Ev Rau’s book makes bygone farm days come alive in your head
To the Editor:
Many years ago, I met Mr. Everett Rau at the Altamont Fair. I invited him and some of his friends from the Dutch Barn Association to our farm to look at our barn, which I thought was a “Dutch” barn. After looking it over, Mr. Rau and his friends determined that the barn was an “English” barn, a style of barn very popular in the northeastern United States in the 1800s and 1900s.
Over the years, I would meet with Mr. Rau at one type of farming event or another. The week before last, while in the dentists’ office in Altamont, I met Mr. Rau again.
We exchanged pleasantries, talked about our families and news of the day. As I was putting on my coat to leave, I mentioned to Mr. Rau that I hoped the weather for the weekend was decent as my wife, Ida, and I were taking our nephew’s grandchildren to Schoharie on Saturday, March 19, for Easter egg hunting and hayrides, weather permitting.
Mr. Rau said that he also hoped the weather was good as he and Peg, Mrs. Rau, would be in Schoharie at the Carrot Barn that same Saturday as he would be signing his book, “Stand Tall Against the Odds.”
As it turned out, Saturday's weather was near perfect. It was sunny, a little cool with a slight wind.
We went to the Carrot Barn, where we met Mr. Rau and his wife, Peg. Everett was kind enough to sign his book for me. Ida and I made some additional purchases and we left for home.
That evening, I sat down in my favorite chair and began reading Mr. Rau's book. I must tell you that Mr. Rau's words as told to Laura Shore literally flowed off the pages; the book is very well written. The descriptions of a farm life, now long gone, will come alive in your head.
I was so engrossed with the book that, when I looked up, I was astonished to see that it was 2 a.m.
I very much enjoyed the book and I'm sure you will too. I highly recommend it to everyone. At the end of the book, there is a very nice memorial to Mark Burlingame, a dear friend of Everett and Peg.
Go buy the book, you'll be glad you did. I'm glad I did.
