November 25 was an auspicious day when the past met the present right here in Tillsonburg.
It started in Enfield, Massachusetts, 241 years ago (1782). A man was born whose life has touched everyone who has lived in Tillsonburg, even today. That was George Tillson, our founder, who in 1824 bought the land we live on. He moved here 198 years ago (1825) – watch for the party in two years!
Dereham Forge became Tillsonburg and log cabins became brick homes. From candles to electricity to internet, how the town has grown and changed.
That same Nov. 25, in present time, we celebrated the 10th Anniversary of The Tillsonburg Public Library merging with Oxford County Libraries. Ten years already! The staff held a great celebration with cake and a super presentation by Matt Grifiss telling the history of the libraries in town. He took us from the Mechanic’s Institute, and other subscription libraries where boys and men could read ‘how to do’ books, to how we got a free public library and building. That was in 1913 when the Town of Tillsonburg received a precious gift/grant from Andrew Carnegie.
The first librarian, Miss Hattie Wood, and others slowly expanded the facilities from a reading room to a children’s section in the basement. Our beloved, recently departed, Matthew Scholtz brought the library into the computer age over the decades he served. Today with so much available online the library has had to metamorphosize to stay alive. Books will always be there, but now there are programs, lessons on computer stuff, presentations, gatherings, all welcoming the public into a very comfortable, family-friendly building for all ages.
Did you know they have low vision stations? Audio books, home library service for patrons unable to get to the library, public access computers with high-speed internet, Wi-Fi, study rooms, Dutch language books, a microfilm reader/printer, program room available to community groups for rental for celebrations or visual presentations (with projector), early literacy computer iPad stations for children 0-6 years? And it is all wheelchair accessible.
I enjoy my visits to the library as the staff is always welcoming, and happy to help teach me how to use the microfilm reader every time I go in there – now that is patience. They run great programs for everyone, so keep an eye on their calendar of events. There’s Sip and Stitch; films for adults; Shake, Rattle and Read (I love this one); Books & Banter; Discover Your Past with genealogy tips and much more. They even had Slider our educational, paraplegic skunk, and I, for a summer camp at which Max Super Skunk came to meet Slider.
Some months ago, Heather Mathers sent out a call for a local artist to paint a wall mural in the children’s section to honour the forthcoming anniversary and our community. What a wonderful idea, especially in community with so many artists. It would be wonderful to see all the submissions. The wall was awarded to Stella Jurgen. Stella is new to town, although I have written about her before. When she arrived, she formed Stella Jurgen and The Swing of Things jazz trio, which has been playing about town. Yup, she paints, sings, designs clothing and a myriad of other artistic things.
It took her 17 days to paint the wall, and it is perfect for the children’s section. It’s a bright, colourful collage celebrating Tilsonburg’s history, nature, flora and fauna and so much more. You will point, recognize, and exclaim as you see something else you know. Although it is busy, it is not overpowering, and each small vignette has enough space to shine like a star.
A photo was taken of library staff and Stella in front of the mural. Whether by happenstance or planned, Stella is standing beside the portrait she painted of George Tillson. On Nov. 25, the present truly met the past on the man’s 241st birthday.
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The past meets the present in Tillsonburg
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04.12.2023
November 25 was an auspicious day when the past met the present right here in Tillsonburg.
It started in Enfield, Massachusetts, 241 years ago (1782). A man was born whose life has touched everyone who has lived in Tillsonburg, even today. That was George Tillson, our founder, who in 1824 bought the land we live on. He moved here 198 years ago (1825) – watch for the party in two years!
Dereham Forge became Tillsonburg and log cabins became brick homes. From candles to electricity to internet, how the town has grown and changed.
That same Nov. 25, in present time, we celebrated the 10th Anniversary of The Tillsonburg Public Library merging with Oxford County Libraries. Ten years already! The staff held a great celebration with cake and a super presentation by Matt Grifiss telling the history of the libraries in town. He took us from the Mechanic’s Institute, and other subscription libraries where boys and men could read ‘how to do’ books, to how we got a free public library and building. That was in 1913 when the Town of Tillsonburg received a precious gift/grant from Andrew Carnegie.
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