FAIR HAVEN—Once again the Fair Haven Free Library will be creating a Fair Haven community story walk in the Fair Haven park. The story walk will display a full book on white picket signs spaced through the Fair Haven Town Park during the summer. Feel free to walk through the park and read the full story that is displayed. Please be mindful of community social distancing guidelines as you do this.
The Fair Haven Free Library Board of Trustees hopes to encourage an appreciation of children’s literature through this project. They would like to thank all those who helped bring this project to fruition, including the Fair Haven Select Board for allowing use of the park, Gilmore Home Center and Aubuchon Hardware for materials donations, Mrs. Infurna and Mrs. Demasi and the Fair Haven Grade School for assistance with lamination, Mrs. Clark’s Castleton Elementary 5th Grade class, and a big thank you to the financial support received from the Friends of the Haven Free Library. In addition, they would also like to thank the First Congregational Church of Fair Haven, whose donation has made a 3rd story possible for this summer and for future years.
The Story Walk is open every day 7 days a week in the Fair Haven Town Park. The walk begins on the North end of the park across the street from the fire station. The Fair Haven Free Library is currently providing curbside service 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays and Wednesdays from 4-6 p.m. Librarians are available to discuss suggestions for children’s literature and anything else from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays and from 2-6 p.m. on Wednesdays. The Fair Haven Free Library can be reached by phoning the front desk at 802-265-8011. You may also e-mail the library at any time at fairhavenfreelibrary@gmail.com.
Monday, July 20 – Wednesday, July 29: The story displayed will be “The Gruffalo” by Julia Donaldson. This week’s story walk for “The Gruffalo” by Julia Donaldson is being dedicated to Robert “Twig” Canfield. Robert Canfield was one of the six Irish Catholic children of the “Canfield Clan.” He received the name “Twiggy” in a card game, using Author Cards and the name somehow related to the Mark Twain card, in the deck. Moving to Fair Haven, from Rutland, as a boy, “Twig” spent a great deal of time listening to old stories from the local old-timers, even taking jobs as a bartender to be closer to the stories. He enjoyed playing and watching baseball greats like Jackie Robinson and other members of the great 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers, playing guitar and harmonica and writing, often about the aforementioned subjects. Twig spent a great deal of time as an apprentice in his father’s newspaper, The Fair Haven Era, which burned down right after his father’s death. He joined the United States Navy, served his country, and returned to Fair Haven, where he served the rest of his life as a local musician, hardware store clerk, writer and storyteller; keeping the oral tradition of all things “West of Birdseye.”
Thursday, July 30- Monday, August 10: The story displayed will be “The Circus Ship” by Chris Van Dusen. This story is dedicated to Jeannette Griffith. Jeannette has been an active member of the Fair Haven community since 1965. Jeanette was a business leader, school board member, and participated in many organizations in the Fair Haven area.
One of the things Jeannette is known for best is her kindness and joy that she shared openly with others. She was a wonderful friend to many. She was a skilled listener who was able to offer gentle guidance when she was asked to. She often spoke fondly of her childhood in rural Vermont. She spoke of enjoying the simple pleasures of life and spending time with her family. This story walk is dedicated to Jeannette to continue to spread her message of appreciating where you are and who you are with.
Tuesday, August 11 – Friday, August 21: The story displayed will be “The Day You Begin” by Jacqueline Woodson. This week’s story “The Day You Begin” has been supported by a generous donation from the First Congregational Church of Fair Haven. The story is dedicated to anyone who has ever felt shy, alone, or out of place. Just know, there will be a day when you “begin to find the places inside your laughter and your lunches, your books, your travel and your stories, where every new friend has something a little like you –and something else so fabulously not quite like you at all…”
