1959 Photo Development Ad

A little nostalgia...

For those of you who remember having rolls of film developed, anyone remember Sidell Hardware running advertisements like the one below?  This one is from December, 1959.  Bring back some fun memories of getting that envelope, quickly opening it, hoping that most of the pictures were in focus?  Invariably, there were some totally out of focus but still treasured!

I suppose many of us--if we decide to have prints of digital pictures--use online sources such as Shutterfly and Vistaprint.  I'm still old-school enough, for those special times, I get prints made.  We just returned from a six-week road trip and I ultimately had 1,800 pictures printed.  It was a little pricey but I don't ever want to lose those memories of such an awesome trip.

My New Year's resolution is to get back to posting a bit more often so please be sure to check back.  A lot of my time was spent the last couple of years writing two historical fiction novels ("Juniper and Anise" and "Tilly Loves Johnny"--which I would love to have you purchase to keep me going).  Both are set during the Prohibition Era in a small town that looks a lot like Fowlerville.  I'm working on a third novel currently entitled "She Wore a Hat in Prison."  Can you guess maybe someone ends up in prison that looks a lot like Jackson State Prison at the turn of the 1900s?

2016 Historical Fiction Novel Giveaways

I've had two historical fiction novels published and, right now, they are on Goodreads for some lucky winner to win a copy.  If you click here and here, follow the instruction, you might win!

2016 Sud-Z-Pet Grooming

It is so nice to see the old building tucked between Kim's Barber Shop and the old Mack Tractor sales location fixed up and occupied.  In my compiled history book, "The Fowlerville Chronicles," there is a picture of this block shown around 1901.  The buildings are old yet worthy of preserving.

Yay!

2016 Little Free Library

The Little Free Library I've been a steward for these past three years is on the move.  Today, it will be relocated inside the village limits, just off of Benjamin Street on Devonshire.  I've thoroughly enjoyed making sure the library was clean and accessible, filled with books, and a friendly stop for anyone discovering it.

But, it was time for a change in location.  

And, unfortunately, I did finally get a bit tired of some of the shenanigans from those only interested in ruining something for others.  I won't make this a complaint forum but I did want to mention a few:

~~One time, someone removed all of the CDs from their cases, left the CDs and took the cases for their own use.  A bit selfish?

~~One summer, the box was routinely filled with religious pamphlets.  Not that the pamphlets were wrong, this just isn't necessarily the place.

~~This summer, someone decided to throw hardbound books on the wet grass as well as possibly adding water to the kids books.  All expanded with the moisture, some got moldy, and ultimately a dozen books went into the trash.

~~And, someone grumping they didn't like cars stopping in front of the library.

As I climb up onto my soapbox, I'd just like to remind everyone grassroots movements, like these nearly 20,000 little free libraries across the country, are a gift to communities.  To making communities a bit more like home.  Let's treasure and celebrate little free libraries wherever they pop up, including the four that can be found within the village limits.  (Oof, climbing down from the soapbox now...)

So, once the library was removed, a deep hole either needed to be filled in or used.  Next spring there will be flowers growing in this chunk of 1927 cast iron water main salvaged from North Grand Avenue when work was done to upgrade the system in 2013.  Check out this link to see what I wrote back then.

Tilly Loves Johnny

My second historical fiction novel is now available -- paperback copies unexpectedly arrived yesterday!

"Tilly Loves Johnny" is a murder mystery set in a small town called Cedartown, that looks a lot like Fowlerville.  It is set during the Prohibition Era, same as "Juniper and Anise."  If you read my first novel, you will recognize a few names in the second one but the main characters are all new to this story.

The back blurb reads:

"Newlywed Tilly Miner turns a deaf ear to rumors and gossip her husband, Johnny, is running parties where 'complimentary' hooch loosens lips as well as pocketbooks for those looking to gamble.  Some nights he crawls into their bed, smelling of sour rye mash; others, not even making it home until early morning.  But her loyalty remains unwavering.  And then, the unspeakable happens.

"A few days before Christmas, Tilly discovers a bloody atrocity dumped on their kitchen table.  A warning from the Ku Klux Klan?  Johnny laughs it off as a joke.  But, when he goes missing one cold night in February, 1929, Tilly is convinced someone or something prevents his return.

"Her undying faith in Johnny is tested by righteous attitudes from her best friend's mother and a too cruel mother-in-law, while a recalcitrant sheriff is convinced the man merely ran off."

The ebook will be available on Amazon on its September 23rd release but paperbacks are available through my author website at www.marioncornett.com.  Would love to have you check out the website.

1960 Christmas Poem

I know we're hardly upon the Christmas holiday, not even having gotten to Halloween, but I came across this poem.  I remember reading this a few years back when I was doing research for the two history books but could never find it again.  Well, I did.  It happened to be in my Rotary notebook from when I was the President during the 2003-04 year.  

Not sure when this poem was originally published in the Fowlerville News and Views but I'm guessing in the 1960s from the people and stores mentioned.  Anyone care to comment?

Juniper and Anise Giveaway

Here's another giveaway -- click here and read my article.  Then either comment there or come back here and comment to have your name added to the drawing.  The winner will be announced June 6:

Also, please read and share on your facebook page!

2016 Interview with Fussy Librarian

I was recently interviewed by The Fussy Librarian about my historical novel, Juniper and Anise, as well as how I got started.  You can find it by clicking here.

My novel is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, as well as the publisher's site at by clicking here.  Search on either my name, Marion Cornett, or the book title, Juniper and Anise.

:)

2016 Building Demolition

Just a pile of rubble.  That is what you'll find at the southeast corner of East Grand River and South Collins Street.

A few years back, this building was operated as Hill's Sporting Goods.  After Frank Hill's passing, the building went into further decline and sat unused.  Makes me wonder what this lot will become, now owned by Ion Electric.

For a bit of history, in 1875, this lot was owned by A.W. Cooper.  He was a local druggist.  Following is a plat map showing his ownership in the upper left hand corner:

Eventually the building (the one just demolished) was built on this corner lot and used as a gas station/restaurant.  Some of that history can be found in my history book, "The Fowlerville Chronicles."  

Following is a picture from 1973 when Dan Eldridge owned the building and used it for a gas station/towing business:

When I get word of what's to become of the lot, I'll post it here.

1938 Mrs. Carrie Miner

Following is a short little front-page article I found in a June, 1938, issue of The Fowlerville Review.

This might seem like an odd little article to post here but I have a couple reasons.  

~~When we moved to this community in 1998 (looking at 18 years ago now), one of the first comments to greet us while shopping in a local store was the owner's comment that "you have to live here 50 years before you can say you're from Fowlerville."

My, did those words stick with me.  Pretty obvious, since I'm writing about them 18 years from whence they were mentioned.  Those words rankled me and, to tell you the truth, made me feel quite unwelcomed.  

But I persevered.  I joined organizations such as Rotary and Fowlerville Business Association, opened an embroidery business which I operate to this day, and am currently serving as the Board President for the Fowlerville District Library Board.  Plus, I've researched and compiled two local history books (which I self-published) and quite possibly might now as much or more than some of the old-timers.

True to those words, though, I tend to comment my hometown is Lansing and leave it at that.  Funny how things feel sometimes.

~~The second reason is because I've recently signed a contract with a traditional publishing company for my second historical fiction novel.  My first one, "Juniper and Anise," came out in December, 2014, and I've had a blast with that one.  I'm not sure when the second one will be released as we are deep in the editing process.  The working title for that one is "Tilly Loves Johnny."  

My point for telling you this?  My main character, Tilly, is married to Johnny Miner.  There is no real Johnny Miner, as this is a work of fiction, but I always liked the clear, concise surname when I came across it in my research.  The Miner family had various enterprises around time, especially during the early 1900s, one in particular being a dry goods store.

My Mr. Miner does something completely different but I love this connection, especially since I found this article while looking for something else.

Enjoy,

1916 Oyster Advertisement

The other evening, while being served some clam chowder, the conversation turned to other fish and seafood, such as oysters.  I mentioned how, in the early 1900s, oysters and canned fish were commonly found in mid-Michigan.  Quite often, lunchrooms advertised specials for oyster meals and some early benefit meals (fundraisers) were oyster-feasts.

I came across this ad from Copeland and Griffin in The Fowlerville Review, January 5, 1916, issue--a hundred years ago.