To the Library and Beyond Joan’s book review this week is for the book titled, “Bold Spirit”. This is a nonfiction true story by theSpokane, WA author Linda Lawrence Hunt and published in 2003. The book is the account of a 36-year-old Norwegian immigrant, Helga Estby and her daughter Clara, who lived in Spokane, Washington, in the late 19th century. Helga found an anonymous eastern U.S. sponsor, who promised her a reward of $10,000 if she would walk across the U.S. from Spokane to New York City. Helga and her daughter made the walk in 1896, following the railroad tracks of the several railroads in different areas. They used a map titled, “1890 Official Railroad Map of the United States, Dominion of Canada, and Mexico” to guide them. They made the 3,500-mile walk in 7.5 months, starting on May 5 and ending in late December. They travelled wearing shorter-length “bicycle dresses” rather than full-length ones. They had very little baggage and stopped in several different cities to earn money for the trip by cooking, cleaning houses, and selling photos of themselves. They were interviewed by several different newspapers along the way. The trip included being accosted by some wild animals as well as vagrant men who tried to bother them. They defended themselves with 2 pistols. The book’s flyleaf summary states, “Using wits, savvy, and guns to survive snowstorms, hunger, mountain lions, and the occasional thief, they visit Indian reservations, Western boom towns, governors, mining towns, remote ranchers, politicians, suffragettes, and even president-elect William McKinley. Altogether, this is a fascinating read and a great depiction of America in the year 1896. Our kids’ summer reading program has begun, and several kids have signed up for the program. At its end on August 11, the library will have a drawing with prizes for the winning readers. Finally, in honor of the U.S.’s 250th birthday this year and America’s military veterans, the library will be displaying military uniforms during July. If any local vets have military uniforms (or uniform parts) that they would lend the library, we will be honored to hang them in exhibit on the back wall of the library. Please come in or call us (208-962-3714) for this, and many thanks for your service to our country.
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