We often hear children and their families excitedly pointing out the two large owl statues that are mounted above the staircases between the first and second floors of the Main Library. I personally delight in explaining to them that the owls actually have names, "Whooo" and Whoom," and that they were named such in a naming contest. But what's the story behind the owls? Read on to learn more!
Worcester Public Library (then known as the Worcester Free Public Library) used to be located on the southside of Elm Street from 1861 until it moved to its present location at 3 Salem Square in 1964. Even in the 19th century, there was talk of moving the library. By the late 1880s, the library had outgrown its original Elm Street building at 18 Elm Street and the library directors looked at either moving to a new building or expanding. They eventually settled on building an addition to the existing structure by having the city purchase the adjacent Dr. J.O. Marble property in 1888. The cornerstone for the addition was laid November 27, 1889 and the addition was completed in 1891.
The plans by well-known Worcester architect Stephen C. Earle were primarily carried out by the contractors Cutting & Bishop. There was also an additional artistic component: two sculpted horned owls that would be added to either side of the new addition's entrance! According to the Worcester Evening Gazette, the sculptor of the two stone owls was a 33-year-old sculptor from Boston named Terrence Dunn.
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| Two Owls. Worcester Evening Gazette, September 13, 1890 |
The December 24, 1890 issue of the Worcester Telegram was a bit critical in its discussion of the owls at the entrance: "The only uninviting feature about the whole building is the glum look on the two stone owls that perch on either side of the arch at the main entrance on Elm street [sic]. And yet the owls look so learned that the critic in gazing at them wants to go beyond and see what is within."
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Free Public Library, Worcester, Mass., circa 1905-1915, Detroit Publishing Co.
Courtesy of the Library of Congress. - note the owls over the left-side building's arch |
And so the owls stayed on their perches outside the Elm Street entrance, silently observing all who entered the hallowed halls of the Worcester Free Public Library, until once again, the library outgrew its space. The city and library board decided to build a brand new library that would be located at 3 Salem Square opposite City Hall (see one of our previous blog posts for information about the 1962 laying of the cornerstone for the new building).
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| How Wise is the Elm Street Library Owl? Worcester Evening Gazette, March 25, 1950 |
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| Look Up! Sunday Telegram, July 5, 1959 |
In 1963, the Worcester Telegram reported that then-library director Thurston Taylor and City Manager Frances J. McGrath had discussed the upcoming demolition of the Elm Street library building. Taylor advocated for preserving the library owls, as well as the stone arch above the entrance. McGrath also recommended saving the bas-reliefs of Cicero, Shakespeare, Benjamin Franklin, and Thucydides that adorned the exterior of the library addition towards the top of the building. Unfortunately, McGrath ultimately concluded with the library directors that they weren't able to find a new home for the bas-reliefs and stone arch at the new building and furthermore, preservation of these items was too costly for the city. Fortunately, the city agreed to salvage the two owls at the cost of $50 (roughly $515 adjusted for inflation) (Worcester Telegram, October 7, 1963). The library ultimately mounted the owls on the walls of the Social Science department of the new library building. The new building at Salem Square was officially dedicated on May 22, 1964 and the library opened to the public the following Monday. The Elm Street library was subsequently torn down and the site later became the Pearl-Elm Parking Garage.
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| Worcester Sunday Telegram, May 23, 1965 |
Fast forward to September 1980. For years, the owls had been unofficially named "Hoot" and "Toot," according to an article in the September 11, 1980 issue of the Worcester Telegram. The Friends of Worcester Public Library decided to name the owls with a "Great Give a Hoot Contest," which would be open to all Worcester-area residents. According to the article, there would be winners in three age brackets (ages 6-12, 12-18, and over 18) and an overall grand prize winner, with the winning entries being selected on Halloween. The contest would be judged by four judges and one honorary judge, retired head librarian Thurston Taylor.
The Friends of the Worcester Public Library received over 280 entries but the grand prize winner was Patrick B. Holland, a 14-year-old boy from Worcester, with his entry, "Whooo" and "Whooom." The other winners were "Winkie" and "Blinkie" from 10-year-old Holly Burns and "Wisdom" and "Common Sense" by 24-year-old Joseph Trent. Each winner received a $20 gift certificate for books and Patrick Holland also received a framed print of an Albrecht Dürer drawing of an owl.
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| He Gave a Hoot - And Won. Worcester Evening Gazette, November 8, 1980* |
Now you know the story of Whooo and Whooom (we do not know which one is which) so say hi to them the next time you stop by the Main Library!
For more information about another work of art in the Main Library, check out our blog post about the 3 large WPA murals above the 2nd floor!
*Note: the articles from 1980 claimed that the statues were cast metal but all previous articles indicated that the statues were made of stone.
Sources:
Done in First-Class Shape. (1890, December 24). Worcester Daily Telegram. p. 4.
Fletcher Street Teen Wins 'Great Give a Hoot Contest.' (1980, November 6). Worcester Telegram. p. 37.
He Gave a Hoot -- And Won. (1980, November 8). Worcester Evening Gazette. p. 7.
Green, F. He Wanted Everyone to Read Read Read. (1965, May 23). Worcester Sunday Telegram. Feature Parade Section, p. 6.
Library Demolition. (1963, October 7). Worcester Evening Gazette. p. 9.
Owl Figures, Door Arch to be Saved. (1963, May 28) Worcester Evening Gazette. p.27.
Public Library Addition. (1889, November 28). Worcester Telegram. p. 2.
Two Owls. (1890, September 13). Worcester Evening Gazette. p. 4.
You Can Get Wise with the Owls? (1980, September 11). Worcester Telegram. p. 9.
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