The long history of Norfolk’s elegant library has been captured in a new book, “The Norfolk Library: History, Culture, Community,” that will be introduced at a celebratory reception on Sunday, February 23, at the library.
The book is a fascinating glimpse into the legacy of Isabella Eldridge, a young woman who built the library in 1888 and who worked until her death in 1919 to turn it into a cultural center for the town.
“She loved the library,” said executive director Ann Havemeyer. “She paid for everything—she even bought the books. She brought fresh flowers daily and personally welcomed visitors.”
So successful was Eldridge at making the library the core of the community that “Meet me at the libe” became a favorite town saying, according to the reminiscences of Karolina Kendall, daughter of 19th-century photographer Marie Kendall.
Havemeyer, who wrote the book, said the impetus to record the library’s history grew out of last year’s celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Library Associates. The Library Associates revitalized the institution after what Havemeyer calls “the quiet years” that followed Eldridge’s death, two world wars and a Great Depression.
“Their vision was that the library should be again used for cultural enrichment,” said Havemeyer. “I wanted to write the history of the Associates, but when I started, I felt that should be part of a broader history of the library.”
She tells delicious tales such as the one about North Pole explorer Robert Peary, who was unable to visit Norfolk because of a snowstorm and another about the “missing librarian” Philemon Johnson, who absconded with $17,000 in town funds.
The book includes both historic pictures taken by Marie Kendall and modern ones taken by Christopher Little and Havemeyer. It was published by the Norfolk Historical Society and normally costs $45. It will be available at the reception, however, at a special discount price of $25.
The reception will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.