Westfield Athenaeum?

If you read the comments to the last post, then you know that Mark T. Alamed, a wizard regarding all things Westfield, informed me that I could have gotten the key to the Old Burying Ground from the Westfield Athenaeum (above).

The question most people would have upon hearing that information is, "What the hell is an athenaeum?" Well, the internet serves up this definition:

athenaeum (noun)
1. An institution, such as a literary club or scientific academy, for the promotion of learning.

2. A place, such as a library, where printed materials are available for reading.
[Late Latin Athneaeum, a Roman school, after Greek Athenaion, the temple of Athena.]

So in other words, it's a high-brow word for a library. I stopped by there recently and took a few snaps, but wasn't going to use them. However since the Athenaeum has come up, here they are. This shows the computer room, which like at all libraries these days, is the most popular and heavily used section. 

There were also student art displays, such as these quite psychedelic pieces. What are they putting in the Kool-Aid in the student cafeteria?

Recently I posted about Pete's Diner in Hadley and showed a picture of a hot dog sculpture they have just inside the door.

Yesterday I received this email and photos on the subject. Thanks, Emily!

From : Emily Robertson
Sent : Sunday, April 22, 2007 7:01 PM
Subject : Hot Dog

Tom -

Not too long ago you posted a picture of a hot dog pouring ketchup on itself. I just returned from a trip to eastern Tennessee and thought you might be interested to know that I spotted another of those hotdog statues smack dab in the middle of Dollywood!

They really like hotdogs, I guess, because we also spotted the Weinermobile in the parking lot..

.



Even my kids noticed the "political climate" of the area - friendly and patriotic - was a stark contrast to angry, liberal Massachusetts - and a truly great vacation destination!

Emily