Children’s library in Albion will be named for woman who loved kids
Photo by Tom Rivers: Dale Blissett of Albion is pictured at the Hoag Library in Albion in front of the children’s library, which will be dedicated in his mother’s honor on Feb. 4.
ALBION – The children’s library at the Hoag Library on Feb. 4 will be dedicated to Helen Blissett, a hard-working Albion woman with a big heart for kids.
“She always loved little kids,” said her son, Dale Blissett, who is making a $75,000 donation in honor of his mother, who passed away in 1999. “Her big thing was, ‘How can I help you?’”
Helen Blissett and her husband John both worked at Delco in Rochester. They moved into the village after running a farm.
Their son, Dale, spent a lot of time at Swan Library as a kid, and books about science and geography opened his mind, and led him to pursue a career as a science teacher at Oakfield-Alabama.
Mr. Blissett, 79, visits the Hoag Library two or three times a week.
“I like to learn,” he said today.
He sees how popular the library is, drawing people of all backgrounds.
“My mother would enjoy seeing children have opportunities to learn,” Blissett said. “This is a good investment in the community. We’re very fortunate to have a library like this.”
The new Hoag Library opened in July 2012. The children’s library was the remaining room that hadn’t been claimed by a large donor.
There will be a program at 10:30 a.m. Feb. 4 when the children’s library is named for Helen Rice Blissett. A plaque will be unveiled in her honor.
That day includes many other children’s activities at the library including a storytime at 10:15, a program from the Seneca Park Zoo at 11:30, crafts at 12:45 and a movie with popcorn at 2 p.m.
The library also recently received a $50,000 contribution from the estate of the late Elio D’Andrea. The library is considering ways to recognize D’Andrea for that gift.
