|
Long-time
resident authors a short book about his life |
|
Harry and Barbara Van Hook Married
sixty-five years and still going |
the “brains” for the book who recorded all of Harry's stories and transcribed them into printable form |
|
"Three Miles From Salt Creek" is a history of Mt. Pulaski
during the past 100 plus years as seen through the eyes of Harry as well
as remembrances of stories from his parents and Barbara's parents and
their ancestral families. Mt. Pulaskians will want to get a copy
of this historical biography, since it is much more than stories about
Harry and Barbara and their families of past and present. Much of
the writing is devoted to old businesses, personalities, and events in
and around our town during the late 19th and 20th centuries. Of
course, there is a sprinkling of jokes throughout the book. Harry
is one of the best story and joke tellers around and this book does not
disappoint its reader.
The idea for such a book was voiced by one of his daughters, Mary Ann. [One or more other local residents have also suggested to Harry to write a book.] She once remarked how wonderful it would be if her dad would set in print all the stories and jokes (well not all) that he had been telling for years around the house and amongst his friends in Mt. Pulaski. Then came along Mrs. Elaine Sheaffer, a local resident, who was assigned her first hospice duty at the Van Hook residence during the past year. In a short time, Elaine became intrigued by Harry's ability to tell stories about the history of Mt. Pulaski and the surrounding area. She approached Harry with the book idea and Harry said, "What the hell, it wouldn't hurt to try". He had remembered the plea of his daughter and others. He simply couldn't delay the chore any longer. Harry is not alone in his strong desire to live a quality life to the end. Nevertheless, he has shown immense courage despite his continual lack of breath. His days of inhaling those iron filings from his blacksmith years at Billy Bender's Blacksmith shop have contributed to his physical problems and have caused his lungs to gasp for air during these past few years. One might add that his continual story-telling and joke-telling leaves him short of breath...wouldn't it for you? Many professional athletes, returning GI's and countless individuals out there who suffer injuries or illnesses have shown extreme courage in their will to recover or simply to live another day. Mr. Van Hook is just one of our many local incapacitated personalities who have this type of courage and intestinal fortitude. Harry may not be another Tom Brokaw, the NBC news anchor, who has recently authored several books about the past generations of Americans. Nevertheless, like Brokaw, Harry Van Hook has now created a "second career" by telling about life here in the Mt. Pulaski vicinity, which is "Three Miles from Salt Creek". The question now is...when will Harry's second edition start rolling off the presses? |
|
