Mount Rushmore at Faulkton, SD

April has been busy!  Author visit to schools in Chamberlain and Plankinton, South Dakota, and a SD Humanities Council book discussion with the wonderful women in De Smet, South Dakota.  And yes, there was that side trip to Purdue and the additional side trip to the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa.

Yesterday, I returned from Faulkton, South Dakota, where I spoke to the Faulk County Historical Society and to the students at Faulkton Elementary School.

One of the gentlemen at the historical society remembered Gutzon Borglum.  His father had been in charge of the lumber during the carving, and he (the father) and Gutzon met regularly.  This gentleman, as a boy, often accompanied his dad to those meetings. "He was big, and he was rough," he said of Borglum.

The gentleman was 87 years old.  When I showed him my drill bit from Mount Rushmore, he told me that he had one that Borglum had given to him.  "It was about 3 1/2 feet long," he explained.  "Do you still have it?" I asked.  "Probably out in one of the sheds," he said, laughing.

The organizer of the event, Jody Moritz, said that her mom went to the 1936 dedication of Thomas Jefferson.  This was the dedication at which FDR spoke, but her mom didn't remember the president.  She was excited about eating buffalo burgers.

But the star of Faulkton was 102-year-old Irene C.  On Monday morning (after I spoke to the schoolkids), she was honored for her contributions as a teacher and for the 1,000 piece framed jigsaw puzzle she was donating to the school.

Very cool. But I was just as interested in her memories.  When she was teaching at a rural school in Faulk County during the 1930s, she helped the kids collect pennies for Mount Rushmore.

For more than ten years, I've been researching and writing about Mount Rushmore. But there's nothing -- nothing -- that matches the thrill of talking with people who have firsthand memories of the carving.

Jackie Mitchell - The Girl Who Struck Out Babe Ruth

83 years ago, Virne Beatrice "Jackie" Mitchell struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig in an exhibition game in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

14 years ago, my first book was published, The Girl Who Struck Out Babe Ruth. 

In fact, the story of that book began back in 1996 when an editor from Lerner Publishing (Susan Rose) took a chance on an unknown, unpublished writer (me!).  With ample interest, she encouraged me to write Jackie's story.

The appeal of Jackie Mitchell's story continues, not just for me, but for all audiences.  I continue to be invited to schools, libraries, and conferences to tell her story.  In fact, just last night, I received an invitation from "Sons of Norway" group to give a presentation. 

What is the appeal?  Baseball?  Gender?  Or is it the David and Goliath theme?

I think it's the latter. We all face gigantic challenges.  However, these challenges can be overcome. 

We need to live with this hope.  In fact, I think we must live with this hope - this confidence, rather - that the obstacles in our lives are not king.

If you're curious to know more about Jackie Mitchell's story (or about my story), I have more information on my website: www.jeanpatrick.com   If you have questions, please let me know.