by Stu McIntire
ser·en·dip·i·ty
/ˌserənˈdipədē/
noun
the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.
"a fortunate stroke of serendipity"
Fredonia,
Kansas is a small town (population <2,500) in the southeastern
region of the State. It is surrounded by farmland and is an atypical
representation of mid-American life... a living celebration of faith,
family and community. It's the type of place where high school sports
and the annual Homecoming event are a Big Deal.
A barber shop once existed on N. 6th Street, run by a gentleman named I.A. Persinger. Persinger's establishment, called The Bungalow,
was approximately a block over and a block up from my grandparent's
house on N. 7th Street, which was on a corner across the street from the
high school.
The
Bungalow was known to draw customers from at least as far away as
Moline, in Elk County, some 40 miles away. That was no small thing
during the Depression when resources were scarce. It was almost
certainly a communal spot. While customers waited, they could peruse and
write in, or sign, a delightfully unique item that Persinger created.
It began as a scrapbook in which the barber collected his favorite
newspaper comic strip, Wash Tubbs (Roy Crane was the creator of the strip from April 14, 1924 - May 29, 1943).
What
set Persinger's Scrapbook apart from "any other" scrapbook were the
notations and commentary Persinger added, along with scribblings penned
by delighted customers. Persinger's Scrapbook is notable, as has been
described by researchers and scholars, as a diary, almanac, and news
source. Some of the comments Persinger penned read almost as quaint,
humorous and poetic high school yearbook inscriptions.
This
is no typical scrapbook. It tips the scales at some 35 pounds and is at
least a foot thick, if not more so. It was lovingly collected, collated
and bound over a number of years by its owner and willingly shared with
the public. It survived (surprisingly intact, considering its handling)
decades of constant page-turning and reading not to mention the ravages
of decay common to pulp materials.
To
our good fortune, the Columbia University Libraries are now the
custodians of the Persinger Scrapbook. The link here is to a video
presented by Library staff that describes the challenges faced when
deciding how best to restore this treasure for future generations. The
goal, if it can be achieved, is to digitize as much of the content as
possible and to make it available as an eBook. Watch the video through
and share in the glee expressed by the presenters. While doing so, give a
thanks to Maggie Thompson for her considerable efforts to this happen.
On
a personal note, though Persinger predated me and the rest of my
family, he was active in Fredonia for the decades of my grandfather's
young adulthood and middle age. They were neighbors and possibly
friends. It is entirely possible that Persinger was my grandfather's
barber. It is possible my grandfather held the Persinger Scrapbook and
read through it. (My grandfather was a comic strip fan from his
childhood days of Alphonse & Gaston, Bringing Up Father, Foxy Grandpa, and the Yellow Kid).
If I may dream... it's entirely possible the Persinger Scrapbook
includes one or more of my grandfather's handwritten messages. Time -
and careful conservation - will tell. I, for one, eagerly anticipate
seeing the page-by-page high-res scans once Columbia University is able
to release a digitized version. That is true even if no sign of my
grandfather's hand is detected.
My
mother lived out her final years in Fredonia, where she grew up and
graduated high school. She and my dad relocated there after my dad's
retirement. My mom owned and operated an antique shop for a time. She
was a local history buff and would have been ecstatic with this
discovery. Even if my mother never knew I.A. Persinger on a personal
level, there is no doubt she knew who he was, as well as his wife and
daughter. I was made aware of this too late to share with my mom and
well beyond the time I could query my grandfather. I've been to Fredonia
countless times but do not have a personal history there. I see this as
one more connection which though tenuous, is no less treasured.
