Others Had It Worse: Sour Dock, Moonshine & Hard Times in Davis County, Iowa

This unusual collaboration between Baker (In Retrospect: An Illustrated History of Wapello County, Iowa) and his deceased grandmother is a rare, insightful, and intimate work of history. The bulk of the narrative is a reorganized transcription of Covert’s 29-page handwritten manuscript describing her childhood in rural Iowa from 1920–1929 (between the ages of four and 13). Reproduced in exacting detail—Baker retained every error and idiosyncrasy—entries cover numerous aspects of country life. For instance, Covert writes about make-do medicine: “When [Mom] greased us for a cold it was Kerosene and lard warmed together till warm and rub it on. It worked and put 3 drops on a tsp of sugar and swallow it to break a cold up.” And she discusses the advent of the automobile: “The first car Lale got was a Model T Coupe. It sure looked like a small gold mine.” Covert also muses on “country school,” making molasses, breaking up dog fights, and hearing the radio for the first time. In an introductory essay, Baker fleshes out his grandmother’s history by providing background and contextual info. Like the frames on a zoetrope, these brief snippets run together to create a rich, vivid view of a bygone era. 20 b&w photos and 1 map. (Sept.)