Category: Inside Stories
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In Defense of “Aggressive Ductwork”
A Totally Tubular Story from 1981 Woah … Hold up. I’m not aggressive. I’m a connector, man. I know how to listen, and I like to just hang out. I’ve been doing that for over 40 years now. I’m the ductwork in the Russell Library, and I’ve come to correct the record. The architects who…
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More’s the “Pit”-y
as narrated to Ramona Burkey The year was 1983. Michael Jackson performed the “Moonwalk” for the first time, Sally Ride became the first American woman to travel to space … and Middletown was expanding its public library. Up until then, the Russell Library had consisted of an old converted church, a 1930 addition, and a…
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A Rainbow Remembers…
Like … Wow. Where am I? Right … Middletown… Broad Street in Middletown. I’ve been here in front of the Russell Library since, like… 1973? You’ve probably seen me. I’m Rainey … the Rainbow, and I’ve been spreading good vibes at the library for over 50 years. I became part of the scene when they…
Kim S.
1970s, 1980s, 1980sRenovation, BroadStreet, BroadStreetMiddletown, ChildrensLibrary, FirstFederalSavingsAndLoanOfMeriden, HistoryOfTheRainbow, NewBuilding, NewLibrary, RaineyTheRainbow, RefractionNumber3, RonaldWCross, RonCross, ROYGBIV, RussellChildrensDepartment, RussellChildrensLibrary, RussellLibrary, RussellLibraryRainbow, WesleyanUniversity -
Wine & Words: A Magical Pairing
The White Octopus Hotel by Alexandra Bell The glasses are clinking, there is laughter rising in one corner and someone is shouting a joke across the table. Plates are being passed around and the food keeps coming. Chaos has ensued, surrounding a table of friends. All from different walks of life, but they come together…
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Ramblings from the Russell Library Reading Room Radiator
Are you a reader? (Oh, who am I kidding . . . if you’re reading this library blog, you must be.) Do you live in or around Middletown? If the answer to both of these questions is, “Yes,” then chances are you’ve been to the Russell Library’s Reading Room more than just one time. Whether…
The Library Vault 