LocalLit book review: ‘Memories from Margaret’ is full of Joliet history

Nothing can make history come alive faster than reading a firsthand account of it.

Susan Shetina of Joliet does that beautifully in “Memories From Margaret.”

After reading the book’s description and an excerpt, I thought most of the book would be about the life of Shetina’s aunt, Margaret, told from Margaret’s point of view. But that’s only half the book.

The second half of the book is about Shetina’s life: her early childhood living in the south and her life in Joliet.

Shetina moved to Joliet in 1952 after she graduated from the eighth grade. Her family moved into a small house on Center Street near the West Pines Hotel and Shetina was surprised that people in Illinois added sugar to cornbread.

“To me, it was more like cake,” Shetina wrote.

Well, I prefer cornbread without sugar, too.

The reader will find references to a small shop in Frankfort that sold miniatures (All Small), the “smoker” room at Joliet Central High School, taking lessons at Kelly’s School of Dance, the annual Kiwanis shows at the Rialto Square Theatre, Shetina inviting her future husband to a Sadie Hawkins Dance, memories of Shetina’s father being very active at Richards Street Methodist Church and Shetina herself serving as a den mother in later years at Grace United Methodist Church.

For people who’ve lived in Joliet for many years, these stories will take you down Memory Lane. Newcomers to the area will become introduced to the Joliet of past decades and gain a perspective of its history from a longtime resident.

But as I said earlier, the book is more than just first person stories of Joliet history. Readers will become immersed in a time and way of life that may seen quite foreign to those of us in the 21st century.

Most people probably know the experience of stumbling around in the dark. But many probably have not stuck their hand in a “slop jar” by mistake while trying to find their way.

Most people have never skated in a homemade rink in a barn where cotton was stored. Or sat around a pickle barrel, fishing out pickles with a fork and eating them with crackers. Or had a close with relative with a real wooden leg.

Buy “Memories from Margaret” on Amazon.

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