Man returns book overdue 73 years to Pa. library

SCOTTDALE, Pa. (AP) — A Maryland man who says his love of history was fueled by a book he checked out of a western Pennsylvania school library more than 73 years ago has finally returned it.

Thomas McArdle now lives in Greenbelt, Md. He was just 12 when he checked out a novel called “The Birth of Rome” in 1936. At the time he was a sixth grader at Chestnut Street Elementary School in Scottdale, about 40 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

McArdle says he has kept the book in good condition and recently discovered he still had it.

He sent it back to a cousin who still lives in Scottdale, who returned the book to the Southmoreland School District. Middle school principal Daniel Clara says officials are waiving the late fees in a gesture of good will.