While patrons roam the familiar shelves and hallways of Smiley Library, a hidden world of mysteries lies concealed beneath their feet. Locked away from public view, the basement of the Library harbors a trove of esoteric artifacts, each with a story waiting to be told. Normally a space seen only by Smiley staff and the tireless volunteers of the Friends of the Library, this article aims to pull back the curtain on this space and answer that burning question one can’t help but wonder: What’s in the basement?
Our exploration begins with a miniature marvel – a dollhouse replica of the iconic Morey Mansion. The beautiful Victorian home, built in 1890, has been dubbed “America’s Favorite Victorian House” and has been featured in films and movies for decades. The dollhouse is one of several in a collection modeled after famous homes in Redlands. Delicately crafted and meticulously detailed, the dollhouse offers a tiny view into a bygone era.
Elsewhere in the basement is a large metallic scale, manufactured by Toledo company. Its face lists “desirable weights” for men and women, exuding a vintage charm despite its somewhat dated health standards. The scale encapsulates the idea of “They don’t build ‘em like that anymore” as it stands as tall as a grown man and weighs about the same. This specific scale used to stand in front of Gair’s, a local Redlands menswear store, until it was donated and became part of the Library’s historical collection.
Our next item comes from a group of books going back over a century on a variety of topics ranging from local to international. One such book, selected at random, is the Reports of the Secretary of War, 1881-1885. Ancient volumes like this, while not the most riveting read, provide a crucial window into American history for historians and scholars. During this period the United States Army would have been involved in expanding into the Pacific with the establishment of naval bases on Hawaii and Guam. The decade also saw wars with Native American tribes, which would ultimately culminate in the Battle of Wounded Knee in 1890.
Another book in the basement is called Current Literature from 1911 to 1912. This title provides a fascinating glimpse into what people were reading over a century ago, and is reminiscent of our own “What’s New” articles today! Some noteworthy titles from that year included “Ethan Frome,” by Edith Wharton, “The Secret Garden,” by Frances Hodgson Burnett, “The Lost World” by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and “Tarzan of the Apes” by Edgar Rice Burroughs.
Although the secrets of the Smiley basement may remain hidden from view, they serve as a reminder of the rich tapestry of history we curate at the Library. As you explore the stacks above, we invite you to ponder the mysteries that lie beneath your feet, and perhaps you too will find yourself asking, “What’s in the basement?”