October 27, 2012

Stella Patterson was born October 14, 1866, I know that all you loyal fans of Stell’s book remember (correctly) that the book says her birthday was April, but who moves to begin gardening in the country in October?? that was one of those things that were changed from fact. Stella seemed irked with all the changes that the publishers made and wondered if the story would be the same!
So she turned 80 in 1946 and that began the tale of moving to a cabin in the wilds along the Klamath River to live with Vicki, her dog. Mrs. Patterson passed away in December 23,1955 just weeks before her memoir, Dear Mad’m was published. The book became a popular book club selection and was sold internationally. Naturegraph publishers has reprinted the book and we are grateful that it is avaialble here in Happy Camp!

The Happy Camp Chamber of Commerce has enjoyed many inquiries from visitors to our area who have read the book and come to see Dear Mad’ms cabin. Some people loved it so well that they moved here, like three ladies from Chicago, Joan Richardson, Vivian Witt and Marie Miller. In 2011, with the Klamath Writer’s Group, they started a wonderful tradition of honoring Dear Mad’m with a luncheon, and will again do so this year. Instead of the heat of August, it is moved to also celebrate her birthday in October.

The special weekend  with a reception Friday, October 12th. Peter and Elizabeth Lismer were here. they are the authors of a new book by Naturegraph, Dear Mad’m Who Was She? and we anticipate their first opportunity for a book signing of the new publication. Saturday will be the luncheon Symposium, and Sunday morning a Dear Mad’m pancake breakfast will be served before a field trip to the area where her cabin was located.

For further information on 2012 Dear Mad’m Day, go to www.friendsofdearmadm.com.