A beloved turtle has lived in Fort Smith's library for decades. He just turned 35

It was a big day for one of Fort Smith's most well-known residents earlier this week.

Freddy, a beloved turtle who lives in the town's Mary Kaeser Library, turned 35 years young last Wednesday.

It's also five years more than library staff thought he would live, making it an extra-special celebration, Sam Stokell, Mary Kaeser's librarian, said.

"He just loves people," Stokell said. "People love Freddy and he loves them back."

This Freddy photo booth was a big hit. (Submitted by Sam Stokell)

Over 80 people came out to celebrate Freddy's birthday on Wednesday last week, with a turtle cupcake-decorating station, a pin-the-birthday-hat on Freddy game, a photo booth with Freddy and his aquarium, and crafts for kids.

Freddy has lived at the library for 30 years.

Stokell said she's heard from former library employees who remember cleaning Freddy's tank back in 1997.

"We've had grown-ups in the library who remember seeing him as a kid," Stokell said.

The celebration included a game of "pin the birthday hat on Freddy." (Submitted by Sam Stokell)

Stokell said she can't remember exactly how Freddy came to the library, but she's pretty sure someone got him as a pet and donated him to the library.

"Oh, I think he's the number one draw to the library," she said.

When the library was being renovated recently, construction workers would come by and say good morning to Freddy and feed him, she added.

A day in the life of Freddy 

For a turtle late in his life, Freddy still manages to keep his days packed with activity.

Around 9 a.m., Stokell gets to work and turns on his heat lamp.

Then, she gives him his food.

Freddy usually likes to greet his friends at the library around 3 p.m. each day. (Submitted by Sam Stokell)

"He'll swim around until just after 12. At 1, he'll climb on his rock and have a nap for a couple of hours,"she said.

Then, around 3 p.m. he'll climb off his rock and swim around and say greet the kids as they come in to visit the library after school or as part of a day camp.

"It's just a fun way to get people into the library," she said.

"We know that people love Freddy so much."

Freddy turned 35 years young last week. (Submitted by Sam Stokell)