stories in history

The flying elephant

Did you know that the classic story of Dumbo originated in Syracuse? “Dumbo: The Flying Elephant” was written by Helen Aberson Pearl (Helen Mayer) and her husband Harold Pearl before being sold to another Syracusan, Everett Whitmyre, who suggested they sell the story to Walt Disney. Disney quickly gave the couple an offer agreeing to publish the story and make it into a movie. A third collaborator on the project, Helen Durney was also a Syracuse native. Durney is believed to have created the original sketches and illustrations for the story. Durney’s papers, including drawings related to Dumbo, can be found at Syracuse University in the library archives.

Long-lost friends

The beloved children’s book illustrator and author, Eric Carle, was born right here in Syracuse, NY! Author of the world-renowned story, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” Carle, fondly remembered his childhood days in Syracuse. In fact, Carle hoped his book “Friends” would help him find a friend he knew from Syracuse when he was three years old, before his family moved back to Germany when he was six. Eventually in 2015, another Syracuse native and author, Sean Kirst, helped Carle find and reconnect with this childhood friend, Flo. Just recently a sign was installed outside Carle’s childhood home on John Street in Syracuse.