AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
and Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services
Lost, for the moment, in the magic of the story book being read to him by his grandfather Paul Serini, young Eamon McHue had been having a fun afternoon at the Severna Park Library. There were games and toys to check out in Children’s Discovery Dock and he’d already gathered a dozen books to check out.
From the moment the Severna Park Library opened in 1955 in the Severna Park Railroad Station building along Riggs Avenue, it was major attraction for children and adults.
We’d visited and written about the Severna Park branch of Anne Arundel County Public Library many times but only recently realized that it had its beginnings at the old train station. We decided to investigate.
Thus, we returned to Severna Park Library on Tuesday to meet with AACPL Media and Communications Specialist Stacey Coles. She’d located some great old photos (including the one above) as well as some and records and a timeline for us. Coles also had the latest information on the wide-ranging library services being offered in 2024.
In addition to Coles, we spoke by phone with local historian Scott Jay for some facts not included in the AACPL history. Because Anne Arundel County was unable to attain funding for creating new library branches beyond Annapolis proper until 1965, the founding of the Severna Park library a decade earlier seems to have been a community effort.
As longtime Severna Park residents may recall, the library moved to a second location in 1960 – a cozy blue house on Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard.
“When I was 17, a buddy and I helped move all the books out of the train station to the new library just beyond the parking lot of the Winkelmeyer Building,” Jay said.
Older adults and those who were children when they visited the library during the years from 1960 till 1972 remember the charming blue house with a special fondness. The children’s section was located on the first floor while fiction and non-fiction titles for adults stretched across the remainder of the space and up the stairway to the second floor.
One of the librarians, a lovely lady with an expressive voice, would sit in a rocking chair each afternoon and read a story or two to the children gathered round her. Needless to say, the little ones loved it.
We found what we believe to be the “charming little blue house turned library” still existing as private residence. It was all but hidden by recent development along the 500 block of Baltimore Annapolis Boulevard.
What Stacey Coles located for us next was a photograph taken at the Dedication of the Severna Park Library in 1972 at 45 West McKinsey Road. You’ll note that the building was so new that no landscaping had yet been done to the grounds.
For comparison, in this photo taken of the library earlier this week, you can see that the landscaping is complete with mature shrubbery, a selection of trees native to the region, a bicycle rack, handrails along the paths, and a garden of native plants and flowers lovingly tended for a number of years by the Hollyberry Garden Club.
Seen below in July of 2014 were Karen Strange, Nicole Ferris and Joyce Stefancik who had been hard at work. The three were part of the 35-member Hollyberry Garden Club that created the multiple-award winning garden at the Severna Park Library. Where weeds once dominated, Shasta Daisies, coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, Joe Pye weed and other native plants now thrive.
According to Strange, they were guided in their design by a book called “Native Plants for Wildlife Habitat and Conservation Landscaping, Chesapeake Bay Watershed” from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Members of the garden club have been faithfully tending the flowers and plants since 2009.
Over the years, a variety of interior changes have been made to the library including changes to the layout, the installation of new shelving, display areas and equipment. There are 10 computers for public use at several workstations where students and researchers can access a variety of databases, printers and Fax capabilities as well.
A more recent remodeling opened up the space and included, among other innovations, a handy Wi-Fi Bar with free Wi-Fi and the ability to connect to it even in the parking lot.
Cole noted that, because of its technological resources, the Severna Park Library is one of the most used branches in the Anne Arundel County Library system.
Much like long ago, when the library was situated in the little blue house, there are still story times for young children plus lots of activities in the Discovery Dock Children’s Area. Resources that are found there include DVD’s and launch pads for children.
Recently, a Club 1117 Teen Area has been added where gatherings, entertainments and other activities take place.
The library is now blessed with expansive check-out and information desks where we found Lauren Peterson, the cheerful Miss Maze, and assistant branch manager Rachel Frisch who were ever so helpful to library patrons of every age.
The library has meeting rooms and offers many different programs for library users of all ages. There are also thousands of books from every category one can think of for those of us who seek information or simply love the fun and adventure of reading.
A completely surprising fact that Stacey Coles mentioned was that Severna Park Library is one of several AACPL branches offering fishing poles for loan in partnership with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
It was hard to believe until I saw a woman waiting in line at the desk to return a fishing pole her son had borrowed after which I noticed a rack full of them behind the checkout counter.
The fishing poles can be checked out for three weeks. Borrowers must have a library card with Anne Arundel County Public Library and assume all responsibility for the fishing pole and accessories.
For information on or directions to the Severna Park Library, visit Severna Park | Anne Arundel County Public Library (aacpl.net).
Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company’s 1st Annual Silent Auction & Gala
Save the date of Saturday, September 14 at 5 pm for Earleigh Heights Volunteer Fire Company’s 1st Annual Silent Auction & Gala. The fundraiser is being held at the EHVFC Firehouse at 161 Ritchie Highway to raise funds for operational expenses and toward costs for a new firehouse. Tickets for the semi-formal affair are $125 per person, $200 per couple or $800 for a table of eight and include a cocktail hour, dinner and drinks. Tickets are on sale now at Food Truck Tuesday or Wednesday Night Bingo.
The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center.)
and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.
