From all walks
History book to tell story of Bismarck from those who lived there
By CHRIS CLINE
Daily Journal Staff Writer
Daily Journal Staff Writer
Sunday, September 23, 2007
BISMARCK — Two life-long friends from Bismarck have taken up the task of researching the roots of their hometown and writing a book about them. Linda (Tiefenauer) Radford and Linda (West) Derby have been friends for 50 years. Now that friendship is producing a book about the history of the small town they have both called home.
The two authors originally met in the fourth grade and have been friends ever since. Derby was born and raised in Bismarck and graduated from Bismarck High School in 1967. She went to Mineral Area College and received a nursing degree. She then went on to receive a BA and Masters Degree in Administrative Leadership from Fresno Pacific University in Fresno, California. She is married to Dr. Dale Derby, who practiced medicine in Farmington, and currently lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Radford has lived in Bismarck since she was 9-years-old. She graduated from Bismarck High School in 1967 and also received a nursing degree from Mineral Area College. She is married to Roger Radford and has three grown children. The Radfords have made their home in Bismarck since they were married in 1967 and have lived at the same address for 35 years.
“This book is from all walks of life,” Derby said. “It’s a people’s history book. The stories are their stories based on their perception on the way things were. It’s a book of fond memories.
Derby said one of her biggest fears was if the stories from her hometown weren’t written down, one day they would be lost forever.
“Our future generations will be able to look at this book and see the way things were in the 1800s,” Derby said.
The book traces the history of Bismarck back to the 1800s and goes all the way up into the 1970s.
“We didn’t focus on any certain generation or certain family,” Derby said.
Derby said there were several reasons she participated in writing the book. She said she loves history, she was born and raised in Bismarck and each time she came back to her home town, it had changed.
“Every couple of years we have an all-school reunion and we use the time to reminisce,” Derby said. “My good friend (Radford) and I have shared five decades of friendship. We both got the idea wouldn’t it be great to write all this down? We wanted to capture history. Our town plays a huge part in forming us, and it’s part of who we are.”
Radford said she typically would gather old photos for the all-school reunion and getting the background of the photos is what sparked her interest.
“We (Radford and Derby) both love our town,” Radford said. “People need to know what our town is all about. Everything about writing this book has been a joy. Linda (Derby) lives in Oklahoma, but she comes home once a month for a week. We also communicate via e-mail.”
Radford said Bismarck’s history is very interesting.
“People have been so cooperative and helpful in all ways,” Radford said. “This is really a people's history of their town. We have relied on their stories, which differ from one person to the next according to their perspective on things, but are all a part of that which we are. It does indeed take many parts to make up a whole and that is what Bismarck was, is and will always be. We are proud of our town and our heritage and would like to share just how special and unique this small community is.”
Radford said the book will be available in the spring of 2008.
To help launch the book Radford and Derby have created the Web site www.projectbismarck.com. The Web site refers to Bismarck as a “small but not so sleepy train town” and describes the book as a compilation of stories and legends that have been handed down and preserved by historians of previous generations.
The book is being offered at a pre-publication price of $37.50 plus $5 for shipping and handling until Jan. 15, 2008. After that the price will increase to $47.50 per book plus $5 for shipping and handling.
Chris Cline is a reporter for the Daily Journal. Contact him at 573-431-2010, ext. 114 or at ccline@dailyjournalonline.com.
The two authors originally met in the fourth grade and have been friends ever since. Derby was born and raised in Bismarck and graduated from Bismarck High School in 1967. She went to Mineral Area College and received a nursing degree. She then went on to receive a BA and Masters Degree in Administrative Leadership from Fresno Pacific University in Fresno, California. She is married to Dr. Dale Derby, who practiced medicine in Farmington, and currently lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Radford has lived in Bismarck since she was 9-years-old. She graduated from Bismarck High School in 1967 and also received a nursing degree from Mineral Area College. She is married to Roger Radford and has three grown children. The Radfords have made their home in Bismarck since they were married in 1967 and have lived at the same address for 35 years.
“This book is from all walks of life,” Derby said. “It’s a people’s history book. The stories are their stories based on their perception on the way things were. It’s a book of fond memories.
Derby said one of her biggest fears was if the stories from her hometown weren’t written down, one day they would be lost forever.
“Our future generations will be able to look at this book and see the way things were in the 1800s,” Derby said.
The book traces the history of Bismarck back to the 1800s and goes all the way up into the 1970s.
“We didn’t focus on any certain generation or certain family,” Derby said.
Derby said there were several reasons she participated in writing the book. She said she loves history, she was born and raised in Bismarck and each time she came back to her home town, it had changed.
“Every couple of years we have an all-school reunion and we use the time to reminisce,” Derby said. “My good friend (Radford) and I have shared five decades of friendship. We both got the idea wouldn’t it be great to write all this down? We wanted to capture history. Our town plays a huge part in forming us, and it’s part of who we are.”
Radford said she typically would gather old photos for the all-school reunion and getting the background of the photos is what sparked her interest.
“We (Radford and Derby) both love our town,” Radford said. “People need to know what our town is all about. Everything about writing this book has been a joy. Linda (Derby) lives in Oklahoma, but she comes home once a month for a week. We also communicate via e-mail.”
Radford said Bismarck’s history is very interesting.
“People have been so cooperative and helpful in all ways,” Radford said. “This is really a people's history of their town. We have relied on their stories, which differ from one person to the next according to their perspective on things, but are all a part of that which we are. It does indeed take many parts to make up a whole and that is what Bismarck was, is and will always be. We are proud of our town and our heritage and would like to share just how special and unique this small community is.”
Radford said the book will be available in the spring of 2008.
To help launch the book Radford and Derby have created the Web site www.projectbismarck.com. The Web site refers to Bismarck as a “small but not so sleepy train town” and describes the book as a compilation of stories and legends that have been handed down and preserved by historians of previous generations.
The book is being offered at a pre-publication price of $37.50 plus $5 for shipping and handling until Jan. 15, 2008. After that the price will increase to $47.50 per book plus $5 for shipping and handling.
Chris Cline is a reporter for the Daily Journal. Contact him at 573-431-2010, ext. 114 or at ccline@dailyjournalonline.com.
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