-Isms: Views on life in rural America

Thomas Fuller, an African slave and mathematician, said, “Memory is the treasure house of the mind wherein the monuments thereof are kept and preserved.”

If you were unable to attend Sunday’s history lesson about Ewing, with Butch Rotherham, you missed an opportunity to hear abundant treasures about Ewing, it’s people and places.

Let me tell you, Butch’s memories are well preserved. And funny. Often times poignant. Extremely educational.

Sunday’s event, held at St. Dominic’s Hall, came about after Randy and Jill Switzer approached me about a question and answer session with the person I like to call Ewing’s history man. We agreed I would record the event and make it available on the paper’s website and social media channels once captioning is complete. Butch agreed to set up “part” of his display of Ewing memorabilia. By part, I mean approximately 20 banquet tables, filled with old newspaper clippings (and archival books), photographs, advertising and marketing treasures, school gear and bits of Ewing’s history, like a piece of the rail line from the Savidge brothers’ farm near Deloit or a vest and law enforcement badge worn by Butch’s dad.

And the stories! Like sleeping in the rag box at the Green Lantern Cafe or shopping at Curly’s grocery store so he could accumulate enough tickets for a chance to win a toy gun and holster set. Priceless! There were stories about the soda fountain and ice cream sundaes at Gibson’s Drug Store and visits to Eggleston’s store.

I haven’t laughed so much in a long time. I could close my eyes and envision walking down Ewing’s business district, stopping by the creamery - home of Elkhorn Valley butter - or the ElDorado Theater or Rockey’s Gambles store.

I’ve written this before and I’ll write - and say - it again. Preserving our ancestor’s history and stories, the threads that weave our connected backgrounds, is an integral part of our present and future. Doesn’t matter if it’s the history of a community or family, those stories are worth conserving.

I still believe we have to do a better job of asking questions of our loved ones and recording their responses. We are the history keepers and should be encouraging all to share their memories.

One of the best decisions my family made was to videotape our grandparents talking about school days, life on the farm, first jobs, surviving the depression and a host of other memories. And, luckily, we are a family of photographers who documented thousands of single snapshots in time. Oh, so many photos to go through.

About 15 years ago, one of my cousins asked me to write a book about time spent at our grandparents’ farm. I have a list of stories to highlight, several are written, but there’s a definite age gap between we cousins, so our perspectives may differ. Nothing wrong with that, either.

I also have a journal of writing prompts, “The Story Of My Life,” and hope someday, the grandkids find my antics intriguing. Okay, at least I hope they realize their family members lived by trial and error, not being harsh on one another when we made a mistake because, oh! There were plenty. I hope they also realize the place we call home was a central character shaping our lives.

Maybe, someday, all of Butch’s stories will morph from spoken word into written form, a tangible reminder of life in Ewing, of the place many call home and the people who taught family, friends and neighbors how to live and laugh and love.

Thanks, history man, for sharing your wealth of knowledge. Can’t wait to hear more stories.