Little free library opens at Mammoth Park in memory of Unity woman

Melissa Nace knew the perfect way to memorialize her sister would be through one of her favorite past times — reading.

On Sunday, Nace presented a little free library leading up to the Giant Slide Complex at Mammoth Park in Mt. Pleasant where readers can take a book and leave one for others. The library is dedicated to her sister, Mandy Bennion, who died last February after struggling with kidney disease and lupus, an autoimmune disease. She was 36.

“It just means that she will go on and on and on,” said Amanda Harmen, a family friend. “Nobody will forget her.”

About 15 friends and family members gathered at Mammoth Park Sunday afternoon, where Nace removed a red blanket covering the library, revealing a small red and white receptacle. Each attendee placed a book inside.

“Bert’s Books: Take a book, leave a book” was written on the door to the library and a small Bert figurine from “Sesame Street” was placed on top holding a Stephen King book, referencing Bennion’s nickname, given to her as a baby after her dad came home one day and said her hair looked like Bert’s.

“Having it here, and every time people walk past it, they’ll see it,” Harmen said. “Oh who’s Bert? … It seems like sometimes when someone dies that it’s almost like you don’t want to bring it up, like you hate to talk about it around people, but I like bringing her up.”

After coming up with the idea for the library — which was built by Sam Nace, Melissa’s husband, she worked to find the perfect spot for it. She originally hoped to place it near the Unity municipal building, which is close to where her sister lived.

Those plans eventually fell through. Melissa Nace then reached out to Westmoreland County Parks and Recreation who came up with the idea for Mammoth Park, which recently reopened with two new slides. Nace is responsible for maintenance of the library if something were to happen to it.

“It was just something good to do for her,” Melissa Nace said.

The library was registered at littlefreelibrary.com, a nonprofit organization aimed at providing access to books, by Nace’s and Bennion’s sister, Monica Leuthold. The organization is sending a plaque that will be placed on the outside of the facility.

To honor the completion of the library, light blue balloons reading “Forever remember and missed” were released.

“She would love it,” said Jason Bennion, Mandy’s husband, who attended the event with their 17-year-old son, Rilee.