My childhood library

I have always loved libraries. For as long as I can remember, a trip to the library has always been a trip to a magical place. Even today, I enter a library (or a bookstore, for that matter) with a sense of excitement and possibility. Do I attack the stacks the same way I used to? Alas, no. Our online, on-the-go world has changed the way I approach the library. These days, I usually know exactly what I'm looking for before I walk in the door. I have the call number in hand (or on my cell phone) and I am usually in and out of the building in a few minutes, books in hand.

But that experience is very different from that of my childhood. As an introverted young reader, the experience was pure adventure. I grew up just outside of Buhl, and my library was the Buhl public library. I would climb the flight of cement stairs as fast as my legs could carry me, and, once through the door, I would begin my hunt.

 Throughout my childhood, my Dad was always my trusty library companion, and his reading tastes inevitably a ected mine.  This meant, in part, that as a child I read almost exclusively non-fiction books. This trend continued throughout my elementary school years, where I found myself alone in the school library’s non-fiction section while the other kids fought over the picture books. In fact, I’ll never forget the look on my third grade teacher’s face when it came time to do book reports as part of the Book It, or “read books, earn pizza” program. ( Just a sidenote: I thoroughly enjoyed this program, but is it a great idea to give sedentary children reading books a personal-sized pizza?) As each of my classmates was led in and out of the teacher's cubicle with books along the lines of Johnny Gets A Bicycle, I waited patiently for my turn. When called, I entered, and when asked what I had read, I placed a 400-page biography of Amelia Earhart on the table. I don’t remember the give and take of our conversation, but even at that age I remember thinking that she was more  ustered than I was by that point. What can I say? I was an odd kid.

In fact, it took me years to temper my monogamous affair with non-fiction. Sure, there were occasional dalliances before that, a sly look from Beverly Cleary (and the exciting prospect of a mouse on a motorcycle) could melt me. I also had a soft spot for the local favorites about Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel and the tale of a Native American boy sending his carved wooden toy to navigate the Great Lakes in Paddle-to-the- Sea. But these passing fancies were among the exceptions that proved the rule in an otherwise non-fictional proclivity.

I remember picking up books at the Buhl library on classic comedy teams like the Marx Brothers and Laurel and Hardy. And I remember the fear I felt in the 001.9 section, looking at books about the Bermuda Triangle, the Loch Ness Monster, UFOs and Bigfoot. These books were located in a dark corner, near a doorway that led, in my child’s mind, to who knows where. My imagination would spin visions of creatures coming out of that doorway, or it being some kind of Bermuda Triangle portal from which I might never return. And when my grandmother would come to baby-sit my brother and I, I would check out Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman cassettes so that we could listen to big band classics and sing while we played cards. (Pennsylvania 6-5000!)

And because my library was the Buhl library, my librarian was Sara Samuelson. From my first visit there as a 3 or 4-year old, she has been a constant and, to this day, when you say the word “librarian,” an image of Sara inevitably pops up in my head. But, my childhood world is being rocked. After 29 years of faithful service, Sara Samuelson retired from service at the Buhl library at the end of August. We don’t often take the time to thank people like Sara for their years of service or to recognize the lives that they have, in some small way, touched. So I would like to take this opportunity to thank her for spending 29 years with us. I have been to libraries throughout the country and the world. As a student, I have walked the hallowed halls of Oxford University’s Bodleian Library, perused the stacks at Stanford, and held Henry David Thoreau’s personal copy of Walden (with his hand-written corrections in the margins) in my hands at Middlebury College. But, truth be told, I still get a thrill walking into the Buhl public library. Yes, as tends to happen, everything seems much smaller than it used to, and the selection may not seem as endless as it did to a child, but seeing Sara at the desk, seeing the old familiar walls and decorations, and even the smell of the place, brings me back to that time of life when every book spine promised adventure and amazement. And, for those of us that are voracious readers, that is often still the case.

Thank you, Sara Samuelson, for your years of faithful service, and a permanent place in my unconscious. You are my archetypal librarian, for what that’s worth. Best of luck with whatever you choose to do in your well-deserved retirement.

A reader,
Jason Scorich
 

BUHL LIBRARY 20 YRS. OLD; HAS 16,036 BOOKS

The beautiful Buhl public library recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. On June 10, 1918, the structure was first opened to the public. June 10, 1938, finds the original building with many late improvements and in constant use by numerous residents of Buhl.

Built of tapestry brick with terra cotta trimmings the library is situated in the midst of an attractive lawn with numerous flower beds.

The interior is silver gray oak, is well lighted by numerous windows and by adequate indirect electric lighting. This Summer each window has been equipped with venetian blinds to replace the badly worn cloth curtains.

It was dedicated in February, 1918, during the administration of Mayor Raucstadt. The original library board members included M. A. Morse, president, Dr. F. J. Hirschboeck, secretary, T. J. Murphy, Anthony Sartori, Emil Pesonen, Mrs. M. A. Nichols, Gust Cronberg, Mrs. Rosenberger and Mrs. Henry. [….]

Miss Enid Stafford was the first librarian, and she was assisted by Miss Fannie Kerr, children’s librarian. The library hours were the same as in force today—10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Miss Helen Weaver has been librarian since 1927, assisted by Miss Mary Malnar, childrens’ librarian, who came in 1935.

By 1921 the library contained 9,047 volumes and had 1,156 borrowers. In January, 1938, there were 16,036 volumes on its shelves and there were 1,328 registered borrowers.

The main floor has reading rooms for adults, and for children, with reference volumes close at hand. Large panel paintings by Rosencranz decorate each end of the main room. On this floor there are located the reference room, stacks and librarian’s office.

A commodious auditorium takes up most of the well-lighted semibasement. In addition there is a men’s smoking room, a parlor, a kitchen, cloakrooms and a workroom for the repairing of worn and damaged books.

Equipment and furniture added during the years include picture file case, pamphlet, and clipping file cases, fireside settles, new shelving in the main reading room and in the stacks, and in the reference room, new tray unit for the juvenile catalog, tray unit for the shelf list file, and new indirect lighting fixtures in the main reading room.

During this Summer the kitchen has been more than doubled in size. Originally it was about 16 x 10 feet. By extending into the parlor it has been increased in size to 16 x 19 ½ feet. Decreasing the size of the parlor is receiving favorable comment. It provides a suitable room for smaller groups. The kitchen has a modern coin-meter electric range, and all necessary utensils for cooking.

Folding tables for use in the auditorium will seat over 200 persons. The library has silver service for 100 people and dishes to accommodate 150. All serviceware, utensils, etc., are checked out on a special form to those using the club rooms, and are checked back in when finished with.

During the Fall and Winter months there is such a demand for the use of the club rooms and kitchen for various meetings, banquets and luncheons, that a request weeks ahead is necessary. There is no charge for the room, but there are restrictions as to their use.

Under the skillful hand of C. A. Lower the grounds and flowers are second to none on the Range. Mr. Lower is assisted by Anton Nosan in the Janitorial work.

Practically every tourist visiting Buhl inspects the library and many are the compliments for its appearance, and the way it is so efficiently conducted.

Buhl Librarian: Miss Helen Weaver

Miss Weaver has been the Buhl librarian since 1927. During her regime many improvements have been added to the library. To Miss Weaver goes the credit for the fine selection of reference and trade books, as well as a wide variety of high class fiction accessible to book lovers of the community.

Children's Librarian: Miss Mary Malnar

Miss Malnar has been with the Buhl library since 1935 as children’s librarian. Her diversified plans for the youngsters has started many with the good habit of reading good books. A yearly feature by Miss Malnar is a marionette show. Primarily for children, the show has attracted so much attention that now it is necessary to have one show for children, and another to which adults are admitted. Buhl-Kinney Herald— Friday, July 29, 1938

SPINA MINER IS KILLED; WOMAN HELD FOR MURDER

Spina Location, May 27—What is purported to have been a murder occurred here yesterday afternoon, when it is claimed Mrs. Mary Stephanich shot and killed George Zonich, aged 23, a Montenegrin miner. It is also alleged that the two had quarreled which resulted in the shooting. Zonich died a few minutes later.

Mrs. Stephanich was arrested and was lodged in the Buhl jail, charged with murder. Prosecutor E. L. Boyle alleges that she had been living with Zonich but was unable to elicit any information as to whether or not they were married. He states further that Mrs. Stephanich was divorced some time ago; and that she is considerably older than Zonich, having a son in the army. She refused to talk.

Result of Words

The story as told to the assistant county attorney and the Buhl police by the aged father of Zonich, who is detained as a material witness, is that he arrived home yesterday afternoon to find the house locked up. He waited and presently his son George arrived. Finding the door fastened the younger man broke it down and they entered. Presently the woman reached the house, the older Zonich stated, and a quarrel began over her absence from the place.

The woman, the old man told Mr. Boyle, went to the bedroom and shut herself in; Zonich demanded that she come out, and thereupon she opened the door and fired, it is charged.

Walks Downstairs

Zonich after being shot walked downstairs to the lower apartment said he had been shot, asked a neighbor to summon the police. When Dr. A. W. Shaw arrived a few minutes later Zonich was dead.
Virginia Daily Enterprise—
Monday, May 27, 1918

WOMAN FREED ON MURDER CHARGE BY HIBBING JURY

“I loved him too much to shoot him,” was the testimony of Mrs. Mary Stefanich of Buhl, aged 39, who was given her freedom last evening by a jury at Hibbing on a charge of murdering George Zonich, aged 24, her commonlaw husband. They were to have been married the latter part of the month, when the time of her separation from her second husband, who left her some time ago, would have expired. It took the jury only 90 minutes to decide that Mrs. Stefanich was innocent of the charge against her.

Interesting Case

The case was one of the most interesting murder cases tried in St. Louis county. It was Mrs. Stefanich’s story against that Gavone Zonich, father of the dead man. Zonich, who was the only eye-witness of the tragedy, testified that Mrs. Stefanich, when the door of her room was forced open by Zonich, fired a revolver and shot her spouse. Mrs. Stefanich, who made an excellent witness in her own behalf, said that Zonich had followed her to her room in anger, had knocked at her door with his revolver and in doing so, it exploded, the bullet entering his body. Zonich, wounded, ran down stairs, crying for help. He died before the doctors could reach his home.

Mrs. Stefanich told of her common-law marriage to Zonich last December, of her property at Spina and on the North Side here, and of her belief that the elder Zonich sought her real estate. She testified that her first husband died in Serbia while she was young and that she brought her babe now a young man of 18, a graduate of the Buhl high school and serving in the United States army, to this country. Then followed her second marriage and desertion by her second husband.

Claimed Slacker

That Mrs. Stefanich went to the draft board and filled out the papers of young Zonich, so that he could escape military service, was part of her testimony.

On the day of the murder young Zonich, angered because he did not find his common-law wife at home on her return from a “movie” at Buhl, went to her room and the tragedy followed.

Assistant County Attorney E. L. Boyle appeared for the state, and Attorney M. H. McMahon for the defendant.
Virginia Daily Enterprise—Saturday, June 15, 1918