The long-running, mega-popular girl detective Nancy Drew book series that has inspired countless women over the decades, including Hillary Clinton, Sonia Sotomayor and Sandra Day O’Connor, did not take place in a town called Maplewood — though it very well could have.
But Harriet Adams, the daughter of entrepreneur Edward Stratemayer who created the character Nancy, as well as those of other juvenile adventurers such as the Hardy Boys, did happily make her home here for over 60 years.
This Sunday, March 18, a program at the in Maplewood will shed light on the part Harriet played in the writing and editing of the over 200 Nancy Drew books, the location in Maplewood Village of the secretive Stratemayer Syndicate office and other intriguing facts. Cover art created in the 1980s and 1990s by local artist Tricia Zimic for the updated The Nancy Drew Files will also be on view.
In addition the major exhibit "After the Hickories: Roosevelt Park" will be open to visitors.
The Durand-Hedden House and Garden Association is dedicated to telling the story of the history and development of Maplewood and the surrounding area in new and engaging ways. The Durand-Hedden House and surrounding Grasmere Park were designated a Maplewood Historic Landmark in 2006.
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Nancy Drew, Who Knew? The Maplewood Connection takes place on March 18 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. For more information, call 973-763-7712. The Durand-Hedden House is located at 523 Ridgewood Road in Maplewood.
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