Speed puzzling event helps competitors find the perfect fit
Competitors raced to complete a 300-piece puzzle at the Marion Music Hall on Saturday, Aug. 8. Photos by Grace Roche
Emma Williamson prepares puzzlers for the competition. 
It took nearly an hour for most teams to complete their puzzle. 
Puzzlers of all ages enjoyed the event. 
The Greenwalts and Ellen Bowler, right, piece together a puzzle. 
Andrew Greenwalt holds Reid in his lap while puzzling. 
Three tables of puzzlers raced to finish first. 
Young puzzlers work away during the competition. 
Many people's puzzling strategy involved piecing together the border first. 
The pieces all come together as a puzzle is nearly complete. 
From left: Ellen Bowler, Evelyn Greenwalt, June-Ellen Greenwalt, Andrew Greenwalt and Reid Greenwalt celebrate their win.
Competitors raced to complete a 300-piece puzzle at the Marion Music Hall on Saturday, Aug. 8. Photos by Grace Roche
Emma Williamson prepares puzzlers for the competition.
It took nearly an hour for most teams to complete their puzzle.
Puzzlers of all ages enjoyed the event.
The Greenwalts and Ellen Bowler, right, piece together a puzzle.
Andrew Greenwalt holds Reid in his lap while puzzling.
Three tables of puzzlers raced to finish first.
Young puzzlers work away during the competition.
Many people's puzzling strategy involved piecing together the border first.
The pieces all come together as a puzzle is nearly complete.
From left: Ellen Bowler, Evelyn Greenwalt, June-Ellen Greenwalt, Andrew Greenwalt and Reid Greenwalt celebrate their win.
MARION — Amid the bustle of the Elizabeth Taber Library’s book sale, people gathered on the Music Hall stage to piece together a competition.
Marion resident Emma Williamson led groups of puzzlers in a speed-puzzling challenge Saturday, Aug. 8 to help support the library and share her love for puzzling.
Each team raced to put together a 300-piece puzzle depicting a beachy scene, with most completing it in about 40 minutes to an hour. Williamson said with an injured back slowing her down, the same puzzle took her about half an hour to finish.
The speed puzzler said she first became interested in competing when her father’s girlfriend sent her an Instagram post about a speed puzzling competition.
As a then senior in college, Williamson was looking for opportunities to expand her social circle and an activity to pass the time during winter break. She said she’s met people of all ages and from around the world through competitions.
“I went to Mass state championships, had a great time, went to the New England regional championships which were a week later, and had an even better time,” she said. “Those two events made me realize I want to do this.”
She said she wanted to bring a competition to her hometown, and asked her grandmother, who is part of the Friends of the Elizabeth Taber Library, if she could begin a club. Her grandmother suggested she bring speed puzzling to the book sale.
Williamson said she was happy with the large turnout the event brought, and relieved that it went so well since she’d never led a competition before.
“It’s been super fun,” she said. “I’d love to see some of these people at Mass states next year or nationals, even. I hope to bring more events to the Tri-Town.”
Evelyn Greenwalt, of Connecticut, attended the competiton with her family, and said it was a lot of fun. The Greenwalt family won the first competition of the day, and Evelyn said their puzzling experience may have given them an edge.
“My dad’s really into puzzles, and usually every summer we pick a couple of 1000 piece puzzles and try to piece them together,” Evelyn said. “It felt like we were doing it at home, expect it was speedy.”
