The Charm of local authors, every town has a few, nothing of literary merit but curious so see how this town was in the days before, many of the buildings and houses still remain, and most of the people he mentions still have descendants of the people in the town.
Beginning in Trail, and the great die off for 30 KM around due to the pollution from the Smelter, then to Nelson where the author grew up, neighbours included the Maglio’s, who’s name still appears on antique buildings, building supply stores and one descendent used to Golf and was a great customer, the "Old Money" of the town.
Comprised of reminisces similar to “The Great Brain”, childhood stories of poverty, of illness and Polio and the fact that while many if not all families were stricken by diseases and disabilities that would be preventable and treatable today, many doubtless connected to the smelter in Trail, the final follow up with his surviving friends, neighbours, brothers and sisters, Nelson’s Chinatown and Red Light district, still, and when my Metal Detector comes from the locker I have some ideas of where to search, this town is doubtless loaded with buried treasures only needing me to unearth...
It does bring to mind how much things have changed, and largely for the better.
A fine way to pass a bloody hot day...