Second Saturdays

Thirteen years ago the Sheboygan County Historical Research Center began offering a special series of lectures they called “Second Saturdays.”  The Center is located in Sheboygan Falls and for many years, the programs were held in the community room of the Sheboygan Falls public library.

 I was one of the first speakers for “Second Saturdays” and I remember the day well.  It was a blustery fall day and I was scheduled to talk about Barns of Wisconsin, the title of one of my books.  It was an experiment—who would turn out to hear some guy from Madison talk about barns?  But the room was full (coffee and sweet rolls certainly helped to swell the crowd).  Ruth usually travels with me and sits in the back of the room.  She heard a couple of farmers talking.  “Too wet to work in the fields today anyway, so thought we’d come and hear something about barns—and drink some coffee.”

This past Saturday I appeared on the program for the thirteenth time.  The program has outgrown the Sheboygan Falls Library for many of its offerings.  We met at the Plymouth Art Center and one-hundred-thirty people turned out to hear about Limping Through Life—my memoir describing my bout with Polio back when I was 12 years old.

In many ways, it was like coming home as many people in the audience had been there as many years as I had.  I told stories.  People laughed—they  enjoyed coffee and sweet rolls—and I hope  learned just a little more about a disease that ravished this country and Wisconsin, especially during the years 1945 to 1955.  To learn more about the research center go to: http://www.schrc.org/events-and-programs/second-saturdays/

SPECIAL EVENT: December 4, 7:00 p.m. Premier showing of “A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps.”  All Wisconsin public TV stations.  This hour-long documentary is based on Jerry’s new book, THE QUIET SEASON.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Never forget your friends.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

November 13: Wisconsin Public TV Documentary Screening, “A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps” and book signing. Wild Rose High School Auditorium, 6:15 p.m. Free and open to the public. (In cooperation with the Patterson Memorial Library, Wild Rose.)

November 17: Lebanon Historical Society.  Fire Hall, Lebanon, 7:00 p.m.  Letters from Hillside Farm and Limping Through Life.

November 21: Wisconsin Historical Society Museum (On the Square). 6:30 p.m. The Quiet Season.

December 7, Velveteen Rabbit Book Store, 20 Sherman Avenue East, Fort Atkinson, 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.  Book signing.

December 8, Barnes and Noble West, Madison, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Book signing.

December 14, Fireside Books, West Bend, 10:30 to 2:30 p.m.  Presentation and book signing.

FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING “A FARM STORY WITH JERRY APPS” DVD

DVD Jerry Apps: A Farm Story List $16.95 The Patterson’s price only $15.00 ($20.00 shipped)
Special Bundle Offer exclusively by the Patterson:
Tamarack River Ghost & Jerry Apps: A Farm Story – List $43.90
The Patterson’s Price Only $35.00 ($43.00 shipped)

Patterson Memorial Library
500 Division St. PO Box 305
Wild Rose, WI 54984

(All items are sold by the Friends of the Patterson Memorial Library. They will accept checks or cash, they’re sorry but they don’t have any way to accept credit or debit cards, checks should be made out to the Friends of Patterson Memorial Library.