New Bookstore in Montello

A new bookstore, READERS’ REALM, has opened in Montello, Wisconsin.  Located in a former Methodist church at 147 E. Montello Street, the grand opening was this past weekend.  I had the privilege of speaking and signing books there Friday evening and what a grand event it was.  People from ages eight to ninety-two filled every chair and stood in the aisles.

 An eight year old asked what work I had to do when I was eight years old on the farm.  Her eyes got bigger as I told her.  A twelve year old asked how old I was when I learned to drive, and when I said I drove our hired man’s old Model T Ford around our cow pasture when I  was ten, he looked at his father with a “see I told you so” look.

We talked about the Great Depression and the sandstorms that rolled across central Wisconsin during the miserable mid-1930s.  We talked about potato growing at a time they were planted by hand, hoed by hand, and dug by hand—acres of them.  We talked about milking cows before electricity came to the farm. We remembered outhouses and Sears catalogs.

Youngsters were learning; oldsters were remembering.  Everyone seemed to be smiling and having a good time.  Gathering at a neighborhood bookstore is a place to do that.

THE OLD TIMER SAYS: Visit your local bookstore.  They are community treasures.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:  It’s time to sign up for my writing class at The Clearing (Saturday, November 1). It’s all about writing stories from your life—to be shared with families, friends and more. Go to this link for further information. http://theclearing.org/current/classes_workshop_description.php?id=3

If that doesn’t work, write or call The Clearing:
12171 Garrett Bay Rd, Ellison Bay, WI 54210
(920) 854-4088.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

July 12-19, Writing Retreat, Rhinelander, WI.

July 23,  Jacksonport Historical Society, Mr. G’s, 6:00 p.m. Jacksonport, WI. Horse Drawn Days

July 26, Wild Rose Historical Society, 10:00-2:00.  Booksigning.  Part of Wild Rose Days.

July 29, Ephraim Historical Foundation. 7:00 p.m. Barns of Wisconsin.

Purchase Jerry’s DVDS and his Books from the Patterson Memorial Library in Wild Rose, Wisconsin (a fund raiser for them):

The library now has available both of Jerry’s DVDs, A Farm Winter with Jerry Apps and Jerry Apps A Farm Story.

Also available are several of Jerry’s book including The Quiet Season (on which the DVD A Farm Winter is based), as well as Rural Wit and Wisdom and Old Farm, (which are related to the DVD Jerry Apps a Farm Story).

Contact the library for prices and special package deals.