1/10/17 Angelic Display

This month our library is featuring a collection of angels  courtesy of Delores (Del) Schweder.  The collection could be titled eclectic as there is no one theme but rather a variety of mixed styles.  Glazed, porcelain, crystal, metal, fabric, manufactured or homemade, each one holds a story and a forever home in Del's heart for the person who honored her with that Angel given with love.  There are a variety of porcelain blue and white china angels from the George  Lefton Company.  Mr. Lefton emigrated from Hungary to the US in 1939 and opened a store in Chicago in 1941.  He was one of the first American businessmen to deal with Japan after World War II ended.  The first Lefton porcelain pieces are marked with a manufacturing label of "Mad in Occupied Japan" which first reached the US in 1946.  Another interesting angel is a 1999 Barbie Doll from the Inspiration Special Edition Collection. Barbie has flowing long blonde hair and is wearing a white and gold dress, arms outstretched with a white dove feeding from her right hand.  One of the angels plays the song Fur Elise, another Silent Night.  Del has been collecting angels for 60 plus years and said that the stories are brought back to life when the Angel tree is decorated and family and friends gather to celebrate Christmas.  Each person searching for their ornament and eager to share the memory.  Del was an active member of the Friends of the Library group and helped with many fundraising events, raising money for the new library, and has been a lifelong reader.  Stop in at the library and check out the display the next time you are in town.