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Community Corner

Celebrating 75 Years of a Portal to the World

The Rathbun Free Memorial Library was built in 1935 through the bequest of Norris Rathbun.

Joel Ide, president of the Friends of the Rathbun Free Memorial Library, opened the library's 75thAnniversary celebration recently by thanking “all the special people who have helped the Friends organization this year.”

In his introduction of Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, Ide commented on her fabulous shoes. After congratulating Nancy and George Giesey for being honored for all they have done for the library, Wyman took off one her very high-heeled shoe and waved it. “He is only impressed by my shoes because I wear them in parades,” said Wyman.

“The library is the center of a community. This is where families and kids come and learn about the world. No matter how old or young, the library is the place to be. Best of luck to all the people being honored tonight,” said Wyman, before she was whisked away.

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 Linda Orange, who represents the 48th House Assembly District, brought with her a proclamation in honor of the library's 75th anniversary, which she presented to the library’s director, Kelly Marszycki.

 “The Rathbun Free Memorial Library has been a mainstay of the town of East Haddam," the proclamation read. "It has been a place of reading, research, quiet meditation and a gathering place for countless adults and children.  It is a place of discovery, learning, teaching, dreaming and of imaginative escape.  So many people have experienced the pleasure of our library.  East Haddam residents are fortunate to have enjoyed the Rathbun Free Memorial Library for the past 75 years, and we are confident that it will continue to thrive.”

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Because Wyman had to leave, Orange also presented the official State of Connecticut congratulatory proclamation in which Wyman congratulated the library.

“From the 1935 decision of local leaders to have a library, you have continued to provide the residents of East Haddam an outlet for town information and recreational needs," it read. "With offerings of family genealogy, war records, and information on points of interest, such as the swing bridge and the Nathan Hale Schoolhouse, you are truly a community gem.”

Special guest host for the evening was columnist and radio personality, Colin McEnroe.

Shea Jezek made three presentations. The first was to Amos W. Shepherd who Jezek said, “Always had a strong interest in history.” The local history room will now be called the Amos Shepherd Room. A longtime friend of Shepherd’s, Nancy Price, accepted the plaque from Jezek. It will hang in the history room.

The Children’s Room is now called the Dorothy K. DeWolfe Room. When DeWolfe’s daughter was killed in a tragic accident years ago, she started a subscription of "Ragner Rick," and "Big Backyard," for the library. Though DeWolfe moved from the area, the subscriptions continue. Marszycki accepted the plaque.

The third presentation was to Nancy and George Giesey. “They have been a team for over 50 years,” said Jezek. "Nancy was a mentor to me. She always has a plan B. She was very involved in the remodeling of the library. George helps in many ways. He chaired the search committee for a new director. He is tireless. They both are gems.”

The evening raised $5000 for the Friends of the Rathbun Library.

“We couldn’t have raised this much if it wasn’t underwritten by the Bank of America. The funds will be used for ongoing expenses such as magazine and newspaper subscriptions, the maintenance bill on the photocopier and seed money for other fundraising events,” said Ide.

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