The method I used to find these events is also my search tip of the week. In the past, we have covered a lot of ways to narrow down specific results. Did you know that there is also a way to look at specific papers without having to search for keywords or phrases? It is fairly easy to do! First, open the website for the CHA as you normally would. Then, scroll down past the search box, and you will find a section called “Titles”. Here, every title that is included in that CHA will be listed, as well as the dates from which their materials range. Then, click on the title you specifically want to look at, and from there you can narrow your date and keywords, or just browse through all that title has to offer! This makes it easier to find pages from specific dates without having to search for a specific keyword!
My first story this week comes from Sandpoint, Idaho, and The Bonner County Daily Bee. I was looking through the pages of their publication on November 11th, 2001, when I saw the headline “Bears move to new dens”. This intrigued me, and I initially thought it was about a local bear population. Upon reading the section, I discovered that this article was actually about 15 Bear Sculptures that had been auctioned off at the Bearly There in Sandpoint Gala Auction. The gala included bears for sale (the one pictured in the article was named Aurora Bearealis), a raffle bear named Rascal, and a dinner provided by a local restaurant. The article shared that the gala raised a total of $21,000, which was used to give back to their community.
I tried to find more information about these bears by doing outside research, but they remain somewhat of a mystery to an outsider like me. They do however seem to be very on-brand for the city. Sandpoint is a small town in Bonner County, Idaho situated just 60 miles from the Canadian border with a population of around 10,000. The city houses Idaho’s largest ski resort, a large variety of hiking and biking trails, and breathtaking nature views. In the woods of Sandpoint, many bears live and hunt the land. The city has two art installations that are bear-themed, as well as a lively art scene. The bear population and bustling art scene are likely why the auctioning of these bear statues was front page news for the Bonner County Daily Bee, and I hope all 15 of them have been enjoying their new homes.
For our next story, we will be traveling to Ames, Iowa, the home of Iowa State University. Although I am their rival as a student at the University of Iowa, Ames holds a special place in my heart as I spent a large part of my childhood exploring the city with my grandparents who lived there. Because of this, I decided to turn to the CHA of the Ames Public Library for this section. In the Ames Tribune from November 16th, 1984, I learned about a cool giveaway the Ames Public Library was holding to give back to their community. To thank all the Ames community members who had utilized the library, specifically their video collections, they were giving away a 12-inch tall Stuffed Snoopy! The lucky winner of the snoopy was to be whoever checked out the 3,000th videocassette after November 1st.
The Ames Public Library lives in the city of Ames, one that combines the typical college town with a family-oriented suburb. Ames is the home of the Iowa State Cyclones, a member of the Big 12, and a rival of the Iowa Hawkeyes. The Ames Public Library is an important resource for their community, with study rooms, digital resources, events almost daily, and a vault of knowledge stored in its walls. Their mission of giving back to the community is one that we can see has lasted for decades, as even back in 1984 they were finding ways to brighten the lives of those around them.
How early is it acceptable to decorate for the holidays? For community members in Ottawa, Illinois, the answer was before Thanksgiving. On November 12th, 1970, The Daily Times in Ottawa, Illinois shared that by the end of the day, Christmas paintings would be up in Washington Park. The boys shared enthusiasm over the final results and were proud to have helped with an important Christmas celebration. These 15 paintings were a yearly tradition, and that year, specifically, youth camp boys were volunteering to help repair and refurbish them.This tradition dates back to the painting’s creation in 1956 and has been put up every year since 1992. The paintings tell the story of the birth of Jesus and are now cared for by the Ottawa Freedom Association. The Daily Times in Ottawa is one of many titles in the Reddick Public Library District CHA.
Ottawa, Illinois is a suburban town with a population of just under 20,000. It is known for its accessibility to the Illinois River, which connects Lake Michigan to the city of Chicago, as well as its nature views. Washington Square Park is one of many attractions, especially during the holiday times!
Continuing with the holiday and humanitarian spirit, we turn to Arkansas City, Kansas. In the CHA of the Arkansas City Public Library, I found a heartwarming story published in the Arkansas City Daily Traveler on November 16th, 1939. The Buford Theater announced they would be partnering with the Kiwanis Club to put on a free Christmas picture show for children in need. They decided to hold a special show for children in Arkansas City who wouldn’t be able to afford to attend a show otherwise financially.
The day selected was the Saturday before Christmas day, encouraging the holiday spirit within those who could not experience it due to financial problems. Not only would the children receive a free show, but they also were to be gifted with a sack of candy each. If you know most kids, they love candy, so I can just imagine how these children lit up getting to experience this. I found this story touching, and its theme continues to show how communities look out for each other.
The Buford Theater is one of many historic buildings in Arkansas City. Built in 1924, the Buford Theater continues to live out its mission of enriching the community through art. Other features of Arkansas City include its historic downtown district, and of course, the Arkansas City Community Library!
My last story is a small tale about man’s best friend, coming from Nebraska City, Nebraska. The story was shared in the Tekamah Journal on November 13th, 1913, which I found in the Burt County CHA. It was said that a man in Nebraska City believed he had an “elephant dog”. Now what is an elephant dog you may ask? An elephant dog was explained as an animal with dark spots that display more than average intelligence. It was also noted that these dogs could have more promptness than a small boy, which is interesting to me yet tells me nothing of its speed. The dog was said to run errands for its owner, specifically carrying notes from his home to their intended destination. I find it adorable that throughout time, dogs continue to be our partners and best friends, and this was a heartwarming tale to finish this week in history with.
I hope you enjoyed immersing yourself in these communities with me. I find this to be a refreshing change to studying history, as it allows it to feel more personal. Join me again next week to discover more of history’s hidden gems and timeless tales!
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