Heights History: The Library Vandal
The New York Times reported on a “mystery about whodunits” at the old Montague Street Library (197 Montague Street between Court and Clinton) on February 9, 1948.
For a “period of several months” librarians noticed that someone was “systematically” crossing out all references to God in the library’s mystery book collection. Phrases such as “Oh God,” “Lord Help Us” and “Heavens” were among those scratched out by the culprit.
Library officials were on the lookout for an “omnivorous reader” of the genre as “nearly every book” had been mutilated with either a dull knife or eraser. Among the vandal’s favorites were the Lord Peter Wimsey series by Dorothy Sayers 
The NY Times never wrote a follow-up on whether the culprit was ever found. The Montague Street Library was torn down in 1960.
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Posted : May 8th, 2008 at 11:41 am by Homer Fink under Brooklyn Heights, History.
Tags:brooklyn heights history, heights history
Comments: 1
Comment from nabeguy
Time: May 9, 2008, 10:08 am
Probably a BHA member…we all know what crackpots they are!