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.
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