Bedford Children's Library Kissing Tub |
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Nancy Strachan
I moved to Bedford in April of 1974 to be the first professional children's librarian for the Bedford Public Library. The Children’s Library was unique, as it was a separate building from the main library housed in a historic and beautiful Victorian house lovingly known as the Charles and Louise Wharton House. Shortly after I moved to Bedford, I joined the Bedford Junior Women's Club and volunteered to help with their Community Improvement Project (CIP). Early in my tenure at the library a son of one of the club’s members died. Alan Pankey, five year old son of Gail and Walt Pankey had been a frequent visitor at story hour. He died very suddenly and tragically from brain cancer. The Juniors (as we were known then) dedicated their CIP funds to the Children’s Library to honor Alan Pankey’s memory.
The Juniors voted to remodel the children’s library. I was part of the club’s remodeling team and we chose colors, motifs, and decorations. We began the project in 1976 so the color scheme for one room was red, white, and blue. Bright jungle print wallpaper was selected for the picture book room, along with orange, lemon and lime sherbet colors to paint the shelves and trim. There were two distinguishing features of the remodeling. One was a fabulous dragon mural ascending the wall beside the steps to the second floor. It was painted by Piedmont Label Company artist, Jane Carder. The most memorable renovation was the first floor bathroom which was converted into a toy room and reading room in memory of Alan Pankey. Little did we dream that the feature that would become beloved and immortalized in the memories of the children of that generation was the reading room’s remodeled bathtub. We used the existing claw foot vintage bathtub and converted it into a sofa by cutting the front side out, then heavily padded it with foam and topped it with carpet. As it was the 70s, we chose bright gold shag carpet. The intention was that since the new reading room would be adjacent to the picture book room it would serve as place where the toddlers could sit cozily as their mothers read to them. .
Our plans went somewhat awry as the library was just down the street from Bedford Elementary School and students walked to the library after school. Many still remember that the tub installed for moms and toddlers became instead the kissing tub! My desk was down the hall and around the corner from the tub. On more than one occasion I’d catch the fifth and sixth graders kissing, once they learned the tub was the best place in Bedford to make-out comfortably.
Now, 47 years later, those students have grown into parents and grandparents. Often I’ll hear how they remember fondly that reading room “kissing tub” where many had their first kiss, compliments of the Bedford Children’s Library and the Bedford Junior Women’s Club!
The Juniors voted to remodel the children’s library. I was part of the club’s remodeling team and we chose colors, motifs, and decorations. We began the project in 1976 so the color scheme for one room was red, white, and blue. Bright jungle print wallpaper was selected for the picture book room, along with orange, lemon and lime sherbet colors to paint the shelves and trim. There were two distinguishing features of the remodeling. One was a fabulous dragon mural ascending the wall beside the steps to the second floor. It was painted by Piedmont Label Company artist, Jane Carder. The most memorable renovation was the first floor bathroom which was converted into a toy room and reading room in memory of Alan Pankey. Little did we dream that the feature that would become beloved and immortalized in the memories of the children of that generation was the reading room’s remodeled bathtub. We used the existing claw foot vintage bathtub and converted it into a sofa by cutting the front side out, then heavily padded it with foam and topped it with carpet. As it was the 70s, we chose bright gold shag carpet. The intention was that since the new reading room would be adjacent to the picture book room it would serve as place where the toddlers could sit cozily as their mothers read to them. .
Our plans went somewhat awry as the library was just down the street from Bedford Elementary School and students walked to the library after school. Many still remember that the tub installed for moms and toddlers became instead the kissing tub! My desk was down the hall and around the corner from the tub. On more than one occasion I’d catch the fifth and sixth graders kissing, once they learned the tub was the best place in Bedford to make-out comfortably.
Now, 47 years later, those students have grown into parents and grandparents. Often I’ll hear how they remember fondly that reading room “kissing tub” where many had their first kiss, compliments of the Bedford Children’s Library and the Bedford Junior Women’s Club!
Nancy was the Children’s Librarian at the Bedford Public Library from 1974-1981. She was the Library Director until 1990. She currently operates her own business and has worked extensively in development in Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya. She is involved in establishing a new global non-profit called the Permagardens Foundation.