Welcome to my world!
I have been editor of The Amish Cook newspaper column for over 20 years. Many of you know that. But I’m also more than that. And that’s why I’ve started this blog. Sure, we’ll continue to discuss all things Amish over at amishcookonline, but here I’ll talk a little bit about me and a lot about other things from favorite restaurants and festivals, television shows, items in the news, and anything else on our minds. This blog is called “Not So Simple”, the title of a book I’m writing…. because of my association with the Amish, people think “simplicity.” But it hasn’t always been the case. I’ve been a newspaper reporter, a magazine writer, a public speaker…heck, even spent 3 summers guessing peoples ages and weights at a now defunct amusement park known as LeSourdsville Lake (later renamed Americana) in southwest Ohio. I started working there one summer just before I turned 15-years-old. My older brother had worked the Fool-The-Guesser booth at Americana and, well, I guess a guesser quit and they needed to fill the slot. I was happy to oblige. This picture is me during young, thinner days at the guessing booth!
Once behind the booming microphone the shy kid disappeared and I found I had something to say…most of it was just stuff like “step right up, I’ll guess your age, weight, birthday.” On-the-job experience honed my age and weight-guessing skills quite well,guessing the date of birth was just darts in the dark. I learned the hard way to go easy on the ladies when guessing weight. A few bruised shins from being kicked taught me: always guess low. I spent three blissful summers guessing ages and weights. But then a series of serendipitous events (I can talk about those later, I can’t give away ALL my good material in the first post!:) landed me a job the following summer at the local newspaper, The Middletown Journal. It also happened that that same summer Americana got into hot water with state authorities on some labor violations. Weeelll…guess which reporter on the Journal staff happened to have a ton of connections within the park? I was able to put together quite a package of well-sourced stories that summer. The amusement park closed for good 10 years later, bought by a local businessman and slowly dismantled. But the memories linger each time I pass.
When getting ready to write this I found a photo that reached out to me like a ghost from the past. There it was, etched in eternity for me.
The Screechin’ Eagle Roller Coaster enjoyed the distinction of being the oldest continuously used wooden coaster of its kind, operating at the park from 1940 until it closed in 2002. But it’s not the coaster in the photo that catches my eye, it’s the little white gazebo across from the yellow building. Until I saw this picture, I hadn’t seen this scene in over 20 years. The little white gazebo was my “Fool the Guesser” booth, the place where I spent so many hours so many summers. I met my first girlfriend there, ate frozen bananas from the yellow-colored ice cream stand across the way, and listened glumly to a static-filled radio one rainy spring day as the commissioner of baseball handed down a lifetime ban for Cincinnati baseball icon Pete Rose (also a blog topic for another day).
I’m almost 40 now and I have to admit that creeps me out a bit (okay, a lot), especially since – as cliche as this sounds – it seems like that photo was snapped yesterday. The past 20 years have seen as many ups and downs as the Screechin’ Eagle Roller Coaster but unlike the coaster, disassembled and sold as scrap, my journey is not over with yet.
Darlene Kistler-Alvord
Mar 14, 2012 @ 23:58:04
I love your Amish cook site……… now I think this will be a very good addition….. Thanks Kevin……. I feel like I have known you all your life.
Bethrusso
Mar 15, 2012 @ 00:30:14
What a great place to just be yourself – not that you’re not yourself at Amish cook, but a place to branch out to other topics. This was a great idea! So is there a place to “follow” the blog, like through e-mail or something?
amishcook
Mar 15, 2012 @ 02:00:42
Beth, thanks so much…I’m going to tinker with this blog in the next day or so and make it possible for you to “follow” me:)
Daryla
Mar 15, 2012 @ 00:40:20
I know I will enjoy your blog. You already caught me with the Pete Rose comment as I remember where I was when I heard it too. We lived in MA and we were on a mini vacation in Gloucester, MA. I still think he should be in the Hall.
amishcook
Mar 15, 2012 @ 02:01:00
Me too, Daryla!
Barb
Mar 15, 2012 @ 01:28:16
Good blog Kevin! Maybe this will be good for you, a diversion so to speak! You are a great editor and writer, we will keep reading!
amishcook
Mar 15, 2012 @ 02:01:31
Thanks, Barb, you’re too kind!
Christine
Mar 15, 2012 @ 01:52:59
I’m ready for your new adventure.
Cheryl
Mar 15, 2012 @ 06:24:03
oh to be 40 again. I know you will have lots of great stories to share. Keep up the good work!
Sandra Kaczanowcke
Mar 15, 2012 @ 18:33:30
Really enjoyed the blog, Kevin. You were such a cutie at 15 yrs. I like getting to know more about you. I read your first book and liked it a lot. I’m looking forward to a sequel.
Oh, and don’t worry about turning 40. It’s when you hit the 60 mark that the body starts to complain. 🙂
amishcook
Mar 15, 2012 @ 20:35:50
Thanks, Sandra!! Don’t know about those clothes I was wearing, though:) Must have been a cold afternoon!
Lougender
Mar 16, 2012 @ 00:21:03
When I first saw that photo, before reading your blog entry, my first thought was “Oh my gosh! Is Kevin planning to become a rhinoceros breeder??!!”
pat rizzi
Mar 15, 2012 @ 21:18:13
I realy enjoyed your new blog. Loved the amusment park rememberences. I amlooking forward to more posts.
Linda from KY
Mar 16, 2012 @ 01:07:31
LeSourdsville Lake was where my dad’s company picnic was when I was in elementary school, starting before you were even born. And you were feeling old just now. 😉
I remember riding the Screamin’ Eagle for the first time when I was 9 or 10 years old. My older sister talked me into it. Later, when it was Americana, our church youth group went up there a couple of times. It was cheaper than Kings Island, which made it affordable for more people in our group. I miss it!
Great start to your new blog, Kevin!
amishcook
Mar 16, 2012 @ 09:11:11
Thanks, Linda, nice to see you here…Sad the park is gone!
Dianne
Mar 16, 2012 @ 09:02:57
Look at you! Weren’t you just the cutest. I remember LeSourdsville well. That roller coaster is the reason that I am so scared of them today. I got on the roller coaster one day when there was not many people there and I had never been on a roller coaster before and I got in the front seat all by myself and when i got to the top I almost fell out and the kid operating the coaster obviously thought it was funny and he just kept letting me go around and around. I was petrified. I do not ride roller coasters now. Love your new blog. Thanks Kevin,
amishcook
Mar 16, 2012 @ 09:12:19
Dianne, thanks for stopping by here…and, heck, depending on when you went to Americana/LeSourdsville, maybe you stopped by my booth!
Diann B.
Mar 16, 2012 @ 13:13:43
You brought back a lot of memories of LeSourdsville for me, Kevin. I was in a children’s chorus back in the 50s-60s and they bussed us to that amusement park every summer for a day of games, food and rides. I rode the Screamin’ Eagle once – that’s all it took for me to decide roller coasters weren’t for me!
Helen Cbhristensen
Mar 16, 2012 @ 16:50:43
I enjoyed your blog. Looking forward to reading more of them in addition to the Amish Cook. By the way 40 is very young. May you have many, many more healthy years.
Barbara Weber
Mar 16, 2012 @ 17:57:00
The thing I remember most was swimming in the lake. At the time it looked like the ocean. How big was it?????
Dorothy Shaulis
Mar 16, 2012 @ 21:11:33
Thanks for sharing, Kevin. I enjoyed reading your memories of the amusement park. I have never heard of that one, but have fond memories of ones near here. I think this blog is a great idea and will enjoy reading it.
Heather
Mar 16, 2012 @ 21:58:12
Kevin, what a great start to your blog. Looking forward to reading even more. My first job was at an amusement park as well. Lake Compounce of Bristol CT. It was a family owned small amusement park much like the one you worked at. Your commentary on it reminded me of those wonderful summers working the games, rides and what nots. The Lake is still in existence. Its the oldest continuously operating amusement park in the country. Its much bigger now and vastly changed from the time I went there and worked as well. The Wild Cat wooden coaster is still in use there too. Ah. Such fond memories! Thank you for sharing your early start and wish you well on the success of the blog.
Carol Morris
Mar 16, 2012 @ 21:58:37
This is going to be fun reading! If you think 40 is scary, wait till your kids are 40 & 50! That IS scary.
PS Hope my quilt piece is blue.
Carol Morris
Mar 16, 2012 @ 21:59:19
Purple is almost as good!!
Karen
Mar 16, 2012 @ 22:02:13
Hey, I remember the American Amusement Park. Before it was Americana, it was LeSourdsville Lake. I grew up in Hamilton, Ohio and spent a lot of time at the park(s). It was truly a family amusement park and I remember as a kid thinking that it was so “huge.”
amishcook
Mar 16, 2012 @ 22:41:58
Hi, those were the days, Karen. There is a Millikin Road around here, is it named after you?:)
Mary Hoover Ingram
Mar 17, 2012 @ 09:49:07
Thanks Kevin, I think this will be GREAT !!!! I just hope I can get back to this, I’ m not the best on a computer. I Love to read the Amish Cooks column also’
Lisa
Mar 18, 2012 @ 20:32:09
Thanks Mr. Kevin. I enjoyed your blog. My husband worked @ LeSourdsville/Americana…he was Uncle Freddy I think he said….brings back memories….can’t wait for the next one!!! Oh yes, and let Ms. Lovina know I made her chocolate chip pie!! OMgoodness. It was great!!!
amishcook
Mar 18, 2012 @ 22:29:27
Thanks, Lisa…many fine memories of that place…I wish it were still around!
Patricia Clay
Apr 01, 2012 @ 17:04:35
Thank you! I really enjoyed your blog and look forward to more!