Century-and-a-Half-Late: Ancient Volume Rescued from Kiama Fireplace
Tyunews.com – A book found bricked in a fireplace has finally returned to an Australian public library after approximately 150 years. The aged text examining Greek antiquities arrived at the Kiama library last week, bearing visible signs of water damage accumulated during its long confinement within a sealed hearth. Michelle Hudson, the library’s manager, revealed that local resident Ross Simmons discovered the treasure while conducting renovations on his property.
According to Hudson, the book found bricked in a fireplace was tucked inside a tea crate that had been bricked into a sealed hearth. “We’ve never had anything that old come back to us,” Hudson remarked on Thursday. She noted that social media updates from various libraries typically feature returns of items only 30 to 40 years overdue, usually discovered during estate cleanouts.
Tracing the Book’s Journey Through Generations
Ross Simmons, speaking with The Associated Press on Friday, believes his great-great-grandfather John Simmons originally borrowed the volume. John Simmons had been the owner of the cottage where the book found bricked in a fireplace was eventually uncovered. “I’m making an assumption. He was in residence in the cottage around about that time and his children were probably too young,” Ross explained.
The Kiama library first opened its doors in 1872. The discovered volume, titled “Antiquities of Athens,” had been published two years earlier in 1858. It carried the designation No. 506 within the library’s initial collection of roughly 1,000 volumes. Hudson believes the text went missing within several years of the library’s establishment.
Calculating a Century and a Half of Penalties
Based on current inflation rates, Hudson estimated the accumulated late fees would total approximately 28,000 Australian dollars, equivalent to about $19,500 USD. This calculation stems from the British three pence-a-week overdue charge printed on the book found bricked in a fireplace‘s interior cover, alongside a set of regulations governing library use at the time of opening.
“Unfortunately, we have a missing link. There’s nothing in the book found bricked in a fireplace that tells us who the last borrower was,” Hudson stated.
Records documenting borrowers from the 1870s era had unfortunately been lost over time. Hudson pointed out that historical regulations required patrons to settle any outstanding debts before borrowing additional volumes. “Maybe that’s why they never returned it to us,” she suggested.
Victorian-Era Library Regulations
The antiquated rules from the 1870s permitted households with at least six members capable of reading to borrow up to three books simultaneously. Modern patrons no longer need to demonstrate reading proficiency to access library services. Additionally, books were not lent to individuals who arrived at the library while intoxicated. Contemporary guidelines ask users to leave if their conduct affects others, though intoxication is no longer specifically mentioned.
Ross Simmons, now 77 years old, expressed confusion regarding why his English immigrant ancestor—who also served as a Kiama municipal alderman—would fail to return the book found bricked in a fireplace. He remained unconcerned about potentially facing an angry librarian over his family’s historical debt. “I’ve spent a lifetime dealing with irate customers and being irate with customers himself. Just stick to your guns and say do your worst,” he commented.
A Permanent Home for the Overdue Volume
The returned book found bricked in a fireplace will now reside permanently within the library’s local history collection. Hudson confirmed that the volume will not be lent out again. “We’re not going to allow it to go back out again. We don’t want to wait another 150 years for this book to be returned,” she concluded.