VOLUME 32, NUMBER 46 MARCH 27, 2008 FREE THE WEEKLY NEWS & LIFESTYLE JOURNAL OF MT. WASHINGTON VALLEY Case In Point: Conway Library’s Head Librarian is quiet and oh so capable … A 2 Mountain Wheels: The Snowcoach is the latest in a long line of vehicles to travel the Auto Road … A 6 Conway Chamber Concert: The Meliora String Quartet to perform at Salyard’s Center … B1 Jazzing It Up: If you like jazz, don’t miss the Fryeburg Academy Jazz Jackson, NH 03846 • Lodging: 383-9443 • Recreation: 383-0845 Ensemble concerts … www.nestlenookfarm.com • 1-877-445-2022 B2 A SALMON PRESS PUBLICATION • (603) 447-6336 • PUBLISHED IN CONWAY, NH SSTTOORRYY LLAANNDD Case In Point CC OO RR NN EE RR If you build it they will come Margaret Marschner: a pillar in growth of Conway Library NEW THIS By PG Case But that proved to be not enough. The building’s square footage dou- THE CONWAY LIBRARY IS A “As the population grew, so did the need bled again to 16,000 with the new addi- SUMMER: gem. It is a clean, well lighted place, and we had to start looking at ways to tion, but Marschner says she can’t imag- uncrowded and tastefully appointed. increase the space again,” Marschner ine having to add on again during her The entrance to the turn of the last cen- says. “We started working with archi- tenure. The staff, too, has grown, but Join the Circus for tury structure sort of sweeps up to the tects about 10 years before the new addi- without having to add too many new doors and the inside is handsome, well tion would finally get built. We had faces. daily performances organized and welcoming. resistance from people who thought this “Amy Gardner, who started two years It is hard to tell where the original wonderful old building would be ruined after I did, is still here. Kate Cranage at under the Big Top at building leaves off and the latest addi- in the process. The problem with most the front desk started in ’89 and Olga tion begins, so well integrated was the libraries is that the people who use them (Morrill) came a year later and is still Story Land! new design to the old. When Mrs. Lydia are not often in positions in government working with the children’s programs, M. Jenks designed the building it was where they could help. People who don’t although she now has some help. Pat after careful scholarship of the libraries use the library don’t want to spend the Wickers has been here since ’86. that existed at the time, with careful kind of money that it takes to keep Including me, we have 10,” Marschner consideration of the purpose and a things going and yet every town has a said. sophisticated taste in architecture that library and they always have to grow.” The one area that they do need to holds up to this day. grow is the parking. Street parking is a Mrs. Jenks’s husband, who was born FROM THE TIME THAT THE scramble between patrons and patients in Conway not far from the site, had board of directors decided to go for a from the Saco River Medical Group become a prominent physician in new addition, the proposal was sent to next door. Boston and planned to erect the library the voters five times before they finally “There doesn’t seem to be an easy but died suddenly. His widow, and agreed to the new addition that you see. solution for that,” said Marschner. “We daughter, Sarah, undertook the task and “We worked with Tom Wallace (the have tried and keep trying and the achieved great success. architect) for years and rejected several administrators have been helpful, but Before the building, the functioning designs before we all agreed on this. I there just isn’t much we can do without library was the concept of the Conway remember someone suggesting that we being cranky neighbors.” Women’s Club, which had formed the just stick on a big box off the back which The inside of the library is the best Conway Village Library Association in he thought would be cheaper and solve part anyway, and this library has it all. concert with other concerned citizens in the space problem.” They have tripled the collection in the 1895. The building was completed about last 35 years to 42,000 volumes. The good doctor’s wife wrote a letter four years ago and Marschner opined “Back when I started there were no Featuring five to the citizens of Conway which philosophically and with no hint of programs, now we have over 400 a year, described the “plan to erect an edifice regret, “Had we built this same building including meetings of all kinds of civic family-favorite acts: every way modern and adapted to the in the beginning we would not have groups, a camera club, open mic night purpose for which it is to be erected, thought to wire it for all the technology and anything else that is open to the quick-change artists, having in view not only present require- that is normal in a library this size public and free. The total story time ments but also a reasonable anticipation today.” attendance for last year was 2600.” of the wants of the future. It will be of Back then there were two or three Marschner said nothing about retir- trampoline fun, hula brick and freestone on a granite base, computers used by staff. Now the staff ing and no one should. She seems to be with finishings of copper, and practically has nine, there are three just for cata- quite happy where she is, and the library hoop mastery, the fireproof. It will be constructed with a loging and 16 more for patron use which shows it. Her newest challenge is for a tower for a clock and its bell, both of has become a very popular part of any $25,000 Robert Finlay grant which will daring wheel of which will be first class for their pur- library today.” They are also wireless, so go to the library which increases its pose. The interior finish will be quar- that people can drive up to the building membership the most over the next year. destiny, and tered oak, with the plaster work neatly and connect to the internet with their So, if you know anybody who doesn’t frescoed.” The cost at completion was own computer without getting out of have a card yet, tell them to go see $45,000. their car, night or day. Margaret Marschner and sign up. ▲ performing house cats! The dedication of the initial edifice was held on October 1, 1901. At that time there was 4,000 square feet of usable space. It was the same when Margaret Marschner took over as direc- tor in 1970 when the Town of Conway was half of the population it is now. She had moved from Pennsylvania with her husband, Ken, who had taken a job teaching chemistry and science at Kennett. Margaret had a degree as a medical technician but was only part- time at Memorial Hospital when Helen Knute told her about a position at the library. Helen Towle was the only other staff and Margaret began taking courses at UNH to get caught up on her new responsibilities. “We were all part-timers back then, which included some volunteers. We were open afternoons and evenings Monday through Friday, from 2 to 5 or 7 to 9, and then I made Friday all day. Now we’re open 57 hours a week,” Marschner noted. In 1984 they realized that they could double the floor space by renovating the basement. Says Marschner, “That’s when I became full-time.” Inside t h On the Cover Index Our 55 season begins On The Road Again Conway Library’s caretaker Biz News ................................Page A13 This unique snowcoach is one of two that Margaret Marschner has watched the Calendar...................................Page B4 Memorial Day Weekend, offer winter enthusiasts an opportunity Conway Public Library flourish and May 24-25-26 for a round trip far enough up the Mt. grow over her many years there as Entertainment..........................Page B1 Washington Auto Road to experience the Head Librarian, and she’s been the Nooks & Crannies.................Page B14 spectacular beauty of the Presidential quiet force behind much of it. Page A2. Range and the world above treeline. On the Rockpile.....................Page B11 603-383-4186 More adventurous visitors even have the Is it spring yet? Real Estate .............................Page A13 choice of skiing or snowshoeing on the Well, you wouldn’t think so by looking Route 16, Glen, NH Resor Report..........................Page B10 way back down. See Page A6 out the window, but several upcoming www.storylandnh.com (Steven Caming/Mountain Ear Photo) events say otherwise. Page B2. Sports...........................Pages B8-9, B12 Page A2 - The Mountain Ear, Thursday, March 27, 2008 Valley Fun Exclusive Interview with ‘Jesus’ The Man makes appearance in ‘Godspell’ By Steve Caming more than 2,000 years ago. After draw- since then, throughout the centuries, in in without putting you to sleep in your Contributing Writer ing record crowds, the show ended and various forms of media, including repeat chair. THE ORIGINAL PRODUCTION Jesus was crucified by his critics. performances on his own cable network. of “Jesus” was staged by the Romans He has appeared in many revivals His words still sell by the millions, his Like in church? headquarters in Vatican City is unrivaled Yeah.