While most people have seen the large paper-mache dragon that guards the Huron Public Library, few, by comparison, are familiar with its history.

“The Mighty Dragon,” as he was called, first publicly appeared in 1971 for the Summer Reading Club where Children’s Librarian Harriet Turnwall, and Reference Librarian Alyce Bates, created him to guard the old gray castle which was in the library. Program participants received dragon scales depending on how many books they read over the summer. And read they did — with registration surpassing 500 kids!

Today, the dragon remains seated atop the library’s east entrance where passing cars and park-goers can view him in all his majesty, including at night thanks to new, recently placed spotlights.

Yet, you’d be mistaken in thinking the story ended there. In fact, a long-forgotten part of this story was recently reimagined by Library Clerk Ivy Copeland. It is called, “The Legend of Allorris,” and it goes like this:

The Legend of Allorris

Legend has it that in a land named Palidonia, there once lived dragons of all shapes and sizes. They lived amongst the mountains and rivers. The young dragons would play with one another by flying through the fluffy clouds. The elder dragons would stay deep within the caves, protecting the ancient books.

Amidst this idyllic landscape lived young Allorris.

He was a small dragon compared to the others and was green with a slim body. If you were to have gone looking for Allorris, he could be found playing in the river alongside one of the eldest and wisest dragons in all Palidonia: Naga.

Naga planned to teach Allorris many things, for he wished Allorris to be the next Keeper of the Caves. But as fate would have it, Naga’s plans were interrupted when Palidonia was attacked by bandits — a ruthless clan from the North who sought to destroy the books of old!

Naga acted quickly by taking Allorris to the caves. “You must take the books far away from Palidonia, Allorris!” Naga pleaded. He shoved books upon books into bags and strapped them to Allorris’s small back. Allorris knew he must be brave for his family. He nodded, “I will keep the books safe! I promise!”

He hugged Naga one last time before flying off.

Allorris soared for several days looking for a place to keep the books. Presently, he came across a small town in the dead of winter.

Upon entering one of the buildings, three ladies greeted him. As they helped unload the heavy bags, they asked him, “Who are you and why are you carrying all these books?” Allorris replied, “I am Keeper of the Caves, Protector of the Ancient Books. My home, Palidonia, was attacked!”

“I am not familiar with that place,” one of the ladies said, “But no matter, you can keep them here!” Allorris was confused, then the lady added, “We’re a library! We also protect books!”

Allorris agreed to let them take the books, provided he could stay and guard them. In return, the kind ladies gave him a spot to rest above the door. As the day drew to a close, Allorris took his place near the window, said one last goodbye, and froze into a statue where he was to stay. Legend has it that Allorris will only return to a real dragon if the books are in danger.

The end.

As the leaves start to fall and the air begins to chill, Allorris reminds people of all ages of the joys of reading and that no obstacle, no matter how great, should stand in the way of a good book. Allorris, after all, would know.