Posted on 02/02/2008 5:54:03 PM PST by Congressman Billybob
Much obliged for the great story. As a kid in Decatur, Ill the Bookmobile would show up during the summer about every two weeks. I would go and get my two books faithfully. Then wonders of wonders a branch opened up not to far away and it almost become a home away from home for me and my best friend that summer.
As a matter of coincidence I now live a mile away from one of the original Carnegie Library’s. To my knowldege it is the only functioning Carnegie Library west of the Mississippi River.
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
Mrs. Hazel Dwyer Fish. An English teacher. She took over our minds in our Junior year. She told us we were going to be treated like college students. Little did we know that meant homework every night. She forced us to write every night for almost the entire school year.
We wrote about every thing we could think of and she graded us ruthlessly. We learned there is no such word as “irregardless” and the red ink flowed on our writings like blood on stones. Tautology, trite and other cutting notes made us learn the saddest words of toungue and pen are “Rewrite and rewrite again”...
I don’t write these days for much of anything but work, however, my writing is clear and to the point not needing much clarification of what I am saying.
Thanks Mrs. Fish.
Thanks to you for the memories. I’d write more, but it seems my contacts are fogging......
Maryland “Freak State” PING!
Thanks so much for memoirs of a truly great library! I love that place, even if it’s going downhill.
“It was opposite the Cathedral of the Basilica”
Well, that would be the Basilica of the Assumption. ;-) Center of the Catholic faith in America, where John Carroll was 1st bishop ever appointed here. Built on ground of John Eager Howard’s, I might add.
“and occupied an entire city block. It was a plain building, but imposing nonetheless.”
I have to disagree with “plain”. It’s not plain, albeit not extraordinarily ornate. We’re talking something built 100+ years ago, when plain included many cornices and fasces and the like.
If that ever really happens, just shoot me.
Digital books stink, because you cannot ever easily quickly see “everything” at a glance at once. There is LOTS of scrolling and searching involved, whereas you can flip to a page quickly. And you can’t see the “whole context” surrounding 1 page quickly. Yet why bother printing yourself an entire book? It’s a pain, and you’ll probably find you have a bum printer along the way. Never mind how its bound or not; speaking of “mess”.
Eastern Stainless Steel - those were the days!
Thanks for sharing your memories of charm city.
Do you actually even have a ping list, or do I only get to read your stuff because I accidentally stumble upon it from time to time?
Given my limited computer skills, that’s about the best I can offer.
Cordially,
John / Billybob
I suppose that your computer skills might be limited, but I see no evidence of it.
Your writing skills are certainly undiminished by the keyboard. Logic skills are also in good working order.
It is always a pleasure to read your posts Sir. I’ll find them with or without a ping list.
Please keep up the good work. You are a bright star out here on this site.
Full Disclosure: Book lover myself; but I never got the chance to tour the Enoch Pratt Free Library. Sounds like the next best thing to Free Republic (or www.gutenberg.org).
Cheers!
Re-elect Ellen Sauerbrey.
Polack Johnny's.
Memorial Stadium, the BALTIMORE Colts and the Orioles.
The B&O Railroad museum.
And of course, 33 degrees and rain in the winter, turning the roads to ice overnight.
Cheers!
John / Billybob
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