Off the Shelf. Galesburg Public Library. The Big Read. Local History by Patty Mosher, Library Archives

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1 Galesburg Public Library Off the Shelf The Big Read The Big Read of Ray Bradbury s Fahrenheit 451 kicks off this month in Galesburg and surrounding communities. Bradbury is widely considered one of the most masterful sci-fi/fantasy writers in history. In Fahrenheit 451, he plunges readers into a futuristic world where books are burned and learning is suppressed. From March 1 to April 27, our community will celebrate Fahrenheit 451 and Ray Bradbury with a full calendar of events, including a keynote lecture with authorized Bradbury biographer Sam Weller, trivia night, story times, theatrical performances and an altered book craft workshop. For more details about the events, see the insert included in this edition of the newsletter or the Galesburg Public Library website at Many of the Big Read activities are held in conjunction with the Carl Sandburg Festival for the Mind. Please contact Karly Steele at (309) with any questions about the 2013 The Big Read, including opportunities to volunteer or to host your own book discussion. The Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. March 2013 Local History by Patty Mosher, Library Archives In the late 1800 s, Galesburg could boast of several cigar makers in town, but according to the Oct. 7, 1899 edition of the Republican Register newspaper, the best and most well-known cigar manufactured in Galesburg was called The Burg. The cigar factory was begun by E. D. and L. L. Clark who came north from the state of Virginia to work in a large cigar factory in Monmouth. But after a time, both men believed that they could make a better cigar from their own experience and decided that Galesburg was the place to be. They set up shop at 277 Allens Avenue and called their new venture Clark & Co. At the beginning, L.L rolled the cigars and E.D. ran the shop where they sold a delicious 5-cent cigar (that would be about $1.50 in today s money). As popularity grew, they hired a third man to help manufacture the cigars, but soon they needed more help and a bigger building. So they moved their business to 977 E. Main St. and hired six more men to roll cigars. The shop was located on the first floor and the factory on the second. The cigars were always hand rolled, never touched by machinery, and were made from the finest Havana and Sumatran tobacco with a small quantity of domestic leaf added in. The Clarks combined the tobacco in proportions known only to them, and it was said that it affords the smoker the acme of enjoyment. Clark & Company also made a few special brands, including the higher grade 10 cent Royal Burner, which would cost about $2.50 today. The owners said that manufacturing an honest, high grade product that was pleasing to the public was their constant aim, and they promised that their product was as near to cigar perfection as possible. Working at capacity, the company could put out about 1,500 cigars per day, and due to popular demand, most stores in Galesburg and the surrounding towns offered The Burg cigars in their cases. One of their largest customers was the exclusive men s business club, the Galesburg Club, which purchased thousands of cigars each month. Located at the northwest corner of Prairie and Ferris Streets, the club had a special smoking room with a Turkish motif where they would hold what were called smokers. No doubt the Burg was just one of the cigars they offered. Outside of Galesburg, the wholesaling of the product was handled exclusively by W. A. Jordan on Seminary Street, and thousands were sent to Chicago and overseas as well. The company aimed to keep a large reserve stock on hand at all times. However, the sale of their premium product was so large that often they were down to a reserve supply of only 10,000. It is not known when the Burg ceased production, but samples of the cigar bands and cigar box papers are stored in the library archives.

2 page 2 Off the Shelf Children s Room Lego Night. Tues., March 12, 4:30-5:30 PM. This month s theme is firetrucks. No registration is necessary. Just bring your creativity and perhaps a friend and build some fantastic creations. Pete the Cat Activities. Tues., March 19, 6:00-7:00 PM. Come join Pete for a fun night of games, singing, and crafts. The program is free, but registration is required. Music Mornings. Sat., March 30, 10:00 AM The Harp with Faye Seeman, Knox-Galesburg Symphony Soloist. Adult Programs Tuesday/Thursday Book Discussion When Alice Ozma was in 4th grade, she and her father decided to see if he could read aloud to her for 100 nights. On the 100th night, it was clear that neither wanted to let go of their ritual. So they decided to continue their streak, and Alice s father read to her every night until she left for college. Alice s book The Reading Promise is framed as a series of vignettes about their relationship and the life lessons gleaned from the books they read. Two discussions will take place in March. Copies of the book are available at the Check-Out Desk. Tuesday, March 12, 1:00 PM upstairs at the library Thursday, March 14, 6:30 PM at the Beanhive Coffeehouse (124 E. Simmons) The Tuesday discussion will be followed at 2:00 PM by a viewing of the National Geographic movie The First Grader (103 minutes). This heartwarming movie is based on the true story of an 80-year-old Kenyan who applied for the free education newly promised by his government, even if it meant he had to sit in a classroom alongside 6-year-olds. Science Fiction/Fantasy Book Discussion In Stephenie Meyer s thriller The Host, the earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of their human hosts while leaving their bodies intact, and most of humanity has succumbed. One woman refuses to give in, leading her host to the man she loves and a band of rebels fighting to take back the planet. Join the Tome Raiders, the library s science fiction/fantasy book club, for a discussion of The Host. Copies are available at the Check-Out Desk. The book discussions and movie are part of this year s Big Read, emphasizing the importance of reading. In April the library s book clubs will read Ray Bradbury s Fahrenheit 451, this year s Big Read title. Movies The library s movie discussion group will meet to watch a new movie (with a literary connection if possible) at the AMC Showplace on Tuesday, March 19. We may see Oz Great and Powerful, based on the book The Wizard of Oz, but the exact time and title will be announced the week before. We ll head to Perkins Restaurant afterwards for discussion. Both the movie and restaurant are pay-your-own-way. Free showings of Lincoln. You are invited to the library on Thursday, March 28 at 1:30 or 5:30 pm for a free showing of the movie Lincoln ( Touchstone. 150 minutes), directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Sally Field. The date is tentative until the release date for the DVD is confirmed. Never been to Movie Club? Whether you only see one or two movies a year or you go to the movies every week, you are welcome to join us. Send an to reference@galesburglibrary.org to be added to the Movie Club s distribution list. Friday, March 15, 6:00 PM Alternate Realities (238 E. Main)

3 Off the Shelf page 3 Human Search Engine by Faith Burdick I d like to know something about the history of private rail cars. The history of these is closely tied to the development of luxury in rail travel. Early rail travel was pretty rough and ready. In 1859, George Pullman created the first relatively luxurious rail cars. They had plush seats that could be folded down at night, with curtains to pull around them, and the cars were lit by candles. However, the conductor had to compel the passengers to take off their boots when in bed. From this point, there was rapid advance in comfort aboard trains. There were smoking cars, cars for shaving and having your hair done, saloon cars, even library cars. Some trains had organs! And the food! Imagine having quail, terrapin soup, or fresh oysters and champagne in a current dining car. How about Indian pudding, roasted golden plover or a rum omelet? There might be afternoon tea served in the library. And these weren t even private cars! Near the beginning of the 20 th century, many wealthy businessmen wanted their own rail cars, which Pullman obligingly built and sold to them. They paid a fee to have these cars attached to the regular train, a thing you can still do if you own your own rail car. These cars were almost unbelievable. Luxury Trains of the World (OS /All) says: The most splendid of them ran to marble baths, hidden safes, Venetian mirrors, an open fireplace burning balsam logs and even an English butler to supervise the car s private cellar and kitchen. By the 1920 s some magnates were paying as much as a quarter of a million dollars for a single vehicle. Railroad baron Jay Gould sometimes ran four cars, one of which was for his very own milk cow. His doctor traveled with him as well. One wealthy woman told a journalist that their car s plumbing was solid gold because it saves polishing, you know. Staff was so well-trained that even the White House strove to hire them. As for the famed Orient Express, it and all of Europe s luxury trains were based on American trains. Some famous people who owned private cars included Gould, John Pierpont Morgan, the French count Boni de Castellane, Harold Vanderbilt, and cereal heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post. It is rumored that Cary Grant courted Barbara Hutton in a rail car owned by her aunt. Private rail cars were often hired to transport presidents and other high officials. One was specially designed for Abraham Lincoln (above picture), but, sadly, he never got to use it while alive. It did carry his body in the funeral train that went from Washington, D.C. to his burial in Springfield. Writing contest deadline. Don t forget, the deadline to enter the Big Write, the library s annual creative writing contest for 3 rd graders through adults, is March 1 at midnight. Materials may be ed to bigwrite@galesburglibrary.org, dropped off in person at the library, or mailed to Writing Contest, Galesburg Public Library, 40 E Simmons St., Galesburg, IL Electronic submissions are preferred. Visit the library or galesburglibrary.org/bigwrite2013.html for complete rules.

4 Inside 1 The Big Read 1 Local History: The Burg Cigar 2 Children s Room Events 2 Adult Programs 3 Human Search Engine: Private Rail Cars 3 The Big Write 4 Teen Programs Galesburg Public Library 40 E. Simmons St. Galesburg, IL Return Service Requested Non-profit U.S. Postage Paid Permit 25 Galesburg, IL Hours Monday - Thursday: 9:00 am 8:00 pm Friday & Saturday: 9:00 am 5:00 pm Sunday: Closed page 4 Off the Shelf Teen News by Melinda Jones-Rhoades Teen Advisory Board. Thurs., March 7, 7:00-7:45 PM. Calling all teens! Join the GPL Teen Advisory Board. We ll meet upstairs at the library at 7:00 on March 7. Come and help us plan upcoming library programs for teens. New members welcome! The Joke s On You: Fun Pranks for Teens. Mon., March 18, 6:30-7:30 PM. April Fools Day is just around the corner. Come prepare your inner prankster at this hands-on pranks workshop for teens. You ll learn (and make!) safe, hilarious pranks you can play on your family and friends. Open to teens aged (or in grades 6-12). Registration required; please call or stop by the Reference Desk to sign up. Animanga Mania. Weds., March 27, 3:30-4:30 PM. Teens, join us for Animanga Mania Afternoons at Galesburg Public Library! On Wednesday, March 27 from 3:30-4:30 PM, we ll be watching an anime series and drawing manga-style. No registration required just show up to watch, draw, and snack. Galesburg Public Library Mission Statement To serve the community as a general center of information, and to provide opportunity and encouragement for people to use its services and materials to meet their educational, personal, professional, recreational and cultural needs.

5 Galesburg Public Library The Big Read Visit our webpage or call the Reference Desk for more information The Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.

6 B i g R e a d F a h r e n h e i t Friday, March 1. All entries for the Galesburg Public Library s annual creative writing contest are due today. For details on The Big Write, visit BigWrite2013.html. Week of March 11. The Big Read for Little Readers Storytimes, Galesburg Public Library. The Big Read is for kids too! Join us for storytime this week for books featuring the theme of "Firemen." Visit the Children s Room for a detailed schedule of dates and times. Tuesday, March 12, 1:00-2:00 p.m. Book Discussion, Galesburg Public Library. Celebrate the love of reading with our non-fiction companion novel The Reading Promise by Alice Ozma. Copies of the book are available at the Check-Out Desk. Tuesday, March 12, 2:00 p.m. Free Film, Galesburg Public Library. The First Grader ( National Geographic, 103 min.) is based on the true story of an 80-year-old Kenyan man who applies for free education newly promised by the government. Tuesday, March 12, 4:30-5:30 p.m. Lego Night: Fire Trucks & Stations, Galesburg Public Library. Kids of all ages are invited to the Hiler Room to help build items for our Fahrenheit 451 display in the library lobby. Tuesday, March 12, 6:00-7:30 p.m. Anti-Book Burning Party, Galesburg Public Library. Find out what happens when you give away hundreds of books in one community. Join us for The Big Read of Ray Bradbury s Fahrenheit 451 at our Anti-Book Burning Kickoff Party. Actor Jeff Cervantez will entertain with his one man show influenced by the Bradbury classic. The Galeburg Fire Department s Rescue Squad will visit from 6:30-7:00 p.m. We will also be roasting s mores and hot dogs in the Storybook Garden. Stop by, grab a bite and pick up your free copy of Fahrenheit 451. Sign up before the Kickoff to be part of the Resistance Force and help pass out free copies of Fahrenheit 451. Giveaway books at your school, work, or wherever! Members of the Resistance Force will have the opportunity to win a free Kindle. Spots are limited. Register at the Reference Desk, by calling or by ing reference@galesburglibrary.org. Thursday, March 14, 6:30 p.m. Book Discussion, The Beanhive (124 E Simmons St). Celebrate the love of reading with our non-fiction companion novel The Reading Promise by Alice Ozma. Copies of the book are available at the Check-Out Desk. Friday, March 15, 6:00 p.m. Sci-fi Book Discussion, Alternate Realities (238 E Main St). Join us for a discussion of The Host by Stephenie Meyer, a dystopian novel. Copies of the book are available at the Check-Out Desk. Thursday, March 21, 6:30 p.m. Trivia Night, Galesburg Public Library. Add some fun and excitement to your Thursday! Prizes will be awarded to the top three teams. The event is free and open to all. Register at Reference by calling or ing reference@galesburglibrary.org. Tuesday, April 9, 1:00 p.m. Fahrenheit 451 Book Discussion, Galesburg Public Library. Free copies available at the Check-Out Desk starting in March. Tuesday, April 9, 2:00 p.m. Fahrenheit 451 Movie Screening, Galesburg Public Library. Free showing of the film adaptation of Fahrenheit 451. Popcorn and drinks provided. Tuesday, April 9, 4:30 p.m. Lego Night: Robots, Galesburg Public Library. Kids of all ages are invited to the Hiler Room to make mechanical hounds and other futuristic critters inspired by Fahrenheit 451. Thursday, April 11, 6:30-7:00 p.m. Fahrenheit 451 Book Discussion, Knox College s Kresge Hall. Free copies available at the Check-Out Desk starting in March. Thursday, April 11, 7:00 p.m. Bradbury Biographer Sam Weller, Knox College s Kresge Hall. GPL and Knox College Library present Sam Weller, author of Bradbury Chronicles: The Life of Ray Bradbury, Listen to the Echoes: The Ray Bradbury Interviews, and the newly-released Shadow Show: All-New Stories in Celebration of Ray Bradbury. Free and open to the public. Copies of Mr. Weller s books will be on sale while supplies last. Friday, April 19, 6:00 p.m. Fahrenheit 451 Book Discussion, Alternate Realities (238 E Main St). Free copies available at the Check-Out Desk starting in March. Wednesday, April 24, 8:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m. Sci-Fi Chicago: The Big Read Roadtrip Sign up with the Carl Sandburg Learning Center for a tour of Fermilab, a multimillion dollar particle physics research facility. For more information visit, or call Wednesday, April 24, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Animanga Mania, Galesburg Public Library. Teens, join us at Animanga Mania for a free copy of the Fahrenheit 451 graphic novel. Thursday, April 25, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Altered Book Workshop, Galesburg Public Library. Give new life to old books! Drop in anytime from 5:30-7:30 for this free form art and craft session. We provide the tools, books, and embellishments you bring the creativity! Free and open to all ages; registration encouraged but not required. Saturday, April 27, 2:00 p.m. Big Write Reception, Galesburg Public Library. Refreshments will be served and the winners will have an opportunity to read their entries. Everyone is welcome to attend.