cktimes.ca Archives for Cultural Musings on Chatham-Kent
Cultural Musings on Chatham-Kent
FILL THEIR CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS WITH LOCAL BOOKS
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Christmas is now only a few weeks away and you are desperately trying to find that special gift for those special people that seemingly have it all. Well.... I think that I may have a number of possible solutions for you to consider. Why not stuff their stockings with a book that explores some aspect of our community?In the last few years, our area has been blessed with a number of local authors publishing some very good material that would make, for almost everyone on your list, a great Christmas gift. From our experience, there are very few people who do not enjoy a book on some aspect of local history and, in Chatham-Kent, we have a plethora of choices!
Bryan and Shannon Prince of the Buxton National Historic site are always doing something interesting and creative from a Black history point of view and as was mentioned last year Bryan has written a very interesting book that has gained much deserved attention.
In 2004 Bryan published his first book entitled I CAME AS A STRANGER: THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD. This well-written creation (Tundra Press, Spring 2004) would make a perfect Christmas gift for anyone interested in knowing more about the dramatic stories of how those escaping slavery arrived at such places as Dresden and Fort Erie. Copies can be obtained by phoning the Buxton Museum at 352-4799 or at Coles in the Downtown Chatham Mall.
Also with connections to Buxton is a brand new book published by a very talented lady whom we have gotten to know and admire quite well over the years thanks to Bryan and Shannon Prince. Her name is Karolyn Smardz Frost and her book I'VE GOT A HOME IN GLORY LAND (Thomas Allen Publishers, 2007) retraces the journey of a runaway slave from the Ohio River Valley to Canada. In November of this year it was announced that this book was the winner of the non-fiction Governor General's Award. This "must-read" publication is available at Coles Bookstore in the Downtown Chatham Center as well as Chapters Bookstores everywhere.
Al Mann and Wallaceburg's history are, in most people's mind, synonymous. The Mann name has a special relationship with this area's history and Al, like his father, is an extremely hard-working, knowledgeable and prolific writer of history who consistently turns out fascinating insights into the history of the Wallaceburg area. His latest efforts are ones that are sure to please those who not only love the St. Clair River but the many boats that have plied it.
These books are published by VanWell Press and are part of its popular LOOKING BACK series. These books contain page after page of wonderful pictures and concise descriptions of the people, ships, islands and events that have transpired along this river over the last sixty years. These well researched books containing pictures from a variety of wonderful sources (including the incomparable Louis Pesha). To get your copy, give Al Mann a call at 627-3296 or look for it at Victoria's Garden in Wallaceburg and Coles in the DCC as well as Sarnia.
If your interest in local history tends to be of the bizarre or supernatural kind then you absolutely must have a book just recently (October 2007) self-published by well-known, retired librarian and local historian Sheila Gibbs. Her book entitled GHOSTS OF CHATHAM-KENT Volume II has been selling like the proverbial "hot cakes" and the easy conversational style of her concise, compelling and vivid descriptions give even hard-core skeptics reason to pause and consider the fact that, just possibly, "we are not alone".
It is available, while supplies last, at several gift stores around Chatham-Kent as well as Coles Bookstore in the DCC. It can also be obtained by phoning Sheila at 351-2958. A word of warning – don't put off buying this book as there are only a limited number printed and this eerie book is on a lot of people's Christmas lists. Volume I sold out so quickly that many people missed out.
Darcy McKeough earlier this year engaged the noted local writer, reporter and historian Win Miller to write the fascinating history of the J& W. McKeough Supply Company. This book was printed in limited numbers but a few may still be available. Phone Carol at Christ Church (519-352-1640) to see if there are still any left.
Elsie Toonen's wonderfully illustrated books are available at a number of local gift stores. The last one featuring the old stone house on Hwy# 2 near Fairfield Museum is a favourite of many people.
Marion Matt from Bothwell has produced a magnificent "tome" on this fascinating little town and is still available at Mrs. A's General Store in Bothwell.
Bill Stephen has produced Volume II of his wonderful pictorial history of Rondeau Park and, like Sheila Gibb's "Ghost Book", his Volume I sold out very quickly. Take a drive out to Dove's Bistro, outside Rondeau Park, have a great meal and purchase one of Bill's Volume II books. In fact, that could be a package Christmas gift – a great meal and a great book!
Deanna Bullard's book entitled LOOKING BACK- THE CHATHAM KENT MUSEUM is available at the museum gift store and includes a large number of historically fascinating images from the CK Museum archives.
Noted writers Lori Lanssens (RUSH HOME ROAD and THE GIRLS) and Ray Robertson (MOODY FOOD and WHAT HAPPENED LATER) may have left the environs of Chatham-Kent but they keep returning to it in important literary novels that receive great acclaim in the best of international literary circles. Their books are available at Coles, Chapters, and Indigo and basically everywhere quality books are sold!
Our books entitled THERE WAS A TIME (Chamberlain Mercury, 1998) and LOOKING BACK- THE THAMES RIVER (Vanwell Press, 2005) are still available, in a number of local gift stores as well as Coles and Chapters. Unfortunately, IMAGES OF CANADA – CHATHAM (Arcadia Press, 2002) is completely sold out of its second printing.
We are sure that we have, inadvertently, missed a few other local authors and their newest publications but we have attempted to provide you with at least a starting point for your Christmas shopping trials and tribulations. Share your community with others through the written word. They will be gifts that your loved ones will treasure forever and ones that no one will even think of wanting to return on December 26th.
Jim and Lisa Gilbert are local, national and international award winning educators and historians.
