Every neighborhood needs a Mister Rogers… or a Mrs. Rogers perhaps? On Ashland Avenue, Linda Gale Gellman is the storyteller on her block. Every Sunday, when the weather cooperates, neighborhood children arrive to her house for storytime, and other “community building” activities in her backyard.
The other day, Gellman told me that she was installing a tiny library in her front yard. The library would be dedicated to children’s books. She said that the idea was inspired by Buffalo poet laureate Jillian Hanesworth, who had read her poem “Water” in honor of the victims of the Tops massacre. Hanesworth had come up with the idea of placing the tiny libraries (for children) throughout the city’s East Side.
It turns out that Gellman had attended a Fillmore Avenue block club meeting, which is when she told the group about Hanesworth’s concept.
After much discussion, and action, and a significant grant from M&T Bank, Hanesworth’s library project came to life on the East Side. In appreciation for all of her storytime telling efforts, and her help in drawing additional attention to the libraries, Gellman was the recipient of one herself.
Not only is Gellman’s library filled with children’s books, there are directional markers below the box that tell passersby how far it is to a number of family-friendly destinations.
Gellman has always been a supporter of the arts, which is very apparent when walking by her house. In her front yard is a memorial garden with tiny painted stones. Each stone bears the name of an artist or community activist friend that has passed away – Lorna Hill, Jonathan Casey, Bruce Adams, George Arthur, Nina Freudenheim, Jim Bush, and others. Whenever I pass by, I stop to think about how each of the respected figures has helped to change the cultural and societal landscape of this city.
There is something very uplifting about Gellman’s home surroundings, which are an ever-morphing source of inspiration. Much of what she concocts was set into motion by the isolation caused by the pandemic. In order to create a sense of normalcy, Gellman began to think of ways to entertain and engage children, and their parents. In fact, the parents get as much from these creative endeavors as the children – they make new friends, participate in artistic and educational activities, and form stronger bonds with their kids.
Gellman’s storytelling routines and Hanesworth’s idea for the tiny libraries should serve as motivation for other Mister and Mrs. Rogers who are looking to dream up new community building efforts in their own neighborhoods.
Being a kid at heart, I truly appreciate everything that they these ladies are doing to make our neighborhoods places filled with thoughtfulness, kindness, laughter, and reflection.