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New History Books at the Library

If you are interested in history, it is a great time to visit the library. We have a lot of new history books on our shelf right now. I’m just going to jump right in and tell you about some of them. “To Rescue the Republic: Ulysses S. Grant, The Fragile Union, and the Crisis of 1876” by Bret Baier (921 Grant) is an epic history spanning the battlefields of the Civil War, the violent turmoil of Reconstruction, and a forgotten electoral crisis that nearly fractured a reunited nation. “The Great Stewardess Rebellion: How Women Launched a Workplace Revolution at 30,000 Feet” by ...

Tomato Glossary of Terms

Determinate or indeterminate? Hybrid or heirloom? Here is a tomato glossary to help you understand terms related to growing tomatoes. The list is in alphabetical order. AAS (All-American selections): New varieties which are annually voted to be most superior. Beefsteak: A term used to classify tomatoes that centers on the size and shape of the fruit. Beefsteaks are the largest type of tomato. Some beefsteak tomatoes weigh one pound or more. Beefsteak tomatoes are popular among home gardeners, particularly for making sandwiches, but are not often grown commercially because of the ...

Off the Shelf

New Ulm Public Library’s summer reading program, “An Ocean of Possibilities” begins Monday, June 6, and runs through July 31. The summer reading program is open to ages birth through high school. This year reading logs will be available for pickup in the library starting May 31. Children up to the age of 11 can pick up a reading log in the children’s room. Read at least 20 minutes a day for at least six day each week to fulfill the reading goal. Each week readers can stop by the children’s desk to check in with their logs and get a stamp. Collect all eight stamps, and ...

Antiques and Collecting

Who knew a zipper could be high fashion? At least, it is when it’s made of 18K white gold and 13.50 carats of diamonds! It sold for $18,450 at Morphy Auctions of Denver, Pennsylvania. It is really a necklace, not a zipper, although the pull is functional. It is described as “Cartier-style.” Cartier jewelry became popular in the mid-20th century with retro modern style. Their famous articulated leopard pin appeared in 1947. The company is still known for its stylish, expensive diamond jewelry. Jewelers created more experimental designs in the 20th century. Some were sculptural ...

Antiques & History: Bohemian art pottery known for being elaborate

Collectors use the names “Amphora” or “Teplitz” for art pottery made in the Turn-Teplitz region of Bohemia (now the Czech Republic) from the late 19th to the early 20th century. The best known and most elaborate examples are decorated with applied three-dimensional figures in an art nouveau style. An Amphora piece might look like it has trees growing out of it, an animal’s tail wrapped around the neck or base, or a human figure holding on to the rim or reaching for fruit on a molded branch. Here, a stylized octopus appears to sit on top of the vase, with two of its ...

Off the Shelf: Great library events for May

Spring is here! There’s a lightness in my step; even though we’ve had some lingering blustery weather, I know that days of warmth and sunshine will soon be the norm. At the library we’re busy preparing for the Summer Reading Program and all the fun we’ll have during June and July. Until then, here are some great programs we’ll be hosting during the month of May. Have you been thinking about how to share the story of your life? Would you like to write about your experiences but aren’t sure how to begin? The New Ulm Public Library’s Memoir Writing Group will hold its next ...