Why You Should Visit Your Local Little Free Library

There’s something so personable about a Little Free Library. Many are dedicated to loved ones who have passed on. Others, as I have learned, are to honor somebody the person who erected the Little Free Library has never met.

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One day, not so long ago, I was walking through my neighborhood when I came upon a house that called to me. It had a low roof, a well-manicured lawn, and was overall, your typical beach cottage. In one word, it was dreamy,

My first thought was that this is the type of place a writer should live in. This fact was cemented by the Little Free Library that stood next to it. Although I did not take a book that day, I went home feeling enamored by the little house by the sea (pictured below).

Not long after that, I was on the Little Free Library map and made a discovery; the Little Free Library at the cottage was actually dedicated to a writer who lived in the house. His name was Louis Dodge and I’m going to be telling you a little bit about him today.

It was not easy to find information about Louis; he’s largely been forgotten by time and by all accounts, he was forgotten even before he died in 1952. In fact, I was only to find one solid link with information by The University of Iowa (he was an Iowa native).

Louis was born in 1870 and primarily wrote children’s books. He also wrote for magazines and eventually, he published books that were intended for adults. I sadly can’t tell you what these books were about; there are no plot summaries and I could only find his books on eBay (screenshot seen below).

He achieved some fame in the mid-1910s and early 1920s. His book “Bonnie May” was even made into a silent film. By 1934 however, his career was over. I’m not sure why but Louis himself seemed to believe that his writing style had become too antiquated.

He lived in several places throughout his life including Iowa, Texas, New York, Missouri, and Arkansas. In 1927, he moved to Los Angeles. Louis was not a fan of LA (I’m assuming the hustle & bustle was too much). And so, he moved to Redondo Beach, my hometown, and into the cottage.

Louis, was at this point, in his 60s. He wrote to friends saying that he cherished his home and his garden but felt incredibly lonely. He continued to write but acknowledged that it was fruitless.

Louis died in 1952 when he was 82. He never got married or had children. It seems he didn’t even leave behind a legacy; only the house that now bears a Little Free Library in his name.

I know I am not an author but I am in the same profession as Louis. When I read his story, I felt remorse and grief for a man that was long dead before I was born.

Keep in mind that Louis wrote several books and obviously made some kind of living off it if he was able to buy a home (even if this was the 1930s). His publisher was Charles Scribner's Sons, so Louis was in fact pretty successful at one point.

I can’t tell you if his writing is good or bad because I don’t know. Regardless, it’s heartbreaking to know that his life’s work was for whatever reason, disregarded even when he was alive and he knew it.

When he wrote to friends about his home in Redondo and how he longed for human connection, I also understood. I adore my home and where I live but there has been a great sense of isolation since the pandemic. Most of my friends no longer live here and I spend my weekdays days writing and walking the streets alone.

So here’s to Louis Dodge, a man that was omitted from the literary world but remembered by a girl that fell in love with his home at 605 Garnet Street.

Thank you to the owners of said home for honoring his memory with a Little Free Library. They obviously never knew him but somehow, they discovered that Louis had lived in the home until his death.

Lastly, make sure to visit your local Little Free Library. Perhaps you’ll find your next best read or a kindred spirit that has been long gone.

Source:

The University of Iowa

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Hi!

Mar 21 Why You Should Visit Your Local Little Free Library

There’s something so personable about a Little Free Library. Many are dedicated to loved ones who have passed on. Others, as I have learned, are to honor somebody the person who erected the Little Free Library has never met.

One day, not so long ago, I was walking through my neighborhood when I came upon a house that called to me. It had a low roof, a well-manicured lawn, and was overall, your typical beach cottage. In one word, it was dreamy,

My first thought was that this is the type of place a writer should live in. This fact was cemented by the Little Free Library that stood next to it. Although I did not take a book that day, I went home feeling enamored by the little house by the sea (pictured below).

Not long after that, I was on the Little Free Library map and made a discovery; the Little Free Library at the cottage was actually dedicated to a writer who lived in the house. His name was Louis Dodge and I’m going to be telling you a little bit about him today.

It was not easy to find information about Louis; he’s largely been forgotten by time and by all accounts, he was forgotten even before he died in 1952. In fact, I was only to find one solid link with information by The University of Iowa (he was an Iowa native).

He achieved some fame in the mid-1910s and early 1920s. His book “Bonnie May” was even made into a silent film. By 1934 however, his career was over. I’m not sure why but Louis himself seemed to believe that his writing style had become too antiquated.

He lived in several places throughout his life including Iowa, Texas, New York, Missouri, and Arkansas. In 1927, he moved to Los Angeles. Louis was not a fan of LA (I’m assuming the hustle & bustle was too much). And so, he moved to Redondo Beach, my hometown, and into the cottage.

Louis, was at this point, in his 60s. He wrote to friends saying that he cherished his home and his garden but felt incredibly lonely. He continued to write but acknowledged that it was fruitless.

Louis died in 1952 when he was 82. He never got married or had children. It seems he didn’t even leave behind a legacy; only the house that now bears a Little Free Library in his name.

I know I am not an author but I am in the same profession as Louis. When I read his story, I felt remorse and grief for a man that was long dead before I was born.

Keep in mind that Louis wrote several books and obviously made some kind of living off it if he was able to buy a home (even if this was the 1930s). His publisher was Charles Scribner's Sons, so Louis was in fact pretty successful at one point.

I can’t tell you if his writing is good or bad because I don’t know. Regardless, it’s heartbreaking to know that his life’s work was for whatever reason, disregarded even when he was alive and he knew it.

So here’s to Louis Dodge, a man that was omitted from the literary world but remembered by a girl that fell in love with his home at 605 Garnet Street.

Thank you to the owners of said home for honoring his memory with a Little Free Library. They obviously never knew him but somehow, they discovered that Louis had lived in the home until his death.

Lastly, make sure to visit your local Little Free Library. Perhaps you’ll find your next best read or a kindred spirit that has been long gone.

Source:

The University of Iowa

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Hi!

Mar 21 Why You Should Visit Your Local Little Free Library

There’s something so personable about a Little Free Library. Many are dedicated to loved ones who have passed on. Others, as I have learned, are to honor somebody the person who erected the Little Free Library has never met.

One day, not so long ago, I was walking through my neighborhood when I came upon a house that called to me. It had a low roof, a well-manicured lawn, and was overall, your typical beach cottage. In one word, it was dreamy,

My first thought was that this is the type of place a writer should live in. This fact was cemented by the Little Free Library that stood next to it. Although I did not take a book that day, I went home feeling enamored by the little house by the sea (pictured below).

Not long after that, I was on the Little Free Library map and made a discovery; the Little Free Library at the cottage was actually dedicated to a writer who lived in the house. His name was Louis Dodge and I’m going to be telling you a little bit about him today.

It was not easy to find information about Louis; he’s largely been forgotten by time and by all accounts, he was forgotten even before he died in 1952. In fact, I was only to find one solid link with information by The University of Iowa (he was an Iowa native).

He achieved some fame in the mid-1910s and early 1920s. His book “Bonnie May” was even made into a silent film. By 1934 however, his career was over. I’m not sure why but Louis himself seemed to believe that his writing style had become too antiquated.

He lived in several places throughout his life including Iowa, Texas, New York, Missouri, and Arkansas. In 1927, he moved to Los Angeles. Louis was not a fan of LA (I’m assuming the hustle & bustle was too much). And so, he moved to Redondo Beach, my hometown, and into the cottage.

Louis, was at this point, in his 60s. He wrote to friends saying that he cherished his home and his garden but felt incredibly lonely. He continued to write but acknowledged that it was fruitless.

Louis died in 1952 when he was 82. He never got married or had children. It seems he didn’t even leave behind a legacy; only the house that now bears a Little Free Library in his name.

I know I am not an author but I am in the same profession as Louis. When I read his story, I felt remorse and grief for a man that was long dead before I was born.

Keep in mind that Louis wrote several books and obviously made some kind of living off it if he was able to buy a home (even if this was the 1930s). His publisher was Charles Scribner's Sons, so Louis was in fact pretty successful at one point.

I can’t tell you if his writing is good or bad because I don’t know. Regardless, it’s heartbreaking to know that his life’s work was for whatever reason, disregarded even when he was alive and he knew it.

So here’s to Louis Dodge, a man that was omitted from the literary world but remembered by a girl that fell in love with his home at 605 Garnet Street.

Thank you to the owners of said home for honoring his memory with a Little Free Library. They obviously never knew him but somehow, they discovered that Louis had lived in the home until his death.

Lastly, make sure to visit your local Little Free Library. Perhaps you’ll find your next best read or a kindred spirit that has been long gone.

Source:

The University of Iowa

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