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Iowa Images is a treasure of childhood memories and of growing up in rural America in a Dutch immigrant community. Author Irene Chadwick writes of the joys and hardships of a time long past, but of a time full of love for siblings, parents, and extended family.
Thousands of Dutch had settled the tri-state area of Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota in the mid 1880's and early 1900's, and Chadwick, the eleventh-born in 1936 of twelve children to Fred and Ida Sybesma Kooi, writes of a family devoted to farming, family, and attending Dutch church services every Sunday.
Chadwick's memoir also becomes a tribute to a hard-working mother whose rigorous daily chores were interrupted only by the birth of yet another child. Chadwick's greater backdrop for her family history includes the effect of sweeping world events such as the flu epidemic of 1918, the Great Depression and World War II on the family's life and on their neighbors.
The author also recalls local events such as school days and church picnics. Present additionally is the influence of the northwestern Iowa conditions such as the weather-hard winters and hot summers.
Chadwick has done her heritage proud. Her work offers a legacy for other ethnic groups who were pioneers in this new land including the Norwegians, Swedish, Polish, etc.
Iowa Images is illustrated with numerous photos that depict life in rural America in the 1920's, 30'sand 40,s. Cost of the 390-pg. hardcover published in the fall of 2004, is $34. The book contains 92 photos, and four maps. It can be ordered from Pie Plant Press, 1738 Tierra Nueva Ln, Oceano, CA 93445. You are welcome to stop in and look over the book if you wish.
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