The Cookbook Library

Back in the 70's when microwave overns were first introduced, it was a popular sales technique to provide free cooking lessons with every purchase. Pam's mother, Jean Fortenbery started working with a local appliance store chain to introduce the masses to this exciting new technology. She ended up working for some of the manufacturers such as Mitsubishi and Panasonic travelling all over the country giving lessons. When arriving in town, she'd seek out and purchase some "local" cookbooks, such as produced by the local Grange or church groups to use in her presentations. This was the beginning of her collection.

She then "retired" and for a number of years wrote a food and cooking column for the local newspaper. Many of her readers would contact her and donate cookbooks ("My grandmother just passed and I have all her cookbooks. Would you like them?") so between that and more books bought by her and Pam at garage sales and from various Friends of the Library sales the collection continued to grow. So did the number of bookcases that her husband, Ken had to construct.

We've now got around 10,000 books and pamphlets for our guests to page through. Whether cooking is your passion or merely a pain, you'll find something of interest.