Great reads for the holiday!

Stop by the Library and check out our Holiday Reading display!  With finals almost over, and the semester wrapping up, it's the perfect time to curl up with a good book....Happy Holidays from the Library!

The American House fire in downtown Burlington, December 1906

On a bitter cold December morning in 1906, crowds gathered at the corner of Main and St. Paul Streets as a catastrophic fire swept through Burlington's premier hotel, the American House. Local photographer B. Benton Barker rushed over from his studio and home on College Street to capture the scene. He soon published his images of billowing smoke, firefighters, and spectators in a series of postcards that he sold.

"American House Fire, Dec 16 '06," by B. Benton Barker, 

Llewellyn Collection #2010.1.581

According to the Burlington Weekly Free Press of December 20, 1906, the hotel was gutted, and one hotel guest died. Several street-level shops and apartments at the rear of the building were also destroyed. Only a portion of the structure, the eastern section fronting on Main Street, survived the fire; it now contains the Flynn Theatre's FlynnSpace as well as several stores. In 1911, the Hotel Vermont, now the Vermont House, was constructed on the corner site. Another Burlington photographer, Charles H. Bessey, shot the Hotel Vermont soon after its construction was completed.

"Hotel Vermont, Burlington, Vt." by Charles H. Bessey, 1911, 

Llewellyn Collection #2010.1.607

These postcards, and many more, are included in a new exhibit featuring Benton and Barker's work in Perry Hall, which will be on view through early February.

Inaugural Ugly Sweater Contest - Judging starts Monday, December 8th at 3pm!

The Inaugural Ugly Sweater Contest

Hosted by the Champlain College Library

In-person competition: Monday, December 8^th, 2014 3:00-3:45pm, outside of the Tower Room on the 1^st floor

If you can’t make it, compete online! Submit a photo of you in your ugly sweater by tweeting @champlib with #champsweater or post to our Champlain College Library Facebook page with #champsweater! Deadline is Sunday, December 7^th at 5pm in order to be included in the slideshow for People’s Choice.

Eligibility: All members of the Champlain College community – students, staff, and faculty alike!

Rules: You must wear a sweater, sweatshirt, or sweater vest. Turtlenecks and long or short-sleeved t-shirts will not be accepted. You may wear such items underneath an ugly sweater/sweatshirt/vest. You may add to or alter your ugly sweater – lights, noisemakers, etc. are all fair game! However, accessories like hats, jewelry or other festive attire will not be considered. An item must be attached to your ugly sweater for eligibility.

You need not be present to win, but in-person participation is encouraged! Winners will be announced in the following categories:

• General: The Ugliest of All
• Holiday: Christmas, Halloween, Valentine's Day - you get the picture!
• People's Choice: Voting for all entries received online and those present onsite will take place in person from 3 to 3:30.

Prizes: We’re offering small gift certificates to several downtown businesses – and of course, bragging rights.

Come for study break goodies and hot cocoa and cider. Take a few minutes to relax, have a laugh, and recharge before diving back into your finals week.

Your humble judges are Andy Burkhardt, Joanna Jordan, and Lindsey Rae (and yes, we’re ineligible, but we just may wear our own ugly sweaters in solidarity!).