Celebrating Reading, Greenwich Style: The Book Shed at the Recycling Center

April is THE month to celebrate reading. First, it’s DEAR, Drop Everything and Read Month. April is also National Poetry Month and School Library Month. Other dates this month to  consider include:

April 02 – International Children’s Book Day

April 12 – National Drop Everything and Read Day

April 12 – National Library Workers Day

April 13 – National Bookmobile Day

April 30 – Independent Book Store Day

In addition to these dates on the calendar encouraging reading, there are many places that support the wonders of the written word, most obviously libraries and bookstores—whether brick and mortar, on wheels, or online.

In Greenwich, though, we have another option, not as obvious, perhaps, but just as significant, the Book Shed at the Greenwich Recycling Center.

Last year Greenwich Oral History Project interviewer, Sally McHale, interviewed Douglas Francefort, founder of the Greenwich Book Shed at the recycling center.

Douglas Francefort at his post in front of the Greenwich Recycling Center Book Shed
(photo courtesy of Leslie Yager, Greenwich Free Press)

Francefort, a longtime recycler, began recycling books in the 1980s, before the shed was in existence. In those days the books, packed in boxes, had to be placed out on tables for viewing and then packed up again at the end of the day. Eventually the shed, designed by Francefort, was built by carpenters assigned by Maurice (Zip) Roddy, head of Public Works.

The book shed opened officially in September 1995, a success from the start—but not without its share of challenges, too many books donated to handle, vandalism when the shed was unattended. That was the time Francefort had to take action by temporarily shutting the shed down. But help was on the way, from members of the Retired Men’s Association who came down and pitched in as volunteers. Not only were they there to help monitor the overeager, they helped with the overflow. The shed’s ongoing issue is one of inventory, a lot of it.

Today overflow books deemed salvageable and of interest are donated to places such as the Mews, hospital cancer wards, and to the senior center. Children’s books are donated and set up on shelves at Neighbor-to-Neighbor and given to neighboring school districts in need as well. In the summer, Francefort takes books to the Island Beach dock and another volunteer is responsible for books at Tod’s Point.

The books are never displayed at the shed or at other locations without thought given to placement on the shelves or to genres. In summers thought is given to likely themes of interest, such as romance, mystery. Year round there are cross-referenced lists, by theme and by author, for example.

Handling a large inventory is always a challenge. And publicity may very well magnify the issue. The book shed has been featured in the New York Times, as well as in local newspapers and magazines. Howard Fast used the book shed as the vehicle for a “meet cute” scene in his novel, Greenwich, published in 2000, three years before his death. In the book, a character Christina, a lovely dark-haired young woman, meets Dickie, a blond-haired, blue-eyed young chap, at the “book shack” at the Greenwich “dump,” (a word Francefort eschews in favor of the term, recycling center). The pair’s first date goes awry pretty quickly, but that’s a topic for another time.

Young readers checking out the wide selection of children's books at the Book Shed
(photo courtesy of Leslie Yager, Greenwich Free Press)

Asked if he needed more books, Francefort said what he really needed was more help. But not the “accidental” kind, rather, the committed kind. He and his stalwart helper, Lorrie Stapleton, need the assistance of volunteers who can commit to a regular schedule.

Running the book shed is a labor of love—requiring a lot of labor.

What does the future hold for the Greenwich book shed? The answer is still uncertain. Douglas Francefort may actually wish to surrender his role as the “town bookie,” as he calls it, someday in the not too distant future. Will his trusty helper, Lorrie Stapleton, take over? Will the book shed continue to exist at the recycling center? (There have been rumors of its demise, untrue its fans hope.)

Inquiring minds, the ones attracted to reading, want to know, but answers are not forthcoming. One thing is certain, though. If you enjoy book browsing, if you like a bargain, then the Greenwich book shed at the recycling center is the place for you.

Spring is in the air—and April is DEAR!

The Greenwich Oral History Project interview, “Book Shed at the Recycling Center,” (April 2015) narrated by Douglas Francefort, is available in the reference area on the first floor of the Greenwich Library or through the Oral History Project office, located on the lower level of the library.

Olga Zatorsky Hirshhorn, Her Life in Greenwich… and in the Arts

Olga Zatorsky Hirshhorn
1920-2015

If you were to pick up the Greenwich Oral History Project interview conducted July 17, 1975, entitled, “My Life in Greenwich,” you would be fascinated. Here is the story of a woman, born in Greenwich in 1920, the daughter of immigrant parents who lived a good part of her early life on LeGrande Avenue, who went to public schools, who married young, had three children, and who, in order “to make ends meet,” started her own small business in town that would blossom into a successful employment agency called Services Unlimited. An American success story, you would say. The story of an independent woman, who made it on her own, and these assessments would, of course, be true.

But keep reading, because that is just the beginning…

This is the story of Olga Zatorsky Hirshhorn, famous art patron, philanthropist, and art

Olga Hirshhorn posing next to Abel Chretien's sculpture fo her.

collector, who died October 3, 2015. She was the widow of Joseph Hirshhorn, the founder of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Their marriage lasted from 1964 until his death in 1981. He would introduce her to a life she never would have envisioned for herself, and yet all the while, she maintained her down-to-earth attitude, never forgetting her humble roots. Those same qualities that must have attracted him to her from the beginning sustained them, and their story reads like a movie script.

As Mrs. Hirshhorn told the interviewer in 1975, their first interaction, a telephone call to her agency did not hold much promise. She happened to pick up the office phone herself on this particular day when a voice on the other end snapped, “This is Mr. Hirshhorn. I’ve just bought the Sinclair-Robinson house on John Street, and I’m looking for a chauffeur.” One or two sentences more, and he hung up. She then said aloud, within earshot of her office staff, “Imagine, the nerve of this man.”

And yet he kept calling, admitting much later in their relationship, which was to grow over the next few years, that her voice had intrigued him. She too was intrigued, as she tried to find him a driver, as requested.

Eventually, she found herself on his doorstep delivering a message from a would-be chauffeur who had been held up. She was led to the garden where the artist and sculptor Laura Ziegler was creating a bust of her famous client. Until then, Olga had no idea who Joseph Hirshhorn was. As she was about to leave, saying she was on her way to Tod’s Point for a swim, her host invited her instead to take a swim in his pool. And so she did, and that was the beginning of what ostensibly was a professional relationship—she would help with his transition to his Greenwich home—but which instead turned into something much more meaningful.

Olga was divorced from her first husband, John Cunningham, in 1962, and married Joseph Hirshhorn in 1964. It was a small wedding, in the garden of their Greenwich home, under a Henry Moore sculpture, the Glenkiln Cross.

From the beginning, she immersed herself in art, particularly in the art of collecting, and before long, she began to acquire a collection of her own. One of the first art pieces she acquired was a Joseph Albers, and then another, proving from the beginning her own fine

Pablo Picasso, Untitled, 1968. Sketch the artist gave to Olga Hirshhorn

eye.

At the time of her death, Olga Hirshhorn had acquired a collection valued at approximately ten million dollars.

When asked by the Greenwich Oral History interviewer to tell about the “most important and influential circumstances” of her life, she replied, “having the great opportunity of having been born in Greenwich, having had three sons born in Greenwich, and raised in Greenwich….I think living in Greenwich with the opportunities that were here for development of a person would be the first.”

(Photos, Smithsonian Libraries Blog, "Remembering Olga Hirshhorn.)

Olga Zatorsky Hirshhorn’s interview, “ My Life in Greenwich,” conducted by volunteer, Penny Bott, July 17 and 25, 1975, is available in book form, A First Generation in Greenwich, 1976, through the Greenwich Oral History Project office located on the lower level of the Greenwich library. The interview transcript is located in the Greenwich Oral History files of the reference area on the first floor of the library. To see Olga Zatorsky Hirshhorn commemorated, drop by the office to see her photo and other information pertaining to her interview on the Greenwich Oral History office “Greenwich Wall of Fame.”

Revisiting The Flinn Gallery, Greenwich, Sponsored by the Friends of Greenwich Library

[This post was first published in January of this year. In the interim, the Flinn Gallery has continued to demonstrate its commitment to exciting, innovative art and artists.]

Lisa Corrine Davis, Capricious Circuitry, 2014, on view in the current exhibit until December 9.

In the spring and fall of 2013, two interviewers from the Greenwich Oral History Project conducted interviews with two Flinn Gallery volunteers having a wealth of knowledge about this very special non-profit education space. The first was conducted with Betty Burke (Elizabeth Hourigan Burke). As a former library trustee, her involvement with the gallery goes back to the days when it was known as the Hurlbutt. The second interview, with Sandra Herman, is equally insightful. Her involvement with the gallery also goes back to those early days.

The following is a composite summary of the interviews with these two volunteers whose contribution to the gallery’s growth and development has been critical:

What do LEGOS, TIME Magazine covers, cutout artwork and contemporary Japanese antiques have in common?  All have at one time been featured exhibits at the beautiful Flinn Gallery, located on the second floor of the Greenwich Public Library.

The Flinn Gallery is a haven for Greenwich residents to visit and become educated about and exposed to a multitude of different artists, methods and mediums from around the world.  The diversity of the Gallery’s past exhibits ranges from shows featuring flower paintings or Jim Henson’s Sesame Street, to features exhibiting personal portraits or private art collections gathered from Greenwich residents themselves.

The Flinn on the second floor of the library 

While every show varies in terms of theme and structure, one can typically find the featured artist or artists giving talks at the opening reception on a Sunday afternoon to guests eager to learn more about the inspiration, medium and development of their artwork.  Hors D’oeuvres might be passed or one might find a buffet of doughnuts and cider, with the spirit of each exhibition being echoed throughout the six week long show.  For those who are unable to attend the opening day of any given exhibit, there are often placards or even short videos accompanying the featured artwork in the gallery, offering a deeper understanding of what is being presented.

Behind every featured show at the Flinn Gallery is a group of about 60 active and hard working members, whose love of art has brought them together to share in the joy and gratification of educating the Greenwich public about various art forms.  For each of the 6 shows held every year, a Chairman and Vice Chairman are elected to organize and run the show.  Volunteers sign up to cover a variety of tasks such as hanging, painting pedestals, organizing papers and artwork and manning the desk during exhibitions.  While the end-result is rewarding for members, it is the deeply held friendships and connections that most reverberates among them.

For those wondering how artists are selected to be featured at the Flinn, the answer lies with the Selection Committee.  Planning for each show begins at least 1-2 years out.  Artists from around the world apply, and every strong contender is visited by at least one member, who evaluates the artist’s work and makes a recommendation to the committee.  The diversity of the Flinn’s past exhibits reflects its mandate: education of the Greenwich public. 

While the Selection Committee is certainly not against featuring local Greenwich artists, there is a focus on bringing in outside artists who are not as familiar to the Greenwich audience.  Artists have come from as far as Austrailia, Brazil, Norway and Scotland and have used mediums ranging from the traditional paint, clay and photography to the more avant-garde Legos and cutouts.  Each show is unique.  Sometimes the work of a single artist will be featured, and other times artists will be grouped together by theme.

The Hurlbutt Gallery, predecessor to the Flinn, was named after a well-liked, longtime librarian and was originally located in the Franklin Simon Building.  After construction of the Peterson Wing, the Flinn Gallery opened in 2000 and was named after Larry and Stephanie Flinn, whose generosity, in part, made construction of the gallery possible.  The very first show featured at the new Flinn Gallery featured pieces from the private collection of Walter and Molly Bareiss, local Greenwich collectors of over 60 years.

Designed by architect Cesar Pelli, the Flinn Gallery is a beautiful space, constructed specifically for the purpose of featuring art.  Its movable walls have hidden storage bins to hide pedestals not in use, and the fabric-covered walls are perfect for hanging artwork in many different layouts.  No detail goes unnoticed, with special emphasis being placed on the lighting and layout of each exhibition.  The gallery truly strives to make each show the best that it can be.

Pelli, an architect known around the world for the design of large scale projects including hospitals, schools and hotels, was convinced to take on designing the Peterson Wing by then-head of the board, Henry Ashforth.  As the story goes, upon Pelli’s visit to the library, the elevator doors opened on the 2^nd floor revealing the huge glass walls of the Hurlbutt Gallery standing before him.  Intrigued, Pelli inquired about the gallery, and returned later for a tour when it was open.  In his own words, the idea of a free art gallery inside of the library was “fantastic” and Pelli’s design for the Peterson Wing reflected that sentiment by including plans for a proper art gallery – what would later become the Flinn.

Dan Moser Long piece, on view until January 21, 2015

Shows continue to be held at the Flinn Gallery from September to mid-June.  For those interested in learning more about the Flinn, visit the Greenwich Public Library or go to Flinngallery.com.

The two interviews, “Flinn Gallery at the Greenwich Library,” with Elizabeth “Betty” Hourigan Burke, April 29, 2013 and “Flinn Gallery Participation,” with Sanda “Sandy” Herman, September 18, 2013 are available through the Greenwich Oral History Project office located on the lower level of the library or in the reference area on the first floor.

All proceeds from sales at the Flinn go toward supporting community programming at the library.