With 250 milk jugs, hot glue, and imagination a la famed-author Roald Dahl, the Jaffrey Public Library has created a special hideout that has been flocked to by people of all ages.
Jaffrey children’s librarian Andrea Connolly said the children’s library had been looking to celebrate the birthday of an author since she arrived in May. After an inspiring idea from her co-worker Linda Gleason, and the help of two community members, Connolly said the library built an igloo-style peach, which was inspired by one of Dahl’s most beloved novels: “James and the Giant Peach.”
“It has been hugely popular with people of all ages,” said Connolly. “It’s been a great talking point of the library.”
The peach was built just in time to celebrate what would have been Dahl’s 100th birthday on Sept. 13. Dahl was the author of famed children’s books like “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Matilda,” and “The BFG.”
The peach was built by Andy Webber and Pat Greenough using donated gallon milk jugs. The individual jugs are held together with a glue and the peach features orange lights inside to give it its orange hue. Connolly said the project took about five hours to build.
Connolly said the peach will be around as long as it holds up, which might not be terribly long due to the orange lights heating up the glue, and the amount of traffic the peach has seen since it was built.
“A couple of moms pointed out that if it makes it to Halloween, we could turn it into a pumpkin,” said Connolly. “We would like to keep it around as long as possible.”
Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235 or nhandy@ledgertranscript.com. He is also on Twitter @nhandyMLT.