Introducing A New Addition to the Piqua Public Library Family

Introducing A New Addition to the Piqua Public Library Family

We’d like to introduce you to a new member of the Piqua Public Library family! This lovely wooden horse will be on display with our holiday decorations, “Christmas Creatures from Around the World.”

Biography: This wooden horse was hand-carved in France, date unknown. It was one of many statues purchased from an estate in Ocala, Florida. Piqua resident and auctioneer, Scott Pence, bought the horse at an auction in Xenia, Ohio. It was later sold to Steve Greggerson, owner of The Mercantile in downtown Piqua. The Piqua Public Library acquired the horse in the fall of 2018.

Backstory (straight from the horse’s mouth): This horse fled to the United States from France during the French Revolution (1789-1799). He barely escaped with his head and still bears the marks of his narrow escape from the guillotine. He had a long career as a trick horse in several American traveling circuses. He was well known for being able to waltz, polka and stand upright on his hind legs. He took a break from life on the road with the circus to work in the Pack Horse Library Project. He helped a packhorse librarian (also known as "book women," "book ladies," and "packsaddle librarians") deliver books to remote regions in the Appalachian Mountains between 1935 and 1943. In 1945, he qualified for the Kentucky Derby, but to his great disappointment, he was disqualified because only three-year-old horses can run. Since he wasn’t able to participate in the Run for the Roses, he decided to head south and learn more about horse racing in the "Horse Capital of the World," Ocala, Florida. He says he’s glad to be working in a library setting again, especially since this library position is indoors only.

We’d like your help in giving this horse a name. Of all the fantastic things he told us, this guy can’t remember his name! He thinks he must have bumped his head on the ride up from Florida to Ohio. Please comment with your suggestions below, or fill out a paper sheet at the Piqua Public Library Circulation Desk. We will select our favorites and invite everyone to vote in December!

Want to learn about the real historical events in our horse’s fun (but totally fictional) backstory? Follow the links below to check out books on these topics from the Piqua Public Library:

The French Revolution
Circus History
Kentucky Derby