Jo Fredell Higgins Releases Montgomery Book, Signs at Gray's Mill

It was a rainy and humid Saturday afternoon, but that didn’t stop the dozens of people who headed out to Gray’s Mill to meet local author Jo Fredell Higgins. And some of them took the opportunity to relive parts of their lives through her new book, simply titled Montgomery.

The book collects 220 historical photographs, arranged in a timeline of village history. Higgins, a Montgomery Patch contributor, spoke with more than 100 Montgomery residents when researching the book. Montgomery is her fifth photo book, following volumes dedicated to Naperville, Geneva, DeKalb and Aurora.

Gray’s Mill, one of the village’s oldest standing structures, proved the ideal setting for Saturday’s signing. The event ran from 1-3 p.m., but Higgins said some people were so excited they arrived early—the earliest at 12:25 p.m.

Some flipped through the book, looking for their own pictures. Virginia Potter, who managed the event, pointed out a shot of herself and her husband standing by a tree on their property—a tree that may be one of the biggest and oldest in the state.

State Rep. Kay Hatcher flipped to page 121 to point out a photo of her with members of her Foxy Readers summer reading group. She praised Higgins and her efforts to keep Montgomery history alive.

“I’m a member of every historical society around, and have been for decades,” Hatcher said. “This is just one more important piece to add to our resources.”

Village President Marilyn Michelini attended the signing as well. Michelini provided the foreword for the book.

Also on hand was Ruth Dieterich Wagner, who at 98 is the oldest contributor to Montgomery. Wagner has lived in the village since 1932, and provided several photos for the book, including the one that graces its cover. She hadn’t seen a copy of the book before Saturday, and flipped through it delightedly.

Wagner will be 99 years old on Aug. 7. She explained her long life simply: “God said I’m not through with you yet,” she chuckled.

The afternoon's event was dedicated to another of the book's contributors, Alice Sutcliff, who died in May. Sutcliff ran The Mill Tavern downtown for decades, and offered photos and memories for Montgomery.

Higgins said she and her collaborators are very excited to have Montgomery out and available.

“I’m over the moon,” she said.

Montgomery retails for $21.99, and can be bought locally at the River View Diner, 1420 SE River Road; Village Hall, 200 N. River Street; and Walgreens, 1212 Ogden Avenue. The book can also be ordered at Barnes and Noble stores, and purchased online at .