Remember the turtle fountain? Linked in with neat York County, Pa., history stuff: Nov. 27, 2010
William Baker and Salome Baker Stauffer honored their father John E. Baker by supplying the funds in 1955 to establish a children’s wing of the Martin Memorial Library. The 50- by 60-foot addition featured a large picture window beyond an oval pool with a bronze statue, one of four in the world, and fountain, according to a library release. Local architect Bill Dize designed the pool and fountain, surrounding the bronze statue. The fountain stands today in an outside courtyard, visible to children’s library users inside. (See additional old photos of Martin Library below.) Also of interest:– Part I: York, Pa.’s, Martin Library observing 75 years in the reading business and Part II: 75 years in the reading business. and Part III: 75 years in the reading business.
Neat stuff from all over…
Yorkblogger Scott Mingus has passed on a New York Times opinion page series: Disunion, a day-by-day accounting of the secession crisis and the Civil War… .
This old photograph shows the J.E. Baker Children’s Library and Martin Library.
“Over the next four-and-a-half years we’ll be following the course of the country’s greatest challenge, using primary documents, original Times coverage, multimedia features and essays by historians, journalists and Civil War experts,” a Times spokesman wrote.
You can access the series on the Web or on Facebook.
Recommended event: The 1719 Hans Herr House, the oldest home in Lancaster County, will sponsor candlelight tours on Friday and Saturday, December 3 and 4, from 5-8:30 p.m. Guided house tours will introduce customs from some of the earliest ethnic groups to settle in Lancaster County.
Costumed guides will demonstrate blacksmithing and other traditional crafts on the grounds. The gift shop will be open with live music and holiday wares. Because the immigrants who built the 1719 Herr House were German Mennonites, German traditions will be given special attention. The biblical Christmas story will be read in German from the gospel of Luke, and participants will be invited to join in singing “Silent Night” in German. Advance tickets to the Willow Street attraction are required. For details, call 717-464-4438 or e-mail director@hansherr.org.
Blog post of the day: York at Heart’s Gordon Freireich explores a sign of the times with his Yorkblog post: I want my telephone book!
Forum of the day, Facebook: “York County Civil War Voices,” the book Scott Mingus and I are producing, has a Facebook page. Become a fan.
The old picture shows children gathered around the circulation desk after a story time.