~~ TUSCOLA: A MEMOIR ~~

      Published in October 2020, Joseph’s  book, Tuscola: A Memoir--Place, Time and Meanings of a Hometown, is a  collection of essays about his growing up in his hometown of Tuscola,  Illinois in the 1950s and 60s. He started writing his essays almost 30  years ago as a way to capture the memories of his childhood. 

          How  much of your childhood do you remember? What can you recall of your  hometown? Who were the people who influenced your life? These are  questions that Joseph Colwell answers for himself in his recollections  of growing up in the small Illinois town of Tuscola. At the time, his  adventures and experiences seemed nothing special. But looking back over  60 years, he remembers with fondness the place where he grew up and the  time of mid-twentieth century. The place and the time laid the  foundation for his life and for countless others. His hope is that  everyone who grew up in a hometown similar to this one, especially a  half-century ago, will be able to relate to the place and a time that  formed their values and character, staying with them throughout their  lives. Think of your own growing up as you join Joseph’s journey through  his personal stories and imagery.