How Nellie Grace got her card and a town got a library

FALLS VILLAGE — The celebration of the 125th anniversary of the founding of the David M. Hunt Library continued Saturday, Sept. 17, with a book release party and the unveiling of restored portraits of founders Catherine and Wealthy Ann Hunt.

The book, “A Library for Nellie Grace,” was written by Betsy Howie, with illustrations by Robin Roraback and photographs by Patricia Decker, and with layout help from Sara Reynolds and Emelia Luz.

The story is about a young, bookish girl who is determined to get her own library card.

However, the sight of the photographic portraits of the Hunt sisters — who, in the style of the time, sported serious expressions — discourages young Nellie Grace.

Howie, reading the story, imparted a great deal of energy to the reaction of Nellie Grace. The standing-room only crowd jumped as one as Nellie “screamed, dropped her book  and ran out the door!”

Later in the story, the librarian tells Nellie all about the Hunt sisters and their contributions to the town.

The two photo portraits of the sisters were in rough shape.

Dating to the late 19th century, the photographs were large black-and-white enlargements, enhanced with colored pencils — a standard technique in the days before color photography.

The original photos were cracked, discolored and brittle.

Thanks to a donation from Richard and Mary Lanier, new digital images were made at the Northeast Document Conservation Center in Andover, Mass.

The originals are safely stored away, and the new digital prints are in the original frames and the original glass.

Sergei Fedorjaczenko said he cleaned up the frames and decided to keep the original “wavy” glass, in part for authenticity’s sake and because the digital prints do not require special glass with UV filters.

After Howie’s reading, people lined up to buy copies of “A Library for Nellie Grace” and have them signed.

On the library’s art wall, the original drawings by Roraback were on display, as well as the photographs the drawings were paired with.

And there was a group of photographs of students from the days when the library served as the town’s school (until 1965). The photos are not dated, but judging from photo technique and male shirt collar styles, they run from the early to mid-20th century.