 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.
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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]
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