HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-10-07, Page 17Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, October 7, 2009 - Page 17
New book shows the farm -house history of Huron County
Denny _SWIM
signal -star staff
Long time residents of Colborne Ward in
Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh Township
have the opportunity to look backwards in
time nearly a century with John Hardy's new
book; Harvest Dtist:'Ihles of Farm Live 1913-
1976.
Hardy, a former resident of Colborne Ward,
grew up on a farm at the corner of School
Road and Sharpe's Creek Line, and through
his passion for photography, he has a vivid
memory and a collection of photographs to
help illustrate the story he's attempting to tell;
the story of his family's life on the farm.
"This book was really inspired by my fam-
ily," Hardy said. "Its really for mom, dad, and
grandparents."
Reading the book, the influence of Hardy's
family is undeniable, as every story calls to
mind some quality; from his grandmother's
ability to create an entire field of high-quality
oats from a few stray seeds, to the recounting
of his mother's triumph over Polio, Hardy's
stories are told through his family.
The book focuses on activities on the farm,
and he hopes that is what will draw people to
it. The mostly rural Colborne Ward, and sur-
rounding ACW township, is filled with fam-
ily farms that Hardy hopes will enjoy remi-
niscing through his hardcover contribution to
local history.
The book is following the successes of two
books that Hardy wrote that were spawned
from his love of trains. Rusty Lines, a book
which looked at old rail lines throughout On-
tario, was released in 1999 and sold 2,300
copies. Canadian Rail TYavel, a travel guide to
Canada's rail system was released two years
later, with 1,000 copies sold.
Having a more direct audience, Hardy has
ordered a smaller run, but the book, which
features 25 short stories and 90 pictures is a
perfect coffee table book according to Hardy.
"It's a great coffee table book, you can flip
through and look at the pictures, or you can
Photo by Denny Scott
OTESHA visits St. Mary's School
OTESHA, a group advocating environmental -awareness, visited St; Mary's School on
Friday, October 2 to perform a play for students at the school. Through the play, the
group taught the children about sweatshops, recycling, reusing, toxic gases, agricul-
tural growth hormones, and shopping locally, The eighteen member troupe cycles to
their shows, and are currently on a Great Lakes Tour, which started in Ottawa on
September 9, and will finish at the end of October in Toronto.- Shown is Kate Baston
and Evilisa Genova of Toronto during their skit,
11,
aitlan y Medical
Centre
The 1 � ` Valley Medical Centre will be
(Arguing nal Flu Shots to anyone
65 TEARS and OltatElltO in
on the following dates and times:
*No ap into rit is fw ssary*
leeve shirt and bring your health card.
4th 8:30 am - 12 pm & 1 pm w 430 pin
9th 8:30 am- 12 pm& 1 pm 4:30 pm
The H1N1 vaccine will be available in November
follow). The seasonal flu vaccine will be available to the
lam in December and January.
ebsiI: www•vidistaca
sit down and read one, or as many stories as
you want," he said.
Overcoming five years of writer's block to
create the book, Hardy believes this to be his
final piece.
"[I had to overcome the writer's block], so
I asked myself, what would I want to write
if it was going to be my last book?," Hardy
said. "I had this idea for a book about my
family farm, but I didn't really know how to
tackle it, so I wrote a couple stories, found
some photos, and those lead to more stories,
and more photos, and that's how we got to the
final product."
The book wil be officially unveiled at Sal -
lows Gallery because of a family connection.
"My grandfather was a subject that Sal -
lows used," Hardy said. "He worked in the
area from 1880-1920, and he took many pic-
tures of my father, so it seems a great place to
launch it from."
Copies of the book are available at both
Fincher's locations, Carlow Mercantile,
Crossroads in Clinton, The Lucknow Senti-
nel, and the Blyth Rural Voice for $29.95.
Hardy thanks everyone who was involved
in the book; especially his Editor Anne Judd,
St. Jacobs Printery Ltd, Design and layout'
artist Bill Boyer, Beck Bindery in Campbell -
ford, Ontario.
Hardy also thanks his family, whom he
feels he is a lot closer to since writing the
book.
"By writing this book, I feel more connect-
ed to my parents," he said. "Bringing out the
photos and telling their stories just makes me
feel a lot closer."
ata. 4 ....•
Photo by Denny Scott
John Hardy has released a book detailing
the history of his family's Colborne -Ward
history and family farm.
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