DES MOINES, IA (08/04/2008) -- Pirates on the Prairie chronicles the achievements of a remarkable group of athletes, the Pirates, who explode out of tiny Halstad, MN, population 500, in 1952, much to the amazement of the Minnesota media and fans who quickly learn to love them.
Author, nurseryman, and American history lover, Eric Bergeson, of Fertile, MN, carefully traces the development of Halstad's homegrown Pirates, their classmates, and families, while also bringing vividly to life the environment that nourishes them. Readers become part of the seemingly ordinary day-to-day dynamics in Halstad, from the home lives of the players to the play-by-play reports of their movements on the court-and in the field.
Gradually Pirates on the Prairie answers its fundamental question-how did this happen? What enabled this particular group of boys, at this time, in this place, to perform the larger- than-life feats that earned them third place in the 1952 Minnesota state boys basketball tournament and first in the 1953 state baseball tournament-both against much larger, big-city schools? As excitement builds and hopes grow stronger, readers learn about-or in some cases recall-life in small-town America, when communities worked hands-on together to support and develop their children. At the same time, we detect a foreboding undercurrent-a realization that this will also be a story of loss. For Pirates on the Prairie also documents a profound change in rural American culture that those with small-town roots still feel today.
"This book is not just about a team, it's about a community-they cannot be separated," says Paul Dovre, past president of Concordia College in Moorhead."
Hiram Drache, well-known historian and author of a dozen historical documentaries, states, "The story [is] cleverly woven into a social-economic and cultural history of what was happening in agriculture and small towns throughout rural America . . . Bergeson has done a splendid job."
The writing of this book was first and foremost a labor of love made possible by Clarence Stennes, a Halstad native who hired Eric Bergeson to research and write the story in time for Halstad's 125th reunion, July 19, 2008. The book, greeted with great enthusiasm at that event, is now available in selected Minnesota Thrifty White drug stores, book stores, libraries, and online at http://www.piratesontheprairie.com/.
Call 515.278.1292 or email info@piratesontheprairie.com for interview requests and Pirates on the Prairie book signing information.
Showing posts with label minnesota. Show all posts
Showing posts with label minnesota. Show all posts
Monday, August 4, 2008
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Excerpts from Hiram Drache Foreword
My first thoughts after finishing a very enjoyable few hours reading this book were that it could have been titled, A Little Boy’s Heroes; The Rise and Decline of A Small Town; or A Nostalgic Journey. I was born and lived in a small farm-service village in southern Minnesota. After graduating from country school I rode the first bus in the community that transported students to high school in Owatonna, Minnesota.
While reading the story I thought back to my days when we country students occasionally were referred to as “dumb farmer,” “plow jockey,” “hayseed,” or “hick” by the big-time city kids, an experience had by many others during the transition years from the last 1920s to the 1950s after which the country schools basically disappeared from the scene. This was a strong theme that author Eric Bergeson used throughout the story. Bergeson, a very successful nurseryman in the Red River area, uses his writing talents to provide weekly columns for area newspapers making him an excellent choice to write this account for he was aware of the transition. In some respects the story seems to be a fantasy, cleverly woven into a socio-economic and cultural history of what was happening in agriculture and small towns throughout rural America….
The achievements of a small number of highly motivated and team-centered athletes united the residents with the sense of community and pride. This is what makes the story unique. Bergeson has done a splendid job weaving these events into a free-flowing, interesting, and enjoyable read.
Accolades go to Clarence Stennes who made his heroes from the fifth grade come to life by providing the means to record part of his hometown history for future generations to enjoy. He collected material for a half century to make this fine addition to Americana possible.
Hiram M. Drache
History Professor Emeritus
Concordia College
Moorhead, Minnesota
While reading the story I thought back to my days when we country students occasionally were referred to as “dumb farmer,” “plow jockey,” “hayseed,” or “hick” by the big-time city kids, an experience had by many others during the transition years from the last 1920s to the 1950s after which the country schools basically disappeared from the scene. This was a strong theme that author Eric Bergeson used throughout the story. Bergeson, a very successful nurseryman in the Red River area, uses his writing talents to provide weekly columns for area newspapers making him an excellent choice to write this account for he was aware of the transition. In some respects the story seems to be a fantasy, cleverly woven into a socio-economic and cultural history of what was happening in agriculture and small towns throughout rural America….
The achievements of a small number of highly motivated and team-centered athletes united the residents with the sense of community and pride. This is what makes the story unique. Bergeson has done a splendid job weaving these events into a free-flowing, interesting, and enjoyable read.
Accolades go to Clarence Stennes who made his heroes from the fifth grade come to life by providing the means to record part of his hometown history for future generations to enjoy. He collected material for a half century to make this fine addition to Americana possible.
Hiram M. Drache
History Professor Emeritus
Concordia College
Moorhead, Minnesota
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