An original volume from Historic Rugby’s Thomas Hughes Public Library has found its way back home, well over a century after its disappearance. With around 7,000 volumes on its shelves, the library is almost entirely unchanged from the day it opened back in 1882, and it has been widely reported that only seven volumes are missing from the original collection.
Today, that number is down to six.
“I totally nerded out,” said Historic Rugby Operations Manager Annie Patterson, recalling the day the book was returned by two local tour guides.
Ms. Patterson couldn't wait to inform others in the village of the book's return.
"The Thomas Hughes Library is such an important story in our state and national history and the fact that the collection has stayed so intact is a testament to its recognized value in the community for over 140 years,” Ms. Patterson said. “Since just a few of the original volumes are missing, to have a piece come home is so exciting. It traveled through many caring hands until it reached us and we want to thank everyone who played a part in the journey of this little volume with a big story to tell."
Titled Diamonds and Rubies; or The Home of Santa Claus and written by Susie M. Waring, the book was published in 1870 and contains the original Hughes Public Library seal from 1882, as well as the catalog number revealing where it belongs on the shelves. It was purchased more than a decade ago at a Knoxville garage sale; when its owner learned that a friend was headed to Rugby for a ghost tour, he gave her the book and asked her to return it. She passed it along to Miranda Young and Kristy Sumner, owners of History, Highways, and Haunts, LLC, who lead after-dark and paranormal tours in the village.
“History is important to us, and we are extremely excited that we could facilitate the return of this historic book to the Thomas Hughes Library,” said Ms. Sumner.
“One of our tour guests and friends, Chastity Long, acquired this book and gave it to us just in time for Christmas. Although it is a small book, it is a large piece of Rugby history,” said co-owner Ms. Young.
The book is now on display in the library alongside other Christmas books from the collection. 27 publishers in the United States and England donated all of the library's books when it opened in 1882, largely to show their respect for Rugby’s founder, author and Parliamentarian Thomas Huges. No book in the library was published after the 1880s; the oldest volume dates back to 1687. The library itself has been painstakingly preserved by locals over the decades and is now part of Historic Rugby’s village tours. Today, it is the oldest nineteenth-century public library in the country.
Rugby resident and volunteer Benita Howell has been enjoying showing the recovered book to the village’s holiday visitors. “I’m glad that it’s home, especially since it’s a little Christmas story,” she said.
Officials said, "No word yet on how much money in fines is owed on a book that was 141 years overdue. We encourage anyone who’s concerned about the fee to contribute to the cause at historicrugby.org/donate."
Rugby was founded in 1880 as a British colony. It is adjacent to the Big South Fork National Recreation Area and is a 2 1/2 hour drive from Nashville and a little over an hour away from Knoxville.