The History of Thurber in 12 Objects: Poetry and Memories

by: Shae Adams

Poem by Dorothy Bayer Hoid, ca. 1938-1939
Jacobson Collection

 

If you’ve been following us this year, you know that we’ve been highlighting artifacts from our collection. These tangible objects give us insight into the lives of those who called Thurber home. This month we’re spotlighting a slightly different type of artifact that gets to the heart of what we collect: stories and memories.

Dorothy Bayer Hoid grew up in Thurber. She spent her childhood going to movies at the Opera House, dancing to music at the bandstand, and getting into mischief with her cousin Sammy. Decades later, telling her children stories of her exploits inspired her to write a collection of poems about her memories of Thurber. Hoid’s daughter was kind enough to donate that collection of poems and memories to the Gordon Center last year.

I love this piece because it shows a different side of Thurber. The fact that Hoid could write so prolifically about her childhood decades after Thurber’s closing speaks to how profoundly the town shaped Hoid’s identity. While her poems and reminiscences don’t talk about the big social, political, and economic issues of the day that historians so enjoy, they offer something of equal value.

By reading Hoid’s poem, we get a strong sense of the elderly woman returning to her beloved childhood home. We feel the exhilaration of running from a temperamental longhorn with our best friend. We feel the ache of missing a family member who moved away. Through Hoid’s lines, we’re reminded of the human side of Thurber’s history.

Poem by Dorothy Bayer Hoid, ca. 2011
Jacobson Collection

Dorothy Hoid wasn’t Thurber’s only poet. In our collection, we have the poetry and art of several Thurberites and those inspired by the town. This week we opened our newest temporary exhibit, “Art and Industry: Exploring Thurber’s Art and Poetry,” to celebrate National Poetry Month. Join us throughout April as we display the artistic side of Thurber. You’ll even have the chance to add your own creations to the exhibit. As Hoid’s poems show us, art connects us not only to each other, but also to the past.