by Lissa Staley
I am lucky. Because of my job I occasionally get to travel to locations that still have electronics. I am what people call a ghost. The ghosts are those of us who make the long journeys to neighboring states that weren’t affected as badly as Kansas. Since most forms of transportation no longer work, getting the many needed supplies is a very long and difficult task. We don’t just go for supplies; we carry mail between the community and the outside world. When we can, we also gather information for the community. It’s amazing how simple news, or a letter from a loved one, cheers everyone up.
It is always amazing how what used to be a three-hour drive now takes weeks. It is extremely hard to navigate without roads, especially at night when we do most of our traveling. It is far too dangerous to travel during the day in the beating sun and searing heat. Then there is always a chance of a dust storm. Because of this the ghosts are well respected among the population. Not only do we make it possible to survive, but each time we leave for a supply run there is a very real chance we will not return. There are several versions of how we got our name. Some people say it is because we look like ghosts walking out in the dust storms. Others say it is because each time we go out we are already dead and it is our ghosts that come back. Either way, the risk outweighs the necessity, and with the risk always comes reward. I make a run every few weeks. It gives me a chance to speak to my wife and children. A few times a year they come and see me. Those times are tough. I want to just leave with them, just walk away from all of this. I never have, regardless of how much I wanted to. I know there are so many people counting on my return. It is always a hard decision, but my wife and kids understand and respected my dedication.
As the next song on the record begins to play, I hear a low rumble of thunder far off in the distance. As I get up and look out the window I see dark clouds forming. Perhaps a storm is blowing in, probably not. The sounds of thunder are not uncommon. Every few months you hear it, you will see some dark clouds moving in and everyone gets their hopes up. People swear they can feel the moisture in the air, the change in the winds. Some even said they can smell and taste the rain. Maybe this time the sky will open up and drench us with the rain we so desperately need. It hasn’t rained since 2019 but maybe, just maybe, this storm will be different. Maybe it will end this nightmare.
Briefly my attention is brought back to the music in the background as the next song begins to play. For a moment I hum to the melody. It is a familiar song, one i haven’t heard in years. That is when I realize what song it is. I instantly begin to laugh and think, “How messed up is that?” Kansas, “Dust in the Wind.”
A Library for Every Kid
S.R. Thompson
MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR COMMUNITY
CJ EXTRA
SUNDAY, APRIL 10, 2016 – THE TOPEKA CAPITAL-JOURNAL
----------Libraries Now Draw Thousands----------
Branch libraries celebrate 24th anniversary with special guest appearances and interviews
By Lulu Lane
Special to The Capital-Journal
There’s a reason patrons of all ages can feel a party atmosphere around the branch library buildings all over Topeka. Key historical players of the pre-Bond Vote days recently took time to share their part in how branch libraries, across Topeka, came to be rather than one city and county main library.
April 10-16, 2016, is National Library Week this year and the 24th anniversary of one of the most transformational votes in the history of Topeka and Shawnee County. As a result, the theme of this year’s Library Week is “Libraries Transform”. In the spirit of that theme, this reporter will be bringing to our readership, in the next few days, daily interviews from historical personalities to celebrate a turning point in the history of libraries, politics, philanthropy, and public service in our great corner of the state.
COLLINS PARK---April 10, 2016
[Central Topeka, neat bungalow, in Collins Park area. Jane Wallabee was presiding mayor during the years between 1988-1996 when the Library Bond Issue first came up]
Q. Would you, please, describe the days in the mayor’s office, leading up to the Bond Issue vote?
Wallabee: To describe those days, few words are needed. Exciting! Heady! Creative!
The “old boy, backroom” organization of running city politics was weakening; and I stepped into office with a background in legislating and networking that scanned from Lawrence and Kansas City, eastward, to Salina in the west and Emporia and Wichita to the south. Investors were interested in the Capital City. The city council and I would come together and truly listen and dream.
Q. What was your vision?
Wallabee: It was one of our biggest visions to make a “corridor”, if you will, through the center of town—spanning from Washburn University as one anchor (with the new university president, Larry Farnsworth, seemingly cooperative and dreaming with us) all the way to 10th Street, with the Main library as the other anchor. We envisioned a row of electric lanterns down the whole length and central 10-block green space—after we cleared it of residents, of course. We planned to work with developers from Lawrence and Kansas City to build commercial and residential lofts, as part of it, all around Washburn University.
Q. You did not have any opposition to your plans?
Wallabee: We expected some “push-back” but were unprepared for those who stood in the way with their ideals—Joseph’s Bike Shop, of course, but the residents themselves who had come to love the Morton and Central Neighborhoods.
Q. But the Bond Issue Vote did not go as expected, correct?
Wallabee: Mostly, we were shocked at the Bond Issue Vote. Who would have imagined the “will of the people” saying, “No”, to the bigger library and choosing, instead, smaller branches. Well, that vote changed everything. Even though developers were not happy and curtailed some of their plans, we saw a different dream—and it’s made all the difference.
POTWIN---April 11, 2016
[Central Topeka, Victorian three-story “painted lady”, in the Potwin area where circle parks intersect brick streets in an 8 block area since 1888 with a population, then, of 600. Dr. James Putnam was presiding Library Board President and oversaw the Library Bond Issue. Although shaky and frail with a wavering, soft voice, Dr. Putnam, nonetheless, granted this interview. He was flanked by Edna, his wife of 57 years, and his oldest son, Edmond.]
Q. Would you, please, Dr. Putnam, describe the inner working of the Library Board before the Bond Issue Vote?
Putnam: We, as the Library Board, were a conspiratorial group.
Q. Really?
Putnam: Oh! Please, don’t be too shocked! Most boards have an agenda, as did the city council and mayor’s office.
Q. What was your vision for the library?
Putnam: We envisioned an expanded and larger library. Yes, an ostentatious “Anchor” of that blasted corridor—and before the Bond Issue Vote, we had already begun soliciting architectural bids and ideas of how our “showcase” of a library would look. We were confident that the citizens of our fair city would want a rotunda with beautiful murals, an art gallery, cafeteria, expanded stacks to accommodate the books and music we just had no room to put on shelves—plus computers were the wave of the future.
Q. That seems like quite an aggressive agenda. Could you elaborate, please?
Putnam: We needed expansion to bring all this to fruition; and that, of course, requires money. A bond vote seemed the necessary and prudent next step. It would have been better—even now I believe that—but…[Dr. Putnam stopped, unable to go further. When he looked up, his eyes held tears. His wife and son closed ranks, moved protectively closer on either side of him. He shakily lifted his left hand, and with effort, said…] No…not in the way you think. I would have been seen as the one who “carried this off,” you see. I yearned for that.
Q. You wanted to be seen to be a visionary leader?
Putnam: Again, please, don’t be shocked. To be told, “No”, by the people who voted, pierced me and cau
sed my stroke that I’ve yet to fully recover from. It was deeply disappointing, but my eyes were opened, and continue to be, in what transpired afterward. I say it would have been better—but only for the short term. What was given to us, and I had months to think about this in the recovery from my stroke, was best. Someone, as it turned out, was better.
LAKE SHERWOOD---April 12, 2016
[Modern home, overlooking Lake Sherwood. Susan Albright is a slim redhead with graying highlights. She sits in a wing-back chair and tucks her legs up and under her, resting her chin on her right hand.]
Q. How long have you been a Friend of the Library—or Libraries—as you are known now?
Albright: Well, I’d say, 30 years, probably closer to 35. Where does the time go? It seems hard to imagine that I could have been a Friend of the Libraries all these years.
Q. What kind of things have you done as a Friend?
Albright: I’ve done most of the jobs surrounding The Annual Library Book Sale that takes place in the fall. It’s a major fundraiser—always will be, I suppose. I’ve crunched calculator buttons, written prices on paper pads, circulated to keep books neat, boxed books, loaded books, inspected books.
Q. It was one of those inspection and Annual Book Sale times that led to the Great Discovery, right?
Albright: Ah, yes! I was on that squad of volunteers the year it happened.
Q. Tell me more.
Albright: I mean, really, all of us were trained. We’ve all sprained our brains—then, and over the years—to explain how we missed it. Some of my dear friends felt so guilty, or miffed, that they’d been derelict in their duty, that they just couldn’t volunteer anymore.
Q. But not you?
Albright: Me? I see an overarching Presence or Hand that orchestrated events.
Q. Will you tell us what transpired?
Albright: None of us even remembers seeing THE Volume. It’s just a nondescript book with some fascinating illustrations and larger-than-ordinary font. The binding is fairly sturdy; but of course, it had to be. No one would have guessed, to look at it, that it held the answer not only to what to do about an aging library that needed upgrading and remodeling—hence, the Bond Issue Vote—but what to do about our whole country. Yes, as I’m sure you know, the way was circuitous but so profound~~as most miracles are. I mean, it was a kid, just a little boy, who made the discovery; and that changed everything.
OAKLAND---April 13, 2016
[Ranch-style, tidy home in Oakland area, often called, “Little Mexico”, from the immigrants who poured in from south of the border to take advantage of the Santa Fe Apprentice School that enrolled hundreds to become railmen in 1946. Alicia Hernandez, a short, stout lady in her 70’s, was one of the leading opponents to the Bond Issue. She gestures excitedly with as she speaks.]
Q. You were involved in the Library Bond Issue before the discovery of The Volume?
Hernandez: Si, Senorita.
Q. What was the atmosphere and why were you against it?
Hernandez: Madre de Dios! Not fair, not at all! Always the western half, always, who have tried to get us on the north and eastern ends of the city to support their agendas! The issue with The Bond—to have a library improvement--on the surface, seemed so reasonable; but I ask you, where is the library? Si! On the south side of the bridge! It is completely far, out of reach, from all the ninos y ninas of the whole north, the east, the Oakland area, not to mention the southeast. How were the whole grupo de ninos to get to the library? What was the sense of that when so many of us worked?!!
Q. Your solution was branch libraries?
Hernandez: Si! Small but within walking distance—for every nino. In fact, that became our slogan: “A Biblioteca, a Library, for EVERY Child!” We were up in arms, willing to go to battle, to the voting booths, to make our voices heard. As it was, gracias a Dios! He had clemencia (mercy) on us all, especially the ninos!
CENTRAL CITY---April 14-15, 2016
[Central Topeka, 2-story house with shutters and painted picket fence with front trellis, approximately 6 blocks from the Main Public Library. Zane Thomas was a young boy—and central figure—when the historic Library Bond Issue was being decided. He sits in the living room of his parents’ modest, remodeled, turn-of-the-century home, having come from Kansas City for this interview. His mother, Sheryl, 66 years old with graying brunette hair, pulled back into a ponytail, joins him; and together, they reminisce about the library’s history of the last 24 years and the part they played in it.]
Q. Thank you, Zane, for journeying to meet with us today for this interview. Please, tell us a little about yourself and, as you remember, your part in this historic library event.
Zane: You are most welcome. I live in the Kansas City area and work for the Federal Public Defender’s Office in Kansas City, KS. My supervisors know about these events and my involvement with them and have given me flex-time for interviews, as they come up. Topeka is my hometown, and I grew up in this neighborhood from the time I was 3 years old. Because my parents home-schooled us [Zane looks across to his mother, who returns his smile], we were often in the library and checked out, literally, boxes of books at a time. I was a voracious reader, wasn’t I, Mom?
Sheryl: Yes, Zane was very bright and precocious. I remember him at 3 years old, wailing in this room, “Who? Who? Who will teach me to read?!” By the time he was 5, he had taught himself to read—a rather amazing and easy-to-teach child and home-school student. He always had a book in his hand and just seemed to love them, more than about anything.
Zane: One of the BIG events of our school year was the Annual Library Book Sale; and I’d save up for it. It was in the fall of 1989 that we decided to become Friends of the Library which meant we could go early to the sale on a Friday night instead of waiting until Saturday morning. That was a BIG deal for a 7 year old kid. I, of course, made a beeline for the kids’ section, with my parents and about 50 more kids and parents right behind me, when they opened the doors. At first, it was crowded; and after awhile of looking, I had my stack of books.
But then, a funny thing happened. I remember that the crowd had disappeared, and I was standing at one of the tables where the books had been fairly picked over and cleared; and well, there it was, just lying there—The Volume, as it came to be called. I thought to myself, “Wow! Look at this!” I opened it. It seemed ancient but inviting, like opening a door to another world; and it made my stack pale in comparison. I liked the print—large--and the illustrations were, honestly, heart-catching. Again, all I could think was, “Wow! This is for me!” Mom came over at that moment; and do you remember, Mom, what you said?
Sheryl: Oh, yes! I asked you, “What do you have there, Zane?” And you showed me, and I was amazed at your discovery. The price was nominal, by today’s standards—a mere $5. I knew that was the amount you had saved for this sale, and I knew you had to decide—your stack of other books or this one.
Zane: That’s right! In my mind I had already decided, but you made me take time to look through the stack and compare them with The Volume, to really be sure. I took my time, weighed my choices, and “budget” [Zane laughs at this point] and made the choice that changed everything. I picked up the large book and soon paid for it.
Sheryl: But that’s not the end of the story, is it?
Zane, grins: No, not by a long shot. It was hard for me to get to sleep that night; but even though I tossed and turned with excitement—remember, I love books!—I was up early poring over the pages of that tome. I couldn’t believe my good fortune in owning this “treasure”. It was easy for me to read, and I was in love with the illustrations. They seemed almost to be connected and like a puzzle; which, as it turned out, they really were! They led me to the back cover where the last illustration was. Of course, as you know, there’s an ancient-looking, arched door in it. I was imaginative; and the more I looked, the more I was drawn to the keyhole. So, I bent down over the book and looked in. Whoa! Something was in there! I just knew I needed to get i
nside. I kept searching and running my hands over that book. What I needed, thought my 7 year old self, was some way to unlock that door!
Sherl: Zane’s father and I were amazed, over the days and weeks, with the quality of The Book and how much delight Zane got out of it. There did, indeed, seem to be something inside the keyhole; but while we were curious, Zane was on a doggedly determined mission. And, then, one day…Zane?
Zane: On that particular day, I was running my hands along the spine of The Volume, almost caressing or petting it, and yearning for it to give up its secret. Then, my index finger felt a small bump; which turned out to be a button. I pushed on it---once, twice, three times---and “boink!”, the top third of the spine of The Book opened up to reveal a tiny key! Well, I was intrigued and excited, picked up the key, and flipped the back cover open to the “Garden Door” illustration. Oh yeah! I was also calling my folks. “Mom! Dad! Come and see!”
Sheryl: We were absolutely floored! This seemed like some kind of fairy tale. Zane’s eyes were the size of saucers, and his excitement was contagious. He looked at us as he plunged the little key into the lock; which, indeed, opened the garden gate door in the illustration! We were all stunned.
Zane: I didn’t know what I was looking at, but it seemed like a huge golf ball had just landed in my life. As most people know by now—and who knows how it fit in that cover!—we had just discovered a treasure, a scarlet ruby…sparkling, brilliant, perfect. Yes, as it’s called by Topekans, A Gem of Great Price, to the tune of 65 million dollars! Mom, you remember the legalities of the whole thing better than I do…