My father’s father divided his time between working with his hands and feeding his intellect – he was a high school industrial arts teacher and an voracious reader. He may not have taught my father how to use the tools of his carpenter’s trade, but he shared his love of the warmth and beauty of wood. He was a quiet man, with his nose buried in a book during much of my childhood – at least when he wasn’t performing upkeep on the summer “cottage” he’d built from a small garage in Bass Lake, IN.

Family summers were spent at Bass Lake, surrounded by the pale yellow wood grain of the pine-covered walls. I won’t reveal how old I was when I realized why my parents referred to the wood as “knotty pine.” I thought the dark brown knots, scattered here and there across the wood panels, gave the cabin character. I’ve known for some time now — but don’t ask how long — why it’s called that. What I still wonder is why it was talked about enough that I remember it 40 years later. I was 8 or 10 years old and on summer vacation!

In any case, there was a lot of love at Bass Lake, which extended to books.

Thomas Thaddeus O’Dowd (my grandfather) may not have taught his students to read in shop class, but he instilled a love of books in Thomas Arthur O’Dowd (my father). It was my dad, also known as Tom, Thomas, Tommy, T-Tommy, or T, who became an elementary school teacher when I was in high school. He had a specialization in reading. How many Chicago Catholic school children learned to read (or learned to love reading) under his guidance? How many, like me, needed the kindness of a teacher, coupled with the promise of earning prizes and recognition in front of the whole school, to encourage them in their early years as a reader?

My childhood home was filled with books. The children’s reading room, housed down steep, rickety stairs in the library basement, became one of my favorite places to spend time. One of my first volunteer efforts, giving back to the community, was as a library page. I was a complete novice and I now believe that I gained as much from the experience as the library or community did. It’s my sister, however, who is the professional librarian in the family. She has the floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall book shelves to prove it.

Working with wood is a fascinating art that I can’t get enough of. There are beautiful wood furniture pieces all around my Sharon Township home in Ohio, many of them gifted to me from my parents. Many pieces once decorated my childhood home. I come by my love of fine art and exotic wood naturally. Which came first. . . my love of finished wood, with all its warmth and character, or my love of trees and the canopy they provide, where I hang my hammock to read a book?

(Note: When I’m discovered in a hammock, especially on a lovely fall afternoon after a bike ride, “reading a book” can be translated as “taking a nap.”)

The book collection I own isn’t as large as it used to be, when I was a studious graduate student and before the invention of eReaders like the Kindle. Today I have minimalist tendencies, so my collection has become more and more carefully curated over the years, representing my interest in philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, photography, and (more recently) adult learning, coaching, and leadership development. Most of the books I read for my non-fiction book club — 11 each year, for the last 6 years or so — are purchased on the Kindle.

Not everyone has the luxury of owning their own books. Even the public library system can be a challenge to access, for children and those who experience a lack of transportation. When I heard about Little Free Libraries I knew I needed to install one in the community, when the time was right and I had identified the right location — many rental properties don’t allow residents to install a library. When I was ready, where would I find someone to build me the miniature library?

The story in my head is that I spotted a bookmark pinned to a corkboard at a local Panera, having stopped in for a cup of my favorite hazelnut coffee. Perhaps I actually discovered Jon Blake’s Little Free Libraries on a colorful bookmark stuffed in a book from the library. . . little or not so little. What I know is that I fell in love with the simple and fragrant cedar wood of my little library the moment I saw it online.

We invited Jon to install the little library in Franklinton, where my partner lived at the time. This part of Columbus is in transition right now, with emerging artist studio complexes and galleries sitting across the street from new-build, upscale housing and the new location for Yellow Brick Pizza. Empty lots won’t sit empty for long. They are surrounded by older, lower income homes that won’t likely be standing in a decade.

We needed to get the word out about the new addition to the neighborhood. Halloween seemed like the right time to engage with the kids on the block and in the area, so we made a “Grand Opening” happen. Only the best candy was accompanied by a promo for the library, explaining its intended use and ownership by the neighborhood.

Dodge Rec Center is an anchor for the more established parts of this downtown-adjacent neighborhood. A dear friend teaches community art and athletics classes to all age groups, from young children to neighborhood seniors. For a while I was asking her to check in on the library from time to time, on her way to work. She always reported back that everything was in order and the library was doing well.

The skate park at Dodge, which had suffered from years of heavy use and exposure to the elements during Ohio winters, recently received a facelift, driving more traffic to the neighborhood. That restoration took place in January 2024, so this free community resource is once again available to aspiring and experienced skaters.

“The iconic Dodge Park Skatepark was designed by Frank Hawk, father to famous skateboarder Tony Hawk, and constructed in 1990. It was the first public skatepark in a city where skateboarding was outlawed in most public places and was the only skatepark within the I-270 loop. Dodge Skatepark is still heavily used by residents and is popular with skateboarders around the country. As a well-used amenity, Dodge Skatepark needs an immediate restoration.” (Dodge Skate Park Improvements)

Many community services are made available through the rec center, including grocery distribution to those facing food insecurity. I can’t think of a better area to install a Little Free Library. We were delighted when some of our first patrons were neighborhood kids looking for their favorites titles from the Captain Underpants series. We had none in our library — that was remedied within the week.

When my partner and I moved to a larger apartment that would allow us to both work from home, peacefully, I debated whether to move the library. Uprooting the library, eliminating access to books, didn’t seem like the right thing to do. With the landlord’s permission the library stayed behind, with the promise that I’d keep an eye on it, ensuring that it remained stocked with books. With the exception of one rain storm that destroyed some books and one minor act of vandalism, easily repaired, the library has been self-maintaining.

I take that back — the community had come together, to maintain the Little Free Library at 242 Skidmore, Columbus, OH 43215. Thank you! I hope this small gesture, a meaningful enhancement of the curb appeal of the neighborhood, makes a difference in some young reader’s life in 2024. May their love of reading develop deep, established roots, growing tall and strong as this child develops into a young adult.

Jon Blake is no longer in the library business, but we have been fortunate to purchase several of his art pieces. Jon works out of a 2-story garage that he converted into an art studio, which displays his own work alongside the artwork of many local painters, fiber artists, multi-media creators, and folk artists. During a recent “Open Studio” event Jon pointed out a card deck representing many of these artists, each with a card depicting their unique style of art.

Every day that I reach for my keys, am searching my purse for a misplaced phone, or make my way to the basement to do the laundry I’m greeted, during these mundane, utilitarian tasks, by a forest of trees that Jon carved from reclaimed wood. The emphasis on environmental conservation by reusing (or upcycling) these materials makes my tree-hugging heart sing. Let me surround myself with more of that!

With Valentine’s Day quickly approaching Jon was busy adding hearts to his collection of trees — a unique, individualized piece could be “carved” with the initials of two lovebirds. I chose a yellowish-green tree — just think early fall, in the late-day sunlight. It’s a Valentine’s gift, with “CC + KOD” burned into the trunk of the tree. There’s added charm, when you factor in the tiny representation of a tire swing. Yep, we’re that couple. (Note: Please don’t harm real trees by carving away at their protective bark, in an attempt at romanticism. The forest will thank you for obtaining.)

As a creative, affordable, simple add-on Jon was offering wooden heart ornaments that could be carved with initials, so I purchased a few, for K&J, J&T, S&E, D&G, and of course C&K. They are lovely, sturdy, and hopefully as lasting as the love that they represent.

Have I brought enough trees into my environment? Never! I forgot to mention the “screaming” pine tree, its mouth formed where the knot in the wood (remember the “knotty pine”?) has fallen out. Jon infuses the 1-foot tall tree displays with personality! This spring I’ll likely be visiting John’s studio once again; I just saw a Facebook post about tiny trees on metal stakes, meant to adorn a growing fairy garden that has sprung up in our backyard. I can’t wait to tell the fairies!

Join me on my next adventure,

~ Kat

Related Links:

Jon Blake’s Stuff (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077805603434

Mysterious Bass Lake, IN: https://www.starkehistory.org/local-history/mysterious-bass-lake

Little Free Library: https://littlefreelibrary.org/

Dodge Skate Park Improvements: https://columbusrecparks.com/connect/about/capital-improvement-projects/dodge-skatepark-improvements/

Inflatable Dinosaur Costume: https://www.amazon.com/YOOVL-Inflatable-Dinosaur-Halloween-Christmas/dp/B09TB2T3B2