6 • The Beacon May 29, 2025
Baker’ s book discusses life in the‘ 60s in small-town Ohio
By Josie Sellers The Beacon
Menu
A SERVICE OF KNO-HO-CO-ASHLAND CAC
CHILI or HAM & BEAN
Dine in or take out. Salads are also available with choice of toppings and dressing. 11AM – 1PM $ 3 each
RESERVATIONS ARE REQUESTED FOR DINE-IN. PLEASE MAKE ANY MEAL CANCELLATIONS BY 9:00 AM
Losing loved ones and friends can lead some people to a time of reflection. Gary Baker decided to write down the memories that came flooding back to him and include them in his new book“ Growing Up Freeport: A 60s kid in small town Ohio.”
“ In 2019 I lost my last remaining good friend from high school,” Baker said.“ In 2020 I lost my mom, and my dad had died in 2015. It all started making me think about the great memories I had growing up as a kid and the fun of growing up in a small town.”
Baker grew up in Freeport in Harrison County but later moved to Coshocton and operated the Bakers IGA in town. He and his family lived in Coshocton County from 1988- 2023. In 2020 he started working on his book.
“ When COVID struck in 2020, I had a little spare time,” he said.“ We were still running our business, but a lot of things had shut down, and it just seemed like a nice, quiet time to do something. I started taking Mondays off and just writing stories about the time we did this or that. It was cathartic for me to write about my buddies. I wrote about my parents and grandparents too and started to wonder what it would look like as a book.”
Baker started to look for help to transform his writing into a book. He bought some books on Amazon about self-publishing and joined a writer’ s group and eventually was connected with a man originally from Newcomerstown who wrote a book about his
Josie Sellers
Gary Baker’ s“ Growing Up Freeport: A 60s kid in small town Ohio” can be found on Amazon for $ 14.95.
MONDAY, JUNE 2 10:00 SENIOR EXERCISE, 10:30 GERI-FIT, 11:00 PENNY BINGO, 12:45 BINGOCIZE Turkey Cobb Salad( Turkey, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Cheese, Peas, Cucumber, Egg), Tangerine, Vanilla Wafers, Crackers & Milk
_____________________
TUESDAY, JUNE 3 8:00 YOGA, 9:15 LINE DANCING, 10:00 MEDITATION, 1:00 HAUSEY Sloppy Joe w / Bun, Sweet Potato Tots, Brussels Sprouts, Tropical Fruit, Milk
_____________________ WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4 10:00 SENIOR EXERCISE, 10:30 GERI-FIT, 12:30 FRAUD BUSTERS BINGO Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole, Tater Tots, Lima Beans, Grapes, Milk
_____________________ THURSDAY, JUNE 5
8:00 YOGA, 10:00 TAI CHI, 10:30 CHAIR YOGA, 11:15 PRICE IS RIGHT, 11:30 BLOOD PRESSURE CHECKS W / LAFAYETTE POINTE, 12:45 BINGOCIZE Mac-n-Cheese, Stewed Tomatoes, Green Beans, Applesauce, Milk
_____________________ FRIDAY, JUNE 6 10:00 SENIOR EXERCISE, 10:30 GERI-FIT, 1:00 EUCHRE Chicken Patty w / Bun, Au Gratin Potatoes, California Blend Vegetables, Diced Pears, Milk
740.622.4852 | 201 Browns Lane, Coshocton | Monday-Friday 8am-4:30pm To access ingredient content, please call Bud Moore 740.622.4852 or visit www. knohoco. org
BF-276772 time growing up there.“ He shared with me how he wrote his book and who his editor was,” Baker said.“ I got the editor’ s number and gave them a call. That gave me the motivation to get moving.” Baker worked on his book off and on for five years. He was officially published on May 5.“ Growing Up Freeport” can be found on Amazon for $ 14.95.
“ It was kind of surreal to see it go from a manuscript to this with my pictured on the back and a UPC code,” Baker said.“ It’ s pretty wild. I think I did a lot of this for myself, but it’ s also a tribute to my parents and my three great friends. I’ m the only one left to tell our stories and speak on their behalf.”
“ Growing Up Freeport” includes a brief history of the town, Baker’ s family and the two businesses there that were owned by his family. One of those businesses was a blacksmith shop and the other a grocery store.
“ Baker’ s Market in the 1950s and 1960s was very different,” Baker said.“ When my dad took over the store, there was no cash register. Everything was added up by pencil and notepad. The groceries were up on the walls and brought to the counter for you.”
In the book he talks about the grocery store and other businesses like the barbershops.
“ The barbershop was
“ I think everyone who has childhood buddies can relate to it and the fun things we did without having a dollar in our pockets.”
Gary Baker, author where all the guys hung out on Saturday mornings,” Baker said.“ They’ d eventually get a haircut but were more interested in finding out what was going on around the area.”
Baker believes anyone who grew up in a small town during the same time frame can relate to his book.
“ On a general level, it has a lot of nostalgia for growing up in the‘ 50s and‘ 60s,” he said.“ I try to touch on the major events of the time, like the space race, Kennedy’ s assassination, Vietnam, campus unrest, and talk about what was happening in the lives then of my friends and my parents when these things were going on.”
However, he also talks about the good times and how fun it was growing up in those eras.
“ This was before video games,” Baker said.“ You’ d stay outside all summer long. We’ d goof around in the creek, ride our bikes, play baseball and Wiffle ball, and stay out until
the streetlights came on at night.”
The book ends with Baker and his friends finishing high school and agreeing to meet up at noon on Saturdays when they are home at the building on the cover of his book.
“ It was our way of saying goodbye,” he said.“ We were able to do it a few times. I saw several of them over the years, and a couple of us were lifelong friends, but they are all gone now. This is a tribute to them and my parents.”
Baker will host a booksigning on Wednesday, June 4 from 6:30-7:30 p. m. at the Coshocton County District Library and Friday, June 13 from
Baker will host a book-signing on Wednesday, June 4 from 6:30-7:30 p. m. at the Coshocton County District Library and Friday, June 13 from 4-6 p. m. at the Newcomerstown Public Library Annex on Main Street in Newcomerstown. Books at these events will be $ 15.
4-6 p. m. at the Newcomerstown Public Library Annex on Main Street in Newcomerstown. Books at these events will be $ 15.
“ I think everyone who has childhood buddies can relate to it and the fun things we did without having a dollar in our pockets,” Baker said.