Hemlock Gems: Memories of Jack C. Evans: His Boyhood Days In Hemlock - Couverture souple

Evans, Jack C

Couverture souple

ISBN 13 : 9798999571809

Editeur : Little Finger Lakes Center Press, 2025

Synopsis

Hemlock Gems is a heartfelt and vividly remembered portrait of small-town American life in the early 20th century, as seen through the eyes of Jack C. Evans, who was born in 1918 and raised in the hamlet of Hemlock, New York.

In this lovingly edited collection of personal stories and sketches, Jack brings to life a bygone era — a time when neighbors knew one another, children found adventure in the simplicity of the world around them, and Main Street was the center of community life. From days spent exploring the fields and forests to evenings punctuated by the passing whistle of the railroad, Jack recalls his youth with humor, gratitude, and unshakable affection.

Written in his seventies, Jack’s recollections carry the clarity and charm of someone who held those memories close all his life. His stories are filled with small but shining details — a corner store, a schoolyard friend, a local character — that together create a mosaic of life in Hemlock during the 1920s and 1930s.

Edited by Richmond Town Historian Joy Smith Lewis, Hemlock Gems is both a personal memoir and a local treasure. It offers readers a window into the rhythms of small-town life, capturing not just one man’s childhood, but the spirit of an entire community.

Perfect for readers who enjoy memoir, regional history, or simply the richness of everyday life well told, this book is a gem in every sense — a tribute to memory, place, and the power of storytelling.

A propos du livre

À propos des auteurs

John Cushing "Jack" Evans was born in 1918 in Buffalo, NY, and raised in Hemlock, where he graduated valedictorian of the Hemlock School in 1935. He went on to earn his degree from the University of Rochester in 1939 and joined its Institute of Optics, helping shape one of the nation's top optical research programs.In 1953, Jack co-founded Tropel Corporation, a leader in high-precision optics. Under his guidance, the company helped revolutionize industrial and semiconductor imaging systems and was eventually acquired by Corning Incorporated. Seeking new challenges, Jack sold his stake in Tropel and in 1967 founded Velmex Inc. in Bloomfield, NY, focusing on precision motion control systems. Velmex quickly earned a national reputation and remains a respected manufacturer today.Jack never lost touch with his roots. When the Hemlock School closed in 1982, he purchased the building to preserve it for community use and as possible expansion space for Velmex. Though it proved unsuitable for company operations, Jack invested in significant upgrades-heating, electrical, and plumbing-and donated the building to the Town of Livonia, which reopened it as the Jack Evans Community Center.When the town announced its closure and auction in 2016, a grassroots movement led to the creation of a nonprofit that bought the building and formed the Little Finger Lakes Center, which thrives today as a regional hub. The gym still bears Jack's name.Jack also sold his land to the Town of Richmond at a discount for the development of Sandy Bottom Park and Beach in Honeoye, providing lasting recreational and environmental value. A lifelong sailor and member of the Oak Orchard Yacht Club, he found peace on the water and meaning in giving back. Jack Evans's legacy lives on in the companies he built, the land he preserved, and the community he protected. Through every effort, he demonstrated how one life, grounded in place and purpose, can quietly shape the future.

Joy Smith Lewis serves as the official Historian for the Town of Richmond, New York, where she is dedicated to preserving and sharing the stories that define the Honeoye and greater Little Finger Lakes region. A passionate writer, researcher, and editor, Joy has authored and contributed to numerous publications focused on local history, uncovering the lives, places, and events that have shaped her community.Over the years, she has played a central role in curating exhibits, collecting oral histories, and documenting the evolution of Richmond from its earliest settlements to the present day. Her work reflects a deep respect for the past and a commitment to keeping local heritage alive for future generations.As editor of Hemlock Gems: Memories of Jack C. Evans, Joy brings her sharp editorial insight and historical expertise to the personal recollections of a beloved community member. With careful attention to voice and authenticity, she ensures that Jack's boyhood stories of life in Hemlock are both preserved and celebrated in this volume.When she's not writing or digging through archives, Joy can be found at the Richmond Town Hall, helping residents trace family histories and answering questions about the area's rich and varied past.

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Little Finger Lakes Center Press
• Date d'édition: 2025
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 13: 9798999571809
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 96
• Éditeur: Lewis Joy Smith
• Coordonnées du fabricant: Manufactured by Amazon on behalf of the author; https://www.amazon.fr/hz/contact-us; ; c/o Amazon Media EU S.à.r.l., 38 Avenue John F. Kennedy; Luxembourg; L-1855; Luxembourg