Ray Schaus felt it was high time for the history of Clifford to be compiled into one book and available for everyone to share.
Schaus delivers the mail around the village and local rural routes.
A semi-retired farmer who enjoys researching family and community history, he mulled over the idea of a history book, then put his hobby skills into action.
Several years later, he has completed the archive visits, the interviews, and the stories and has created, Clifford, a Scrapbook of Memories … Reveals A Village With A Past. A History of the Village of Clifford, The Top Of Wellington.
This hard cover book holds 346 pages of stories, Newspaper clippings, archival information, photos, and provides a personal perspective from Schaus’ years of living in the village of Clifford.
The book is written in chronological order with a few diversions. It uncovers a land registry misdeal, details the flourishing of a young community, covers the devastation of major fires, and tells of a gunslinger at the “saloon,” a.k.a. modern day Mansion Inn.
The Clifford and District Historical Society is promoting the book and intend to engage Schaus in a couple of book reading and signing sessions at the Clifford Library and Greenley’s Restaurant.
The books are available for purchase through Schaus by calling 519-327-8696.
Schaus acknowledges his wife, Diane, for her assistance and support, Amy Bishop for typesetting the pages, and Ian Easterbrook for his advice and enthusiasm, the printers for their quick service, and the people he interviewed to fill the pages with 155 years of Clifford history.
