99 Years of Service
The library will celebrate its 99th Birthday on Thursday, March 12. Our day will begin with Storytime for our Littles at 9am. Stop by the library during our open hours, 10am-5pm, to enjoy a cupcake and share a story about the library. We also invite you to share your ideas about how we should celebrate our Centennial next year. The Friends will meet at 5pm for their regular monthly meeting and look forward to hearing your ideas.
As we look to begin our 99th year and make plans to celebrate 100 years of library service, I thought it was a good time to remember our beginning. It is explained well on a plaque at the entrance of our building. We have this plaque thanks to Mary, daughter of Charles Markee, and Mary’s husband, Larry Kaffine. They shared their idea to honor the men who initiated the idea of a dedicated space for a community library. The Kaffine’s fulfilled their mission, and we dedicated the plaque on May 29, 2017. The plaque reads; “Legion Memorial Library was established March 12, 1927. This plaque honors the brave and proud members of Mellen’s American Legion, veterans of the famed 32nd “Red Arrow” Division, who served their country in the Great War – WWI. These men, survivors of the Tuscania sinking, combatants of the Argonne, Aisne, and Marne offensives and peacemakers of the Army of Occupation, established this public library in their meeting room at Mellen City Hall. They did so under the direction of Commander Alvin Rabbideau and Library Committee members: Charles Markee, O.J. Guerin, and Fred Keller. In addition, there was a legacy from logger August Rohloff, donated books, and the support of the community. Legion Memorial Library continues to thrive and provide service to the residents of Mellen, neighboring communities, and beyond. What these men-initiated lives on. 1927 American Legion Mellen Post 25: Adolphe ‘A. E.’ Donais, Dr. Carl W. Lockhart, Mark V. Ferrando, Charles A. Markee, Percy C. Foeller, Louis A. McCarthy, Oviatt J. ‘O. J.’ Guerin, John ‘Dan’ E. McPherson, Reinhold F. Henke, Alvin R. Rabbideau, Fred W. Keller, Lorenzo ‘Ren’ A. Vought, and Joe Kramer.”
If technology is not your strong suit, stop by the library and get some help. The CLICK (Connecting Lives Through Internet and Community Knowledge) & Learn Program is offered every other Monday at the Library. Help is available, free of charge, through Digital Navigator, Jake Koval. He will be here 10am-2pm March 16 and 30th. Stop by with your phone, tablet, and/or laptop questions. If you are interested in borrowing a laptop to use at home, Jake will also have them available for checkout. His help is sponsored through grant monies that The Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board received.
Asahi Nordic Exercise continues at 4pm on Wednesday afternoons. All ages and abilities are welcome to attend. This is a breathing, balance, and strengthening practice that may be done standing or seated. Bring a friend and give it a try.
Lego Club meets Thursdays at 3:30pm for an hour. Stop by and enjoy creating something with our Lego collection.
The Morning Book Club will meet on Thursday, March 19th at 9am to discuss “She’s Come Undone” by Wally Lamb.
Library Paint Night will gather on Friday, March 20th at 6pm to watch Michelle the Painter and create her “Blooming Blue Birds.”
Hope to see you on the 12th to celebrate Legion Memorial Library’s 99th Birthday!