Bigfoot: Fact or Myth?
Thursday, October 29 at 6:30 PM
Join the experts from the Southeastern Ohio Society for Bigfoot Investigation (SOSBI) for this intriguing look at the Bigfoot legend. Hear statements from witnesses and weigh the evidence presented by Bigfoot investigators. Doug Waller, author of Standing in the Shadows: Bigfoot Stories from Southeastern Ohio and Hidden Encounters, will hold a book signing at the event. Call 330-343-6123 to register.
“I have great faith in fools – self-confidence my friends will call it.”
― Edgar Allan Poe, Marginalia
Next week the Dover Public Library is hosting a series of events inspired by the master of horror and the inventor of the detective story, American author Edgar Allan Poe.
I’ve loved Edgar Allan Poe since I was about 11. His stories were dark and weird and twisted, and I loved them. I was obsessed with reading as much Poe as I could get my hands on. Somewhere between “The Gold Bug” and “Three Sundays in a Week,” I finally burnt myself out on Poe and moved on to Shakespeare for a while. What can I say? I was a weird kid.
Years later, I had the opportunity to take a class on Poe in college. Just Poe. There was a room full of people just like me: Edgar Allan Poe Fanatics. None of us was geekier than the professor, who owned and displayed an Edgar Allan Poe action figure. (Yes, they exist) This class rekindled my love of Poe and gave me a greater understanding of the man behind the stories. Get me talking, and I’ll geek out all week about Edgar Allan Poe and what you might not realize about him.
Poe was born on January 19, 1809, in Boston. His parents were actors, and his father left when he was a year old. His mother died the year after.
The “Allan” is not his middle name. Poe was adopted by Mr. and Mrs. John Allan in 1811. Poe and John never got along. Mrs. Allan died in 1829.
Poe deliberately got himself kicked out of West Point. (John Allan didn’t like that.)
At 26 years old, Poe won a contest for “The Manuscript Found in a Bottle,” an adventure story on the high seas. 
Poe married his thirteen-year-old cousin, Virginia. They had no children, and she died of tuberculosis at the age of 24.
He loved puzzles. If you like Sherlock Holmes, you have Poe to thank. He invented the modern detective story when he wrote “The Murders in the Rue Morgue.” Poe wrote 3 stories featuring his detective. My personal favorite is “The Purloined Letter.”
Poe was afraid of being buried alive.
Poe did not make a good living as a writer. This is an understatement. He made a lot of people angry with his critical essays and was fired on more than one occasion.
They don’t know how Poe died. Theories include rabies, a drugging related to an election-day scam, and drug overdose. What we do know is that Poe died on October 7, 1849, in a hospital in Baltimore.
“The System of Dr. Tarr and Prof. Fether” inspired the 2014 film Stonhearst Asylum starring Kate Beckinsale.
Oh, I guess you got me talking…
I hope you visit the library next week for our Poe programs, which include a Tell-Tale Tale on Sunday at 6:00 PM, a Poe Movie Night on Monday, and a book discussion on Tuesday at the Carriage House. Call the library at 330-343-6123 for more info!
Liz
Teen Librarian & Poe Geek
Join us October 18 -24 for a look into the life of Edgar Allan Poe, best known for his tales of mystery and terror. Check out these chilling programs, sponsored by the Dover Historical Society and the Dover Public Library.
Sunday October 18 at 6:00 PM
Henry believes he has committed the perfect homicide. He is bold and arrogant when the police come calling. Yet soon, a sound only he can hear drives him to madness and an ultimate confession. Presented by Christ Hart at the library. Call 330-343-6123 to register.
e NightMonday, October 19 at 6:00 PM
Join us at the library for a free showing of the 1960 film, House of Usher, starring Vincent Price as Roderick Usher. This film is not rated. Runtime is 79 minutes.
Tuesday, October 20 at 6:00 PM: The Carriage House
The melancholia, brilliance, and lyricism of Edgar Allan Poe are all well represented in this collection of Poe’s greatest works. Call the library at 330-343-6123 to reserve a copy of the book, then join us at the Carriage House for an evening of discussion.
Friday, October 23 at 6:00 PM: The Bread Head Bistro
Come to the Bread Head Bistro and read spooky poetry by candlelight at this unique community event. Call 330-343-6123 to register.
Saturday, October 24 from 6:00 – 9:00 PM: The J.E. Reeves Home
Join us for the second annual Haunted Mansion Tour at the Reeves Home. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children. Wear a costume to receive $1 off admission! Call 330-343-7040 for more information.
A patron asked me for season two of The Walking Dead last week. As I placed the hold, I read the info on the DVD and realized something I didn’t know before. The Walking Dead was a graphic novel before it was a hit TV show! That got me thinking… what other graphic novels are on the big screen? Some I remember from when I was a kid; Batman, Superman… I remember watching some of these when I was in Junior High. So then I started thinking, okay, Batman, Superman, Hulk, Wonder Woman. Comic books are everywhere! We still have these in the Young Adult area of the library, and they were around when I was young. Now we have the graphic novel, and more and more authors are releasing their series in graphic novel form. The author Janet Evanovich has some, and Game of Thrones has an epic series of graphic novel adaptations as well. Not to mention all the great graphic novels in the YA section!
(Our Teen Librarian wants me to mention that, for the record, the Evanovich and George R.R. Martin graphic novels are NOT in the Young Adult section… if you’ve seen Game of Thrones on HBO, you know why)
So, let’s do another contest. How many movies on the big screen are from comic books or graphic novels? Bring in the list to me in the month of October, and the person who has the most will win a prize. Good Luck, and thanks for reading and playing along!
Denise
Adult Department
Click to Visit Jason Wright’s official Facebook
And An Evening with Jason Wright
Tuesday, October 27 at 7:00 PM
By now, you’ve probably heard that the Dover Public Library’s Christmas Jar was stolen Tuesday night. We estimate the jar had over $1000 in donations when it was taken from its place on the Circulation Desk. For nine months, members of the community had been donating to the jar to help a family in need this Christmas season, an idea based on the book Christmas Jars by Jason Wright. While the theft is a blow, what happened next is amazing. Through social and traditional media, the story has been spreading since Tuesday night. The support from our community has been incredibly heartwarming, and yesterday, we got a very unexpected call. It was Jason Wright himself, wanting to help. He set up a Go Fund Me campaign to help refill our jar… and then some. The goal is $5000, and the money will go to help not just one Dover family, but several.
Jason Wright plans to deliver the money to the library himself when he comes to visit on Tuesday, October 27 at 7:00 PM. At this special event, Wright will talk about the Christmas Jars movement and the importance of charity, giving, and forgiveness. A book signing will follow the event. Books will be $8, and a portion of the proceeds will come back to the library’s Christmas Jar. Call the library at 330-343-6123 to register or for more information.
Thank you all for everything you’ve done to help the library in this strange time, from spreading the word on Facebook to helping us refill the jar. We greatly appreciate and admire this amazing community. Thank you.
Thursday, October 1 at 7:00 PM
For Children Pre-K through 5th Grade and Parents
Hear stories from Native American, African, and Hispanic Cultures performed by the Teen Department! Each child will receive a free book and a special gift. Refreshments will also be served. Call the Library at 330-343-6123 to Register or for more information.
All September, teens have been working on performances based on folklore from different cultures. Snakes, bullies, talking rocks, and more are featured in these special stories that teach us where stories came from, how to treat those who are different, and to be careful about the choices we make in life. Don’t miss these exciting stories!
This event is funded by a Virginia Hamilton and Arnold Adoff Creative Outreach Grant.
Join us in front of the library tomorrow at 2:00 as we unveil Dover Public Library’s brand new historical marker from Ohio History Connection (To learn more about Ohio’s historical marker program, visit www.remarkableohio.org). The marker will commemorate the fact that we have been a part of the community of Dover for over 100 years. I will present a brief history of the library at the ceremony, which is taking place on the 61st anniversary of the dedication of the building cornerstone. Color slides of the cornerstone ceremony from September 26, 1954 will be on display in the community room during the reception.
History buffs: if you are interested in the finer details of the library’s history, come explore our archival collection, “Dover Public Library: A History.” You can see the original color slides, a collection of prints drawn by cartoonist James Harrison Donahey for the Cleveland Plain Dealer in 1931, a recipe file created by librarian Eliza J. Justice, and copies of a library history, draft and final, written by Corita Syler and placed in the library cornerstone. There is also a chronological collection of newspaper articles about Dover Public Library, and a special library issue of The Daily Reporter published September 17, 1955. The finding aid for this collection is online, and the materials are located in The Roots Cellar.
A final note: This library wouldn’t have survived without the support of the people of Dover, and it stands today as a symbol of Dover’s love for its community. So come out and show your support as we celebrate the Dover Public Library and look forward to the next 100 years!
– Claire Kandle, local history & genealogy librarian
