Why end the story with a library? ‘Cause I love to learn, learning is free at a library, I (almost) started my story with a library (the Library of Alexandria), and I needed a way to (almost) end with a neat bit of coincidence...
The Great Chicago Fire took 300 souls, left 100,000 people homeless, and burned for two days beginning October 8, 1871.
My dad has a mantle clock which was the only thing saved from The Fire when his family’s family (or more) had to leave their home because of the flames. According to my dad and with full support of the Chicago City Council, Mrs. O’Leary’s cow did not kick over a lamp that night; neither had anything much to do with The Fire (the cow and the Mrs I mean).
Also according to my dad and with some documented support, it was Daniel “Peg Leg” Sullivan who started The Fire. Peg Leg was an amputee from the Civil War (a veteran). Living through a horrific war, having only one leg, and branded with an insensitive nickname is reason to take seriously to drinking, so no stone throwing when you learn... Peg Leg was tipsy the night of October 8 not only because of drink (which was probably homemade) but because he’s got a wooden a leg for sympathy’s sake, which is nothing like today’s prosthetics from the world renowned Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. So as I said, no stones.
Anyway... he got the peg of his leg caught in a knot in the wood of floor of Mrs. O’Leary’s barn of the cow he was supposed to milk, and subsequently dropped the lamp which started The Fire.