It’s very common if someone borrows a library book and it’s overdue, these days, you might receive a telephone call or an email, gently reminding you to return the book or tape.

But, what about a time where there were no access to the internet and people hardly had any telephones in their houses, just imagine a library book that is overdue for more than 75 years, think of the fines.

In 1941 9-year-old Robert Lockman Sr. borrowed the children’s book, “Val Rides the Oregon Trail” from the Osterhout Free Library in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The book was due on 2nd December 1941, but Lockman Sr. never returned it, but 75 years, two months and 13 days later, his son, Robert Lockman Jr., brought the book back into the Osterhout Library.

Lockman Jr. said that by returning the book he did the right thing. He said that his father was an honest guy. That’s what his father would have done.

The library estimated that at the 1941 rate of two cents for each day overdue, the fine would be about $554. But the librarians waived the fine.
Jeannette Karaska, the circulation on duty at that time just laughed about it, she said.

Lockman Jr. discovered the book in the basement of his Shavertown, Pa, home, it was authored by Sanford Tousey, who was a well known children’s book author of 1930s and 1940s. He said that he found the book after his father died at the age of 81 on 31st July 2013.

Karaska said that considering the years, the book is in a good condition, but she said that it is unlikely to return for circulation. That would require binding the book and scanning to into the library’s data.

She said “It’s a children’s book, it had the usual scribbles in it.”

“Val Rides the Oregon Trail” tells the story of a boy who has many adventures as he travels with his family from St. Louis to Oregon in the 1800s. It’s based on the story of a Tousey’s grandfather, Dr. Valentine Adamson, who traveled the Oregon Trail with his family while riding his mule, Jinny.

According to Lockman Sr. obituary, he was born on a kitchen table in Wilkes on 6th January 1932 and completed graduation from Elmer J. Meyer’s high School in 1949. During the Korean War, he served in the army and met his future wife, Kathy Kidd, while on leave for his brother’s wedding. They got married in Wilkes-Barre but they traveled to Ft. Lewis, Washington, where he was stationed. Lockman was a master draftsman in the Army and later earned a degree from the University of Hartford. He worked for Pratt and Whitney, American Cyanamid and C.N. Flagg, was an avid artist and woodworker. And, he loved to read.

Lockman Jr. said that his father always encouraged him to read. He wished that more kids would go to the library.

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