Oldest child came home for break on Wednesday - he had a ride most of the way home with a friend. We agreed to meet up at the Boonsboro Library - a branch of the Washington County Free Library.
Do you happen to know the historic significance of Boonsboro? Anyone? Any Civil War history buffs out there?
Boonsboro is 6 miles away from Antietam Creek, known as the Battle of Sharpsburg or Antietam, depending upon where you went to school. South Mountain is a very visible presence from most of Boonsboro, and a critical battle was fought at South Mountain 3 days before the battle of Sharpsburg/Antietam.
The resounding victory at Sharpsburg/Antietam gave President Lincoln the momentum he needed to declare the Emancipation Proclamation.
Sadly, this battle was the single bloodiest day of the Civil War. (Gettysburg had higher casualties, but that battle ranged over several days.)
If you'd like to learn more about these battles, you can follow these links:
Anyway, back to the little library. I was absolutely enchanted by the architecture of this cozy little library sitting on top of a hill, with the very friendly mountain sitting in the background. The library itself is modern and well lit. It was night when we were there, but I can imagine how this library looks in the daytime with the floor to ceiling windows in the reading room.
If you've been following my blog for any length of time, you know how I feel about libraries. The exchange of information, and the ability to read, is crucial for the success of a nation and a people. Do you realize that we live in a unique time in the history of the world? Most people are literate. This was a privilege granted to only a few nobles and the very wealthy until the coming of public schooling for everyone. The idea behind the public schools and public libraries being that an educated populace, with the ability to freely exchange ideas, was crucial to the success of this fledgling government by, for, and of the people.
Enough rambling and ranting. Onward! To the gorgeous pictures of the beautiful Boonsboro Public Library!
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| I love the stone work on the exterior! |
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| The front entrance. |
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| The library itself is one very large, big open room. This is the reading room! |
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| The information desk. |
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| They have a fireplace in the reading room! |
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| Nora Roberts has given much back to her community. |
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| We were there at night, but you can still tell what a big open airy space this is! |
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| This was my Google! |
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| The historic library sign. Gorgeous, isn't it? |
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