Letters from readers:

A gratifying aspect of writing a book of memories of growing up on a farm in Crawford County near Seneca is the letters we receive from readers. Seneca Seasons: A Farm Boy Remembers has struck a chord in people who grew up in the 1940s and 1950s.

We received quite a number of letters and some emails from folks who have read Seneca Seasons or the articles published in Farm Collector magazine, also Good Old Days and The Country Today newspaper

From John M in  Minnesota: “Enjoyed your article in Farm Collector magazine. It brought back a lot of boyhood memories of growing up on a small Minnesota farm.”

From Brian M: “I attended your book signing in Gays Mills. What a legacy to leave for your family. I remember the threshing crews very well. My mother taught in rural schools in Crawford County.”

From Ronald P near Rensselaer, Indiana: “Reading about your threshing days brings so many good times I had. When I was younger I would help my mother and her friends get ready for dinner. What good food we would have. When I got bigger I would take cold water on horseback to the workers. Finally I got to drive a bundle wagon. The work was hard.”

From Jerry K, South Bend Indiana: “I enjoyed your article in Farm Collector magazine. I am ordering your Seneca Seasons book. I was born in 1940 and my dad always had a team of horses. He purchased new Allis-Chalmers WC the year I was born, but he always kept the horses. The hay trolley you describe sounds just like ours. I steered the WC and my dad and brother loaded hay from the New Idea hay loader. Your article brought back many good memories.”

I hear this common refrain at many of our talks and book signings. There are common memories of rural life in Midwest farms for those of us would grew up in the 1940s and 1950s. Long hours of hard work, but many joys, pleasures, and diversions. Great education in the one-room country school. Neighbors were Irish, German, English, Polish, Norwegian-all striving to make a living off the land. Good times and hard times. The farm out on Oak Grove Ridge in the middle of Crawford County was a small place on planet Earth, but remains a big place in my heart.