A New Jersey woman, Mary Cooper, found a library book that her grandfather had checked out 99 years ago. Cooper, 81, discovered the book while sorting through her late mother’s belongings. The book, “Home-Made Toys for Girls and Boys” by A. Neely Hall, was borrowed from the Ocean County Library system in 1926 by her grandfather, Charles Tilton. Tilton, a boatwright and carpenter, likely wanted to build toys for his daughter, Cooper’s mother. Cooper, who doesn’t have personal memories of her grandfather, felt it was time to return the book. She brought it to the Toms River branch of the library, where staff were amazed by the nearly 100-year-old book. The library is celebrating its centennial, adding to the excitement of the book’s return. Cooper believes there is a special connection between the book and her family history, as it features a toy boat similar to one her grandfather had made. The book is now on display at the library, preserved as a memento of a bygone era.
