Friends of Quabbin present gifts to Merrick Public Library in tribute to Robert W. Wilder Sr.
Gene Theroux, President of the Friends of Quabbin, wrote after this presentation on December 15, 2015:
“The Friends of Quabbin wanted to ensure that the legacy of the “Voice of the Valley”, Robert “Bob” W. Wilder’s collection at the Brookfield’s Merrick Public Library was protected long into the future. Therefore, the directors decided to make a monetary donation to buy acid free storage boxes for Bob’s records.
In addition, a photograph of Bob’s childhood home of Smiths Village(1987 photograph by Les Campbell of Sky Meadow Gallery – inset of Smiths Village (1927) by Walter Gardner formerly of Ware.
Friends Treasurer Paul Godfrey made the beautiful frame.
In addition, we (FoQ) learned that the Merrick Public Library did not have Jackie French Koller’s book, “Someday”, nor did they have Maryanne O’Hara’s book, “Cascade”. The Cascade book trailer is available for viewing at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DX47NIOtW94
It’s worth noting that Bob had really liked Jackie Koller Smith’s book Someday. It was indeed a pleasure to return to Brookfield, the ancestral home of some of many of my forefathers to make this presentation in the memory of our Friend, Robert W. Wilder Sr.
Pictured left to right:
Gene Theroux, Robert W. Wilder Jr, Brenda Metterville, Director of the Merrick Public Library, Brenda (Wilder) O’Connor and her husband Dennis O’Connor.
Missing from photo is Bob’s daughter Barbara who was not able to attend due to illness.
The Merrick Public Library has Robert W. Wilder’s 55 historical and geological maps.
The good news is that you don’t have to physically travel to the Merrick Public Library to see them, you can visit the RobertWilderMaps.com site and view the maps and learn of the many contributions from the Voice of the Quabbin Valley, Bob Wilder.”