Brown Family Donates Rare Hoosac Tunnel History Books
Sarah Maclennan reads Volume 2 of 'The Coming of the Train,' one of the books donated to the library in Stanley Brown's memory.
The series they donated — "The Coming of the Train: The Hoosac Tunnel and Wilmington and Deerfield River Railroads and the Industries They Served" written by the late Rowe resident Brian Donaldson — is composed of two volumes. The first volume covers 1870-1900 and the second highlights the history of the region from 1910-22. Volume one does not seem to be currently in print and Librarian Heidi Dugal said it is challenging to obtain.
Dugal had been looking to add both volumes to the library’s collection after perusing a copy a patron had ordered through Inter-Library Loan. She was not able to find a reasonably priced copy to buy. Maralyn Brown, Stanley Brown's widow, found the books in his collection, and hearing Dugal was searching for them, decided to donate the books.
"They weren't doing me any good at home on my bookshelf and I know if he were alive and knew that the library was interested in it and it was difficult to obtain it, he would be doing that," she said. "He just was so interested in the history of the town and passing it on."
Stanley Brown was the owner of Brown's Garage and a longtime civic leader, serving on the local school committees, the Select Board, the Historical Commission and the volunteer Fire Department. He was active in community endeavors and with the Florida Baptist Church, and long considered the town's historian. He died last year at age 88.
"Stanley brought so much to the table," Dugal said. The retired Gabriel Abbot Memorial School principal said she always asked Brown to come in for her local history unit. He would bring stacks of pictures to show the kids and teach them about the town's past, telling stories of pushing outhouses over as a schoolboy and the dangerous methods of transporting nitroglycerin.
Brown's daughter Susan "Raine" Brown said learning excited her dad. He had been interested in the history of Florida since he was a kid, and his passion was contagious. Her father enjoyed coming into the schools because kids were more "unhindered in their curiosity and exploration, and more willing to ask questions that might not be normal questions … he liked that aliveness of learning," according to Raine Brown.
The Browns, Dugal, and other community members hope that these books will continue to excite students about local history.
"I know that I can name 10 students that once they see these books are just gonna be sitting here … going through page by page," Dugal said.
The books contain maps of the area, old photographs, information about trains, and maybe even information about local children's ancestors.
"You never know with the young crowd, somebody might get inspired," Anna Gentes, a community member who knew Brown, said.
Brown was also dedicated to teaching. Dugal said that as the digital age advanced, he kept up with the new technologies, and would show her how to use them.
"He really did just like to help people learn and do for themselves," his daughter said.
In the small celebration at the library on Saturday, attendees told stories about Brown's passion for teaching and his involvement in the community. He fixed people's cars at his garage (and taught teen boys what not to do to their cars), sold Florida Mountain turnips, shoveled out snowbound families well into his 80s, and walked about town dressed as Uncle Sam.
Maralyn Brown said he would hate the attention and publicity the donation brought. Raine agreed, but added that "He would like history getting the attention."
Stanley Brown's books will be joining the many other local history reference materials at the Florida Free Public Library.
"He'd be happy that he's still sharing," Raine Brown said.
Tags: library, memorial donations,
