families. The Women’s Book Club donated 208 books.

The second floor was to be used for community activities. Probably the first events held there were lectures. One series contained seven lectures about birds, while another was on boys’ temptations. During WWI, the Red Cross made bandages there. For about thirty years, the Cambridge City Band used it for their practice room.

Students were frequent visitors to the library in 1945.

In 1907, the first children’s furniture was purchased for the library since over half of the new borrowers were children. Story hours were developed for the children and Christmas parties with Santa were established.

Howard Finley donated his collection of historic books to the library with the stipulation that the collection bear his name. He also donated $6,227 for the library to use. The genealogy room is named in his honor today.

Cambridge City Band, who practiced here years ago, performed for a special library event.

By 1947, the library had expanded to serve the surrounding community. There were several branches and 49 deposit stations, most of them being at schools. Every six weeks, the library would take a box of 50 books to the area schools for students to read.

Today’s library staff helps with many special events in our community. Here they are dressed Victorian.

There were branches at Byesville, Cumberland, East Cambridge, Southside, Quaker City, Madison, and Senecaville . They existed until the library purchased their first bookmobile in 1956.

Today, Friends of the Library hold book sales in the basement of the Carnegie Library.

Friends of the Library was formed at a time when there was a need for more room at the library. Over the next thirty years, the Carnegie Library added a large addition, a new library was built in Byesville,and Crossroads Library became the relocation for administrative offices and technical services.

The annual Dickens Marathon Reading takes place in the main lobby.

By 1910, there were 2,200 people using the library of 6,332 books. By 1922, there were 2,745 using 9,123 books. In 2024, the Guernsey County Library has over 70,000 books plus many other resources.

Director Michael Limer is proud of their new Bookmobile which serves places around the county.

Michael Limer, present director, expresses well the connection with today’s library and the community. “I am really proud of all work the staff has done to help the library become an integral part of the community. Besides all the great things you would expect at a public library, I feel the staff has strived to excel in engaging with the public. From great programs and new services to our work with our many community partners, I am thrilled with how we reach out to serve the public, both within our walls and throughout the county. “

Libraries have been an important part of our community for many years and continue to be a place to find free reading materials, movies, and more.

Knowledge is free at the library, just bring your own container. Visit your library sometime soon!

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Cambridge, History, Ohio, Organizations, Uncategorized

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Friends of the Library Love Book Sales

Mystery. Romance. Comedy. History. These are just a sampling of the kind of books you will find at a Friends of the Library Book Sale.

Their book sales have two purposes. First, you can stock up on books for your reading pleasure at a reasonable price. The last couple of years, the Friends have simply asked for a donation from books that have been selected. You can’t beat that! They also have delicious home-baked goods available for donation as well. There are some pretty tasty treats available from candy to cookies and even homemade bread.

Book Sales at Crossroads are held in this room where new window coverings, tables, and chairs were purchased from book sales.

The second purpose would be to provide special items for the library that they might not be able to purchase themselves. That has become an impressive list over the last few years.

During the early years of the group, which was founded in 2010, funding could only provide money for purchase of books from the best-seller list as well as the Newberry Award books. But as funding increased, so did the size of their projects.

New book bins were purchased for Cambridge Main and Byesville from Book Sales.

Colorful return book bins have been placed outside the Byesville and Main branches for easy return of books and videos. The logo on the bins was designed by local artist, Steve Lowe. The large meeting room has been enhanced with new window coverings and comfortable folding chairs.

They have contributed to the Summer Reading Programs for children at the library, and recently they purchased 15 wonder books with ready-to-read audiobooks inside, and 5 Launchpads for use in the Children’s Library. These Launchpads can also be borrowed from the library and contain learning aps, games, videos, and more for hours of fun. No Wi-Fi is needed.

A Discovery Backpack Program enables children to check out an exploration kit from the library. These include books, magnifying glass, headlamp, walking stick and more.

Stephanie Laube of United Way accepts a check for Dolly Parton Imagination Library from Friends representative, Mary Sikora-Skeslock after a book talk by young author, Gage Shepherd.

One of their favorite community-minded projects promotes the Dolly Parton Imagination Library in Guernsey and Noble Counties with 887 children enrolled. The project began in 1995 in Dolly’s home county and was inspired by Dolly’s father who never learned to read or write. She wanted the children of their area to develop a love of reading.

This was the recent book mailed to youngsters during the month of January.

Here a child can receive a new book mailed to them each month from birth to the age of five. Pick up an application at any of the Guernsey County Libraries or go online to register at http://www.imaginationlibrary.com. Over 172 million books have been given away by the foundation as of December 2021. What a great way to promote reading.

An evening of folk music by Adam Miller was presented at the library.

Some of the early community projects the Friends sponsored were family movie nights at the library, guest speakers, and promotion of young authors. They encouraged sharing stories through musical or even dinner theater with a lovely catered meal at the library.

Jerry Thompson dressed as Father Christmas reads during the Dickens Marathon Reading.

Several years ago, Friends of the Library began a project with Dickens Victorian Village. Each season they schedule a day to have a Dickens Marathon Reading of Charles Dickens “A Christmas Carol.” This has become a popular annual event with a new reader every 15 minutes throughout the day.

Chris Hart has performed several one-man shows at the library as well as at the end of the Steeple Walk as part of Dickens Victorian Village.

Another event involving Dickens, has been an annual presentation of a Christmas-themed tale told by Chris Hart. This traditionally is performed at the end of the Steeple Walk. Chris has a wide variety of Christmas based stories he uses for this occasion.

A paranormal program captured attention with presentations by Shone Winegartner and his daughter of Cumberland and Mark Jordan from Malabar Farms. Joan Albaugh introduced the speakers.

There are approximately 90 members of this organization. They organize the books prior to the sale, help customers during sale days, as well as provide delicious baked goods. If you would like to be a member, you can pick up a form at the libraries. Fee is $15 for individuals or $10 for seniors 60+. Fill out the form and leave it at the library.

Children’s books are a popular item and always go quickly.

Perhaps you have some books you would like to contribute to their Book Sales. Donations are only accepted on sale days during the sales. There’s always a need for cookbooks, craft, and quilting ideas.

Of course, there are always books left over at the end of the sales. Some are saved for future sales. Friends have registered with Operation Paperback for the military and will use this as an outlet to diminish their paperback supply and also give some reading pleasure to our military.

Michele Hatcher, Carol Marlyne, and Joan Albaugh prepare for another Friends Book Sale.

Plan now to attend the Friends of the Library Book Sales for year-round reading enjoyment. Everyone needs some good books at home ready for a relaxing evening. While there, pick up some of their delicious home-made treats. Remember, everything is by donation and there’s no limit on how many books you can take home with you.

“When I think of all the books still left for me to read, I am certain of further happiness.”

~Jules Renard

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Cambridge, Christmas, Just for Fun, Ohio, Organizations, Uncategorized

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Jerry Thompson Portrays Civil War Santa

Jerry Thompson overflows with the Christmas spirit as he enjoys portraying the Civil War Santa as well as today’s traditional Santa Claus. Usually, it is the adults that enjoy his Civil War stories while the children prefer the modern Santa.

Jerry participated in a Dickens Marathon Reading dressed as Civil War Santa.

While Jerry majored in history at Miami University, his interest in the Civil War began with his great-great-grandfather, Sgt. Major Alfred Weedon. Alfred was born in 1845 on a farm just outside of Liberty, (now Kimbolton) Ohio. In July 1861, he enlisted in the 26th Ohio Volunteer Infantry.

Inspiration was received from a Harper’s Weekly cover by Thomas Nast.

One day, Jerry saw the cover of an old Harper’s Weekly magazine, where they did a story about the Civil War Santa on January 5, 1863. Thomas Nast drew a Civil War Santa distributing gifts to the Union soldiers. It was his first Santa Claus cartoon and the only Civil War Santa he ever drew. From that one publication in Harper’s Weekly, the troops jumped on the idea and it ran through the camps of the Union soldiers.

Jerry then jumped on the idea of portraying Civil War Santa to honor his great-great-grandfather. A seamstress from Claysville looked at the picture and designed a costume for Jerry. She used red and white awning material for the pants, and a navy-blue sweatshirt with white stars sewed all over it. The finishing touch was a red hat encircled with holly.

These Civil War historians presented a program at Roscoe Village.

Jerry had been a member of the Southeastern Ohio Civil War Roundtable for many years and served as president. So, it seemed only natural to begin presenting programs at Civil War Roundtables and various Christmas outings. There he told the story of Christmas during the Civil War and especially shared the story of the Civil War experiences of Alfred Weedon, his great-great-grandfather.

You might find interesting some of the highlights he tells. After Alfred enlisted, he fought and was captured in Perrysville, Kentucky, and in 1862 was exchanged and paroled to home for one year, as was a custom at that time. Every week, Alfred had to go to Camp Chase in Columbus by train from Kimbolton to report in.

When his year was up, he was sent to Chatanooga, Tennessee where he participated in the Battle of Missionary Ridge. Even though weak and sickly, Alfred crawled with the rest of the troops to the top of that ridge for a Union victory. Seven months later, during the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, Alfred was shot in the leg, discharged from the service, and limped through the rest of his life.

Jerry stands by the house on Madison Avenue, where his great-great-grandfather lived a hundred years ago.

When he returned to Ohio, he first went back to his original home in Kimbolton but later moved to Cambridge on Madison Avenue. Mr. Weedon taught school at Birmingham and built the first house at Guernsey Station. He served as Clerk of Courts in Guernsey County, was a member of the Methodist Protestant Church and the Cambridge G.A.R. Post. He’s buried in Northwood Cemetery in Cambridge.

Often Jerry joins other Civil War historians to share stories at libraries and festivals. Roscoe Village held a special Civil War Tree Lighting program, which included many historians from around the area who sang and spoke about the Civil War. Jerry appeared as Civil War Santa.

This image by Thomas Nast helped create our modern version of Santa.

Thomas Nast, born in 1840, is also credited with being the man who invented Santa Claus as we know him today. When he changed the color of Santa’s coat from tan to red, his Santa became the inspiration for the Coca Cola Santa we know so well.

Jerry has also portrayed the traditional Santa at many venues for over 40 years. He’s made thousands of children happy in his Santa appearances at places like Lazarus and many malls. Being Secret Santa for Cassell Station was a pleasure for 25 years.

After 9/11, Santa wore an Uncle Sam hat during the Christmas Parade in the bucket of the firetruck.

In the Cambridge Christmas Parade, that was Jerry that waved as Santa from the bucket of the fire truck for about 20 years. One special year was 2001 after the event of 9/11 when he wore Uncle Sam’s hat instead of the traditional Santa hat.

Santa rode a motorcycle to help promote Christmas in July.

A motorcycle has even carried Santa on a couple of adventures. At Colony Square Mall, he participated in the Motorcyclists for Kids Toy Ride. Then Mark Dubeck from Moore’s Jewelers asked him if he would advertise their Christmas in July sale by riding around town on a motorcycle. Jerry knows how to have fun even if that July day reached 97°.

Santa and Moose the Wonder Dog posed for pictures at Pound Partners.

Pets with Santa sponsored a fundraiser for Pound Partners where people could get their pet’s pictures taken with Santa. Moose the Wonder Dog, the Pound Partners’ mascot, received a lot of special attention.

Of course, Santa only takes up a small portion of his life. Activities in the community and with his family fill his schedule these days.

In 2019, Jerry managed the Heritage Tent for the Salt Fork Arts & Crafts Festival. There was a large variety of local talent displayed in that tent from potters and weavers to quilters and fabric designers. Local organizations also took part such as Guernsey County Museum, Cambridge Amateur Radio Association, and The National Road/Zane Grey Museum. In 2021, Jerry managed both the Heritage Tent and the Marketplace.

Jerry won the 2019 Muskingum County Hospitality Award.

The Muskingum County Hospitality Award was awarded to Jerry in 2019 for his dedication as a staff member at the Old National Road/Zane Grey Museum. His friendly manner as tour guide and host makes guests feel welcome as soon as they enter the door.

Acting has been something that Jerry has done for years as part of the local Cambridge Performing Arts Center. He played a variety of roles there for around 40 years. Some of his favorites were William Jennings Bryant and Dr. Einstein in Arsenic and Old Lace.

In 2020, Jerry took part in Macbeth at Zanesville Community Theater. Its themes of greed, corruption, violence, and fear seem to have reappeared in 2020. He shook his head when he admitted that learning the lines is harder these days.

Motorcyclists gathered at Colony Square Mall for a Toy Ride.

During the past few years, Jerry has participated in the Dickens Marathon Reading held during the Dickens Victorian Village season. This year Jerry will be in charge of that event and is moving it downtown so more people can enjoy the readings. He always seems to find a way to help the community.

Jerry has led an interesting life locally from radio announcer to dyslexia instructor at Muskingum University. However, one of his favorite activities has been portraying Santa Claus and especially the Civil War Santa in memory of his great-great-grandfather, Alfred Weedon.

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Cambridge, Christmas, History, Ohio, Uncategorized

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