Two Centennial celebrations set at library art opening

The Old Forge Library invites all to the Library’s Centennial Celebration on Sunday, July 13 that will feature an opening reception for an art exhibit, A Blessed Journey, by Gerda Wikander.IMG_4859

Wikander, who will be celebrating her 100th birthday the same day, has spent her summers in the Adirondacks since 1917.

The reception will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. and will include acoustic music by flutist Jesse Bruchac and guitarist Dan Vellone.

At 5:15 p.m. there will be the debut reading of the poem “Wide Branches and Deep Roots,” commemorating the library’s centennial, which will be read by its author, poet Joseph Bruchac.

The Old Forge Library began modestly in the front room of J.W. Thistlethwaite’s Main Street real estate office, located at what is now the center of town and is currently a t-shirt shop.

New York granted a provisional charter and the Old Forge Library opened in February of 1914. Over time the library moved several times.

From Thistlethwaite’s office it moved to a small room above the then fire hall, which is now Nathan’s Bakery and then onto a Main St. building donated by Walter Marks, which is now Sassy Scissors.

In 1977, the library moved to the former home of Moses A. Cohen on Crosby Boulevard where it is today.

The building was donated by A.R. Cohen in memory of his father, Moses. Over the years the building has undergone extensive renovation and remodeling, bringing it to its current status as a twenty-first century, state of the art library facility.

The first appointed librarian was May Sperry Marks, who earned $1.50 per week and stayed on for three years.

She was followed by Mary Ball, Marian Weedmark, Maude Marks and Mabel Parsons.

Parsons was librarian for 34 years. Other librarians over the years were Agnes Fallon, Freder-ica Roberts, Helen Davis, Betty Tyler, Gwen Birtle and Carol Hansen. Current library director, Isabella Worthen, was appointed in 1977.

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