A Summerland Stories Scrapbook — Historic Summerland brought to life

I am so pleased to help my writer colleague, Norma Hill launch her new book A Summerland Stories Scrapbook at a special event on Sunday night, May the 4^th at 6 p.m. in the “Stone” Church on Prairie Valley Rd in Summerland.

Years in the making, Norma has assembled, transcribed, edited, and arranged literally hundreds of stories, reflections and photographs from many generations of her own family history into a delightful and fascinating composite community narrative. Her book offers readers a glimpse of a calmer, simpler, less complicated life, through local stories from the 1930s – 1960s.

So what should you expect at Norma’s book launch?

As you arrive you can enjoy a slide show about 20 minutes in length with lots of photos of Summerland people, places, and events from the 1930s-1960s. See if you can find familiar faces and places.

At 6 pm, an introduction will be followed by a reading of one of the stories and one of the poems.

A Q&A period will follow, where you can ask whatever questions you have related to the book or share your own stories.

During the book signing enjoy baked goodies made from recipes passed down to Norma from her Grandmother, Emily Mott, and Norma’s mother, Marjorie (Mott) Wright.

You can also check out a variety of “memorabilia” including scrapbooks, photo albums, books from the time period, and lots of other items that will surely bring back lots of memories of Summerland back in the day!

Signed copies of the book will be available ($20/book, CASH please).

Norma describes her book and project in these words:

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“A Summerland Stories Scrapbook: Memories & Memorabilia 1930s-1960s is a collection of three generations of stories and experiences from the Mott family in small-town Summerland, British Columbia. The book contains childhood memories recorded in story form by the author, Norma (Wright) Hill; autobiographical material from her mom, Marjorie (Mott) Wright; and family letters written by Norma’s grandparents, John and Emily Mott; as well as poetry, photographs, autographs, and other memorabilia. It is not only a record of one family, but includes shared experiences, thoughts, and perceptions of many other community members in this particular historical period in Summerland. Thus, it reflects the culture, sense of community, ideas, beliefs, viewpoints, and values of this particular place—and is also a reflection of many small-town communities in Canada in this period.

The lifestyle recalled in this collection is one that many people in today’s busy, complex world sometimes find themselves nostalgically longing for. For those with roots in Summerland, it may recall and bring to life family memories. In the Summerland of this time period, family and community self-sufficiency was a normal part of life, as folks grew and canned their own foods, made and repaired their own clothes and other items, lived within their income rather depending on credit, engaged in orcharding and other agricultural work with its ties to the land, helped each other regularly, and offered hospitality, sharing meals and opening their homes to both friends and strangers needing a place to stay. There was a community emphasis on kindness, humility, love of God and neighbours, generosity, a kind of small-c conservatism, belief in democracy and freedom, and hope for a better future after some decades of war and depression.

This book provides a nostalgic perspective of a time which may seem simple and more hopeful compared to the present day, yet it also had its own struggles even amidst a sense of hope, progress, and optimism for the future. It is a record of a community and environment that still reflected old-time values, but which was also was moving forward into a very different modern world. It is the hope of the author that the stories in this book may prompt readers to consider how we might face our own times of struggle, and to ponder: Is there still room for hope today as there was in small-town Summerland as reflected in the stories in this book? Are there values and perspectives we can learn from and directions we might again take?

The author also encourages readers to gather whatever historical memorabilia they may have, even if only personal memories and passed-down stories, and record them for those coming after. Your memories have great value, even if they are from what may seem like a simple and ordinary life, and they too may offer, in our own current struggles, hope for a brighter future.”

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[Ken Gray] I hope you can join us on Sunday evening the 4^th. Copies will be available locally and online.

BOOK LAUNCH DETAILS
Summerland Stories book launch
Sunday May 4 at 6 p.m.
The Stone Church in Summerland
Onsite parking and across the street
Fully accessible building — Comfortable seating