Bill Detmers: 'Be Careful Crossing the Hard Road'

[July 15, 2013]  Just like parents everywhere, Bill Detmers liked to tell his children stories. But instead of reading "Snow White" or "Hansel and Gretel" or other stories collected by the Brothers Grimm, his stories were about his own childhood during the 1940s and 1950s in the small Logan County town of Emden.

Even as his children grew older, they still clamored for the tales from this small town in the middle of Illinois -- tales about businesses that no longer existed and neighbors who knew everyone in town and looked out for one another. As adults, the Detmers kids told their dad that he should write down the tales of life in Emden so there would be a record for them and their children.

After first dismissing the idea, Bill began in 2006 to make notes that would eventually take the shape of a 150-page book filled with his remembrances and photos. After setting the project aside for a few years, he finally put the finishing touches on his autobiography of life growing up in Emden.

Published earlier this year, the book titled "Be Careful Crossing the Hard Road" has been so successful that it is scheduled for a third printing. No one is more surprised at the book's success than the author.

Born in 1940, the youngest of seven children, Detmers grew up in quintessential small-town America, where the people of Emden shopped in their own community and knew everyone in town.

Detmers' father came to the small town from Germany at age 18, an immigrant after World War I. He was sponsored by a cousin already living in town. He spoke no English when he arrived, but through hard work and diligence, he became a successful painter and paperhanger.

The elder Detmers attended high school and took English classes. There he met his future wife. They married and had seven children, of whom Bill was the youngest.

With a twinkle in his eye, Bill likes to tell of the times in his adulthood when his diminutive mother would reach up to pinch his cheek and say, "You're still my baby."

Detmers' mom and dad were married on June 22, and all seven of their children were married on the same date.

Growing up in the good old days, as Detmers calls them, in the 1940s and 1950s, life in small-town Emden was centered on family, friends and community.

Detmers' father had his painting business in Emden and surrounding communities, but he always bought his business supplies in Emden. He believed in supporting his community and neighbors.

Bill Detmers went to grade school in Emden and to high school in Hartsburg. The small classes in school made for a close relationship between the students. They hung out together and came up with ways to entertain themselves. This was a time before television and the myriad ways that people can entertain themselves today.

The kids played games and even constructed their own toys. Detmers' book shows how to make homemade kites and a device called a rubber gun made of scraps from the local lumberyard.

Bill said, "We were recycling before it became popular, taking anything that was scrap and turning it into something to play with."

After World War II, there were several major ways that Emdenites entertained themselves. One was the radio.

Detmers remembers that at his home there was one large console radio and several small ones. The console was used only on special occasions when the whole family would gather 'round for an important program. They would listen to the "Lone Ranger," Lamont Cranston as The Shadow ("Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!"), "Fibber McGee and Molly," and "Sky King."

The Emden Community House, which still stands, was the venue where the community could gather for special events. The annual March of Dimes fundraiser was held there.

Movies were shown on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Kids paid 12 cents for admission and adults paid 25 cents. The upstairs auditorium was always filled.

The Community House also served as the grade school gymnasium where basketball games were played. The grade school band also used it to practice and for concerts. It was used for school plays as well. Detmers was on stage for several school presentations.

He says, "In eighth grade there were 10 kids in my class, maybe 70 or 80 kids in the whole Emden Grade School."

These fellow classmates became friends for life, even after they moved away from town. Detmers is still in close contact with two classmates who now live out-of-state. His high school class just had its 55th reunion.

When he was old enough, Detmers had a paper route in town. This brought him into contact with everyone, traveling as he did to every part of the small community to deliver the paper. His newspaper customers became close friends.

He remembers: "One woman on my route always cooked a ham for her family on the weekends. The following week I could always count on a delicious ham sandwich awaiting me when I delivered the paper."

One other customer always had a refreshing glass of lemonade waiting for him when he delivered the paper during the summer.

Detmers recalls walking into the home of a homebound person on his route and handing over the paper, not just leaving it on the front porch. He had learned at a young age his father's example of personally supporting the people in his community.

Being a neighbor meant something special then, although the residents of Emden would probably not have recognized that as unique, just normal behavior toward the others in their town.

After grade school, Bill began to travel by bus to Hartsburg High School. There he met a young woman who would have a profound impact on his life.

Bill and his high school sweetheart, Diane, were married in 1959 and have three children: two daughters who live in Georgia and a son who lives in Bloomington.

After high school, Detmers worked for a time at the Emden Zephyr gas station, one of four places to fill up in the community. There were also two auto dealerships and two grocery stores.

He eventually found work at the Stetson China factory in Lincoln, and then in 1961 began a career at State Farm in Bloomington, retiring after 35 years. Bill and Diane's three children also have careers at State Farm.

Bill and Diane eventually left his beloved hometown and moved to Normal. About this time, life in Emden began to change. Bill attributes the change to the increased mobility brought about by the new highways and almost universal ownership of cars. Emdenites began to travel to Lincoln to the newer grocery stores, which had lower prices and greater selection than the Emden grocery stores. Those are gone now, along with the car dealerships and four gas stations.

But that heyday of small-town Emden will live forever in Bill Detmers' book, "Be Careful Crossing the Hard Road." He did some of the research for the book at the Logan County Genealogical & Historical Society, where he and Diane volunteer each week.

Oh, and the title of the book? Well, there is another story.

During Detmers' childhood in Emden, there was a spur road that ran through the center of Emden, connecting Illinois 121 and 136. It is officially named Lincoln Street, but everyone just called it Main Street or "the hard road" back during Bill's childhood. When Detmers' mother asked him to run to the grocery store for something she needed, she would always call after him: "Be careful crossing the hard road."

Now that the book is finished, how does Bill feel about it? In his words, "it is humbling." He explained: "I never thought it would be anything -- just a book for my kids so that they could have a sense of what my childhood was like. But, people are interested in it. It gives me a good feeling."

Bill Detmers' book tells a story of small-town America during his childhood. When asked about his childhood and life since, he smiles and says, "Life was good, life is good!"

[By CURT FOX]