Photos by Don Norris
I spoke with Dennis J Kelley, Director of the Melrose Public Library concerning the sculpture on the grounds of the library.
The sculptress of the statue of the little child located near the entrance of the Library is Carolyn Wirth of Allston, Ma. She provided a presentation as to what the sculpture would be like.
"My vision for a life-size bronze sculpture at the Melrose Library consists of a figure of a young child reading, seated on a granite bench and surrounded by a stack of books.
Conceptually, the child in the sculpture represents our future, and also the many services that the library provides, especially for children. The stack of books next to the child indicates the child's love of reading".
This was the idea of the Friends of the Library... to promote reading among the population. This statue is not male or female. It should just represent a child. The children in Melrose love this little statue. It is made of bronze and is seated on a granite bench. There are two other granite benches nearby that people may sit on.
The money for the statue came from the friends and donors of the library. I asked if they had been acknowledged and Dennis told me that at the front desk there is a booklet which lists them. There is a plaque to be made, naming the major donors and will be attached to the wall in the lobby. Since money is still being donated, Dennis assured me that the plaque should be done and in place in the near future.
I asked about the other statue that was very close to the sidewalk. That statue was made of concrete and was too close to the present statue. We moved the concrete statue around the building to the walkway. This is going from the front door around to the left, heading towards the rear of the building. The original concrete statue had been stolen, but a woman who lives in Stoneham, and frequents this library, was so upset over the theft that she took time off from work and searched until she found another one, bought it and then donated it to the library.
Even though the statue is neither boy nor girl, many people have put a ski-cap, baseball cap, and scarf on it. It's as though this statue is our own child. I myself have patted its head when I pass by.
I told Dennis about the little girl that was seated beside the statue and was "reading" a book to it. The little girl's name is Kara, and her daddy's name is Tommy. I promised that I would mention them in this article.
I always said that if a person could read, and understand what they read, then they could self-educate. Of course, it helps to have a good library handy.
Landscape Sculpture Donors
Platinum Level Donations
Gift of Joan & Ed Cassidy,
In Memory of Anne S. Damigella, Thomas M. Damigella
In Memory of Jane F. Findlay, Founding President, Friends of Melrose Public Library
In Memory of Marguerite Geoghegan, Joseph M. Geoghegan
In Memory of Richard L Hildreth, The Hildreth Family
Grant from The Massachusetts Arts Lottery
In Memory of Anne E.McAteer, Family and Friends
In Memory of Philip & Mary Stack McNiff, Brian & Mary McNiff
Donation Fund, The Melrose Public Library
In Honor of The Melrose Public Library, The Friends of Melrose Public Library
In Memory of D. Paul O'Connell, Marie E. O'Connell
Gift of Virginia & Herbert Oedel
In Memory of John P. Stewart, The Hildreth Family
Gift of The Trustees of the Melrose Public Library
In Memory of Eleanor T Wall, Theodore T. Wall
Gold Level Donations
Gift of Glenn & Elinor Clark
Gift of James & Ellen Harrington
In Memory of Herbert B. Pringle, Katherine P. Messenger
In Memory of Eleanor M. Wall, Harold & Joan Halpin
Silver Level Donations
Gift of Alane Brown
Gift of William R. Dowdall &
Gift of Christine W. Shirey
Gift of Karen Drewitz
In Memory of Thomas R Foley, Yen-Tsai Feng
Gift of Thayer & Anne Fremont-Smith
Gift of Dennis,Gail, & Matthew McCarthy
Gift of The Melrose Democrat Society
Gift of The Melrose Historical Society
Gift of Jim & Barbara Driscoll
Gift Of Harland W. Robinson III
Gift of Barbara & Jack Rush
Bronze Level Donations
Gift of Linda & Jerry Benezra
Gift of Richard & Anne Crawford
In Memory of Thomas R Foley, Molly & Dennis Kelley
Gift of Mr & Mrs Garrett J. Hennessy
Gift of Richard & Cynthia Hussey
In Memory of Paul Rufo, Gift of Frederick & Angela Rufo Singer
Gift of Susan Shnidman Ph.D
Gift of Horace & Mary Ann Smith
Gift of Janet Vera
Gift of Mrs Dee Hasselbrack
In Memory of Anna M.Kaulback, Phyllis D. Myers
Gift of James & Jean Kripp
Gift of William Lynch
Gift of Brian & Donna MacDonald
Gift of Evan McIntyre
Gift of Jeanne S. Maure
Gift of Jean G. McBeth
Gift of Jean & Donna Pandolfo
Gift of Lynda Raskin
Gift of Patricia Reilly
Gift of Barbara Werum Richard
Gift of Christine V. Swartwout
Anonymous
Gift of Marie J Bibilos
Gift of Josephine N Ceccherini
In Memory of Louis & Helen Chakalis, Angela Chakalis
In Honor of the Children of Melrose, The PAC for Special Education
Gift of Neil Coogan
Gift of Louis & Janis Crafts
Gift of Elizabeth Crane
Gift of Mildred Curran
Gift of Mary E. Delaney
Gift of Jane & Chuck Foley
Gift of Delma G. Harrington
Gift of Ruth P Wilson
Gift of The Winner Family
May 5, 2000
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