The Old Timers facts for kids

The Old Timers is a special book written by J. L. Carr, a teacher, map-maker, and author. It was printed in 1957, not by a big publisher, but privately by Carr himself. He wrote it when he was teaching in Huron, South Dakota, in the United States.

About the Author and His Travels

J. L. Carr was a teacher who loved to explore. When he was 25, he traveled from England to Huron, South Dakota, in 1938. He went there as part of a teacher exchange program. Some of his experiences in Huron later inspired parts of his novel, The Battle of Pollocks Crossing.

After serving in the Royal Air Force during the war, Carr went back to teaching. In 1951, he became the first headmaster of a school in Kettering, England. In 1956, he took a break from work. He returned to Huron with his wife and son for another year of teaching.

Why Carr Wrote the Book

During his second visit to Huron, Carr wrote The Old Timers. This book tells the story of some of the first European settlers in Beadle County, South Dakota. He wanted to record their way of life. The full title of the book explains it well: The Old Timers. A social history of the way of life of the home-steading pioneers in the prairie states during the first few years of settlement, as shown by a typical community, the 'old-timers' of Beadle County in South Dakota.

What's Inside the Book

The Old Timers shares memories from the men and women who settled the land around Huron starting in the 1880s. It also includes descriptions of these pioneers from people who knew them. Carr explained in an interview that he found old notes from a historical society. These notes, kept by people like Sherman Davis, Dr. Ketelle, and Mrs. J. P. Walsh, became the main source for his book.

Life of the Early Settlers

The book describes how the early settlers lived. It talks about how they built their homes, dug wells, and made shelters for storms. It also shows the tools they used every day, like lamps, coffee grinders, and hand irons. You can read about the tough weather and harsh winters they faced. The book also covers what life was like for children, including how they learned, played, and dressed. It even mentions the farm machines they used, like ploughs and a stone-boat for moving big rocks.

Carr wanted to make sure the stories of these homesteading pioneers were not forgotten. The book has many small drawings that help show what life was like.

Copyright and First Book

The book states that it was "Written in Huron, State of South Dakota, by J.L. Carr of Kettering, the United Kingdom, as a service to the people of the prairie states." It also says, "Copyright James Carr, 1957, All Rights reserved." Many people consider The Old Timers to be Carr's first book. His first novel, A Day in Summer, came out later in 1963.

How the Book Was Made

The Old Timers was printed on thin paper, similar to standard letter size. Carr used a special machine called a Cyclostyle copier. This machine allowed him to print both typed and handwritten text. The book also features 180 hand-drawn pictures. These drawings show common items like tools, buildings, vehicles, plants, and flowers.

Physical Appearance

The book has a bright red card cover on the front. This cover is backed with brown cloth and held together by three staples. The back cover is made of two pieces of dark red card. The front cover shows the short title, a circular seal for the City of Huron from 1883, and the author's name, all printed in black.

The book has 75 pages, printed on only one side. It includes a title page, a copyright page, a special ownership page, and a preface signed by Carr. There's also a table of contents, a map of Beadle County, and an index.

How Many Copies Were Made

Carr said he printed 82 copies of The Old Timers. He paid $18 to have them bound. He gave 40 copies to people in Huron who had helped his family during their stay. The rest he sold for $2 each to universities and public libraries.

Where to Find a Copy

You can find copies of The Old Timers in several libraries in South Dakota. These include the libraries at South Dakota State University and Augustana College. There are also copies at the South Dakota State Library, Rapid City Public Library, and Siouxland Public Library. A copy is also held at the Morgan Library & Museum in New York City. In the United Kingdom, a copy can be found at Kettering Public Library.