Library Exhibits during the month of October

Library Exhibits during the month of October

October 2 is the 65^th anniversary of the 1950 debut of the Peanuts comic strip.  This comic strip by Charles Schulz featured Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Sally, and Charlie Brown’s dog, Snoopy.   The library will celebrate with an exhibit of Peanuts collectibles and memorabilia in one of the display cases in the front foyer of the library.  “A Boy Named Charlie Brown,” the first full-length animated motion picture from 1969 featuring these loveable characters, will be shown in the Young Adult section at the Martinsburg library on Saturdays Oct. 3 and 24 from 12:00 to 1:30pm and during a Peanuts Film Festival in the Children’s Department on Saturday, Oct. 17 from 11am to 3pm.  Additionally, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” will be shown after the Children’s story time on Saturday, Oct. 31 at 10:30am.

An exhibit previewing the Trails and Trees Studio Tour of artist studios in Berkeley County on the weekend of November 7 & 8 will be featured in the other front foyer case. The Trails and Trees Studio Tour is an opportunity to leisurely roam the scenic back roads of historic Berkeley County WV and visit the studios of the talented artisans that call it home. The Tour is free and you travel at your own pace from studio to studio to get a behind-the-scenes look at the creative process and a chance to chat with the artists and learn about their special talents and skills.

 Apple Harvest Festival programs and memorabilia will be on display in the round carousel case on the main floor of the library. This year’s celebration on the weekend of October 15-18 marks the 36^th annual Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival in Martinsburg. The Apple Harvest festival had origins in apple carnivals which were held in Martinsburg from 1909 to 1913 and the first “official” Apple Harvest Festivals which were held from 1935 to 1940. The festival was revived again in 1980 and has run up to the present year.

A selection of scary books will be featured in the Popcorn machine space to put you into the “spirit” for the autumnal harvest and Hallowe’en ghost stories.

October 1 is the birthday of Firepup (who teaches children about fire and burn prevention and life safety awareness) associated with the National Fire Safety Council, so one of the table display cases will have an exhibit about fire safety in our homes.

Fire in Martinsburg on September 16, 1912--Read all about it!

This Month in Local History, September 16, 1912

On September 16, 1912, Martinsburg publication “The Evening Journal” reported on the destruction of a local industry that occurred on the previous day.  West Virginia experienced the loss of the Stewart Vehicle Plant which is cited as one of the largest vehicle industries in this part of the country at that time.  The blaze destroyed hundreds of vehicles along with industrial materials that were stored in the facilities.  Firefighting tactics were described in their valiant attempts to contain the blaze, and the fire was reported to be visible from Hagerstown and surrounding areas.

This historic news story and many others can be accessed from the extensive local historic publications maintained at the Martinsburg Public Library.  This headline appears in the Martinsburg publication “The Evening Journal”, which began publication in 1907.  The Microfilm Collection includes newspapers of Berkeley, Jefferson, and Morgan Counties in West Virginia from 1791 to present. Copies may be printed from a microfilm reader at the cost of 10 cents per copy or page images may be transferred onto your own USB drive at no cost.