Sharon Public Library to Celebrate Centennial

From the Sharon Public Library:

It’s been a long time coming. One hundred years to be exact.

A weeklong Centennial Celebration of the opening of the Sharon Public Library (SPL) Carnegie building will be held November 16 – 22, 2014, with programs and activities for people of all ages.

The events kick off on Sunday, November 16, from 2:00 – 4:00 pm, with a Family Fun Day at the SPL, including period games such as jump rope, hopscotch, pick-up sticks, spinning tops, and coloring with the newly invented Crayola crayons. In addition, volunteer “fortune tellers” from Sharon High School will present their own version of the then-popular pastime and provide fun fortunes for the guests. A museum featuring historic postcards and letters, original meeting minutes from the 1914 SPL Board of Trustees, nails from the library’s original door, and other items will be available for viewing in the SPL Community Room. Refreshments will be served, including pizza generously donated by Carriage House Pizzeria in Sharon.

On Monday, November 17, from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, Massachusetts Historical Society (MHS) librarian Peter Drummey will discuss the service of Massachusetts men and women during World War I at the weekly meeting of the SPL Veterans Club. The public is invited to his presentation, which will include a display of MHS photos and artifacts documenting Bay State natives’ contributions to the war effort.

On Wednesday, November 19, from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm, and Friday, November 21, from 3:00 – 5:00 pm, children aged 3 and up can enjoy a hands-on Centennial Craft at the Children’s Library.

On Thursday, November 20, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm, a trio of local experts will guide listeners through a historical tour of Sharon, with stops at some highlight moments of the past, including:

• The History of Libraries, led by SPL Executive Director Lee Ann Amend
• A Look Back at the Sharon Fire and Police in 1914, led by Selectman and Retired Sharon Deputy Police Chief J.J. McGrath; and
• An Examination of the Life of Revolutionary War soldier Deborah Samson, led by Sharon filmmaker Steve Connolly.

The yearlong SPL Centennial Celebration commemorates the construction of the SPL building with a $10,000 grant from the Carnegie Corporation. Test your knowledge of Sharon history by completing the special SPL Centennial Crossword Puzzle and dropping it off at the Adult Circulation Desk. Completed entries will be entered into a drawing on November 20th for a fruit basket generously donated by Ward’s Berry Farm.

For more information about the Centennial Week Celebration at the SPL, visit http://www.sharonpubliclibrary.org/sharon/centennial.asp.