The Swellesley Report

Since 2005: More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.

Late fees? Nope, just a late start for Wellesley Free Library branches on March 5

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All branches of the Wellesley Free Libraries will open at 2pm. on Wednesday, March 5 due to staff training earlier that day.

Branches will follow regular closing times:

  • 9pm for the Main Branch
  • 5pm for the Hills Branch
  • 5pm for the Fells Branch
Wellesley Free Library Fells branch
Fells Library

 

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Wellesley Symphony Orchestra Brass Group to perform at library

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The Wellesley Symphony Orchestra will present a small group of musicians to perform a program of short pieces for your enjoyment and enrichment on Sunday, Feb. 23, 2pm-3pm, at the Wellesley Free Library. The musicians will introduce and demonstrate their instruments and engage you in learning how music works and how musicians play together.

This free program is designed for all members of your family—all ages! Join in to have fun and learn!

Registration required.

Wellesley Symphony Orchestra, by painter Howie Green

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Wellesley resident gives State House the gingerbread treatment

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On a quiet afternoon at the Wellesley Free Library, a sweet delivery was being made to the only place in the building where food is allowed—the first-floor Commons area. There was just one catch—although edible and, frankly, mighty tempting, this goody came with a “do not touch” mandate. 

As the candy-encrusted gingerbread structure, a replica of the Massachusetts State House in Boston, gold dome and all, was eased onto a display table by Grant Brown and his son, wide-eyed tots stared in amazement. Brown has built up a reputation in town over the years as an artist with a passion for architecture, whose chosen medium happens to be cookies and candy. The State House is one in a long string of his ambitious holiday-time projects that over the years have included replicas of the Wellesley Town Hall, as well as the high school, middle school, and Sprague Elementary School.

Brown, a Wellesley Historical Commission board member, said in an email that he began on the house in early November. “I try not to count the actual hours, knowing this might dissuade me from future projects,” he said.

Gingerbread house, Grant Brown
Wellesley resident Grant Brown somehow squeezes the early, and most time-consuming part of the project, in between the Thanksgiving holiday and work-related travel.

First Brown made the gingerbread portion of the State House, trying to get the scale accurate. “The satellite images of the roof via Google Earth really help,” he said.

From there, Brown meticulously sketched plans and created templates for each gingerbread piece. He carefully measured and cut each wall, roof panel, and intricate detail, ensuring that the replica would be as accurate as possible. As the days passed, the gingerbread State House took shape in his kitchen. The walls rose, adorned with windows made from Hershey chocolates, and a roof crafted from Black Jack licorice chewing gum, “…which happens to be the first flavored gum in the U.S., and also the first stick gum.” (These factoids come out when you’re immersed in a project like this.) Edible gold balls represented the dome, and each window was meticulously placed, totaling 332 in all.

Gingerbread house, Grant Brown
Side view of the State House.

From 20 years’ experience doing this as a holiday tradition, Brown knew that a project of this magnitude required teamwork, so he invited 80 friends and family members over on a Saturday night to help with the decoration. Together, they all transformed the gingerbread structure into a festive masterpiece. Round peppermints serve as the sidewalk leading to the the State House’s grand entryway. Chocolate snowmen stand sentry. And white frosting blankets the ground with “snow.” 

Those present on delivery day marveled at the intricate details and the sheer amount of candy used in its construction. And should some of that candy go missing (these things happen), Brown came prepared. “While I’m not encouraging patrons to steal the candy, I left the library with a stock of each candy type and extra frosting to apply the candy and fill any future gaps.”

WFL Information Services Supervisor Greg Peverill-Conti says the library plans to display the gingerbread house on the first floor “At least until the New Year. And then we’ll see.”

 

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What’s up with Wellesley Free Library’s outside construction area

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If you’ve wondered what the construction area to the right of Wellesley Free Library’s back entrance is all about, here’s the deal….

library construction

The library is redoing the terrace on the east side of the building is being redone based on a design on local architect Dan Gordon (original concept run by the Design Review Board shown below, though some changes have bene made).

The terrace’s current bricks will go and a stone dust path will provide better accessibility.

A butterfly sculpture from Nancy Schön, whose “Reach for Knowledge” sculpture sits near the back entrance, will be part of the new terrace that overlooks Simons Park.

The terrace is made possible by the Wellesley Free Library Foundation and the Wellesley Department of Public Works is completing the work, according to Library Director Jamie Jurgensen.

The hardscape is being installed now, with plans for plantings in the spring and a grand opening in early fall of 2025, she says.

library terrace

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‘The Art of the Automobile’ on display at Wellesley Free Library

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The Art of the Automobile photography show is on display through December at the Wellesley Free Library’s main branch at 530 Washington St.

According to photographer Steve Edson, his work “illustrates the exquisite precision of bent metal and chrome which conforms to a designer’s vision for the efficiencies of aerodynamics combined with the beauty of timeless style.”

We asked if any Wellesley vehicles have been photographed for the exhibit. Edson says: “As I travel to many local car shows in New England and beyond, it’s hard to know which collectors come from which towns, but I have no doubt that some of the cars that I have photographed are from personal collections and garaged in Wellesley.”

The exhibit has been on display at numerous libraries since last year and is book through most of 2025.

Libby Silvia of Artstyle, a Wellesley art dealer, represents and sells Edson’s work. Edson started photographing in the early 1970’s, shooting mostly black and white documentary street photography. He later became a commercial photographer.

Photo by © Steven Edson 2024Photo by © Steven Edson 2024

 

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Banned Books Week celebrated in Wellesley

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Although Wellesley may not seem to be a hot-spot of censorship, Banned Books Week is being observed here as well as the rest of the country.

Banned Books Week is an annual event that takes place this year during the week of Sept. 22-28. The event was started in 1982 as a response to the rise in book “challenges” across the US, primarily from parents concerned about books they objected to being made available to children in schools and libraries. The American Library Association (ALA) now encourages communities to “celebrate” the week by drawing attention to censorship—and hopefully getting readers to check out the books, of which there are many well-known classics.

The Wellesley Free Library, Wellesley High School and Middle School Libraries, Babson College, and the Wellesley Books store all have exhibits showcasing books from the list of over 4,240 unique titles targeted for removal from schools and libraries last year.

Wellesley Free Library Adult Display+Danny Gage
Wellesley Free Library’s Danny Gage designed the Banned Books display there

At Wellesley Free Library, the Banned Books exhibit was designed by Danny Gage, a reference librarian who joined the staff five months ago. Gage was enthusiastic about putting the display together, stating that “as a librarian, it’s all about fighting censorship. We shouldn’t bar people from seeing books and we’d want to make everything available.”

His personal favorite from the banned book list is “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”, by Stephen Chbosky, which Gage read in high school. “Although the book has dark themes, it was important to me, and I resonated with the characters.” The book has been in the Top 10 list of banned books, challenged by groups demanding its removal from libraries for depiction of sexual abuse, LGBTQIA+ content, drug use, and profanity.

Wellesley Free Library Childrens Display-2
Wellesley Free Library children’s book display

Down the street at Wellesley Books, the display included “Ulysses”, “Catcher in the Rye”, and “Tom Sawyer”. The exhibit was assembled by Lorna Ruby, a long-time staff member who included captions explaining why specific books were challenged, providing a historical context stretching back from 1933 to the present.

“It’s so important for people to understand why the books are being challenged, and giving examples really sharpens why there continues to be a
threat today,” Ruby said. “As a big fan of Margaret Atwood, the fact that the ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ is on the list speaks to a dystopian vision of the future that we should be aware of.”

Ruby added “Usually the display space is where we put the local school summer reading list, and once that’s over it’s easy to switch – there are a lot of shared titles – and many of these books are being read in schools.”

Wellesley Books Display-1
Wellesley Books display

The Babson Horn Library’s display highlights books in the collection that have been banned at libraries across the country. Emily Miles, library director at Babson College, has also included a survey question asking if users have read a banned book. There is also a jigsaw puzzle of banned books that patrons can participate in putting together.

Babson Banned Books-Puzzle
Babson Banned Books puzzle

Babson Horn Library display is hot

 

Other locations where Banned Books Week is being observed include Wellesley High School and Middle School. The displays will be available this week to showcase these books—with the added benefit of encouraging students to check them out and read them.

Last year, Wellesley Free Library held an event about efforts to make the banning of books in public libraries and schools more difficult, particularly for organized groups seeking to challenge dozens of books at a time for questionable reasons. Author Malinda Lo last year spoke to Wellesley High students about her novels and writing career, noting that LGBTQ young adult novels are being banned in some states.

It may seem odd to “celebrate” banned books, but the idea is to bring together librarians, educators, authors, publishers, booksellers, and readers of all types to show support for freedom of expression. Wellesley’s community is certainly playing its part to do so.

This report is special to The Swellesley Report from Cimarron Buser.

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