'It was super cool': 100 watch eclipse at Ellis Library & Reference Center

MONROE — As heavy traffic headed south, about 100 people chose to view Monday’s total solar eclipse closer to home, at the Ellis Library & Reference Center.

The first to arrive at the viewing party were Betty Younglove, 83, and her daughter, Kim Olson, 61, both of Monroe.

After going out to lunch, the women got to Ellis at 12:30 p.m. for the 2 p.m. event. They set up their chairs in the east lawn's front row. In Monroe, the eclipse began at 1:58 and ended at 4:27, with maximum darkness around 3:14.

“We’re excited to watch this. We’ve never got to see an eclipse. We missed all of them,” Younglove said.

Olson got eclipse glasses at the library a week earlier, and the pair began planning the outing. They brought along spicy jellybeans to eat while they waited.

By 3 p.m., Younglove and some of the others on the lawn noticed a drop in the temperature.

“It’s getting chilly,” she said. At 3:14, through her eclipse glasses, Younglove watched the final stage of the moon passing between the Earth and the sun. The sun was almost completely blocked from view.

“It was super cool. It’s just unimaginable that it would do that,” she said, adding that the sight was worth the wait.

“Oh, it sure was,” she said.

Seating near the mother and daughter duo was Marilyn Prucka, 73, of Monroe. Monday’s eclipse brought back bittersweet memories for the mom of three and grandmother of six. For 2017’s partial eclipse, Prucka was in Greenville, S.C. with her husband, Robert, who suffered from dementia.

“It was the last trip with my husband. We had a great time. He got to see the eclipse,” Prucka said.

Robert died in 2020. Prucka wanted to witness Monday’s eclipse, but she didn’t want to watch it alone, so she came to the library.

“I just wanted to see this thing,” she said. “The next one is 2044. I’ll be in my 90s. I said, I better do it now. My expiration date is getting close.”

Earlier in the day, Prucka was at the Monroe Family YMCA.

“It was the talk of the whole place. We were pretty excited,” she said.

Also attending Ellis’ viewing party were several families. Many area school districts were closed or dismissed early on Monday. Some districts even sent students home with eclipses glasses.

Shawn and Sondra Ewing of Dundee brought their children, Drea, 8 ½, and Andre, 9, to Ellis. Their school, Dundee Elementary, dismissed early for the occasion.

“I’m excited. The moon blocks the sun, and it goes dark,” Drea explained. “My teacher said you can go slightly blind (if you look at the sun).”

Jacquie Calender of Monroe was at Ellis with her children, Cole, 11, and Zack, 14. Their school, Triumph Academy, didn’t have classes Monday. Jacquie learned about the viewing party from another customer at the grocery store and decided to register.

Cole said he was looking forward to the “darkness and not going blind.” He got glasses from school and brought them for the family to share.

The Calenders were in Seattle for 2017’s partial eclipse. Zack still remembers making a pinhole camera from a Cheez-It box.

Finding a spot by the River Raisin were Charles Wilson, Keuna Cruz and Zeyden Campell of Monroe.

“It’s just cool,” said Zeyden, a first grader at Monroe's Waterloo Elementary School.

Several of Monday’s young visitors weren’t even old enough for school.

Lauren McGovern of Monroe attended with her children, Alice, 2 ½, and Leo, 7-months.

“It’s something to do. It’s nice out,” Lauren said.

Another Monroe mom, Brooke Daniels, brought her daughter, Oakleigh, 4.

“It’s her first time seeing it. It’s a good experience for her,” Daniels said.

Oakleigh enjoyed a chalk activity set up by Ellis’ viewing party organizer, Stephanie Wintersteen, lead youth service technician. Attendees created a sun by tracing around a plastic cup with chalk. Then, they drew rays for the sun and smudged them to mimic an eclipse. Wintersteen found the project online. Monday’s party also offered several games for attendees to play, including cornhole, dice and Jenga.

Jordan Justus and Amanda Moyer of Monroe came to see the eclipse and enjoyed playing the large Jenga game.

“It’s a nice day. I thought (Jordan) would really enjoy it. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing. You only see this in a blue moon,” Moyer said.

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Space-themed music also was played, and solar-themed snacks were served, included Sunchips, Starburst and Capri Sun. An indoor viewing area was set up, but had few visitors.

“It’s a beautiful day,” Wintersteen said. “We’re glad we could do this.”

The Blue Bush and Bedford branches of the Monroe County Library System also hosted viewing parties.

— Contact reporter Suzanne Nolan Wisler at swisler@monroenews.com.

This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: 'It was super cool': 100 watch eclipse at Ellis Library & Reference Center