EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part of a weekly series on our region’s history coordinated by the Trumbull County Historical Society.

Growing up in Midway Platt — a very special place in Braceville Township and a part of Trumbull County — I can remember one of the highlights of summer vacation was spending time reading books from the Warren Trumbull County Public Library.

Some of the township folks referred to Midway Platt as “Colored Town,” causing our community to feel separated from the rest of the township. Because we were not privileged to use the recreational facilities in the neighboring communities, we created our own fun by swimming in the river and creeks, picking blackberries, playing baseball on our neighborhood ball diamond, and most of all reading books. Every time the Big Ole Bookmobile would pull up on the corner, we had a sense of inclusion.

The following is an excerpt from my book:

Growing up in the late 40’s, 50’s and 60’s, reading books was as important as catching polliwogs and playing hide and seek.

When I was very young, I remember me and my older sister sitting under the big round paw foot dining room table. She would read to me from Grimm’s Fairy Tales stories like “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”,” RumpleStiltskin” and “Hansel and Gretel.” I knew about Snow White before Walt Disney’s version.

In the summertime, one of the grand finales was to meet on the gravel road by the old apple orchard and wait for the arrival of the Bookmobile. Kids who were late getting there could be seen running through the fields and pathways, waving and dropping overdue books.

“After one’s fees were settled and selections were made, Ms. Betty Buttons would climb down out of that big beige and maroon van, sit down under the great maple tree that stood majestically at the top of the orchard, and announce “story time.”

The same commotion as when the bookmobile arrived could be seen again. Everyone was scrambling to get a spot close to her. This was to make sure you could see the pictures when she held the book up. Even the neighborhood bullies came down out of the old maple tree and sat quietly to hear the story.

I can still picture Ms. Buttons now at the end of the story, taking her handkerchief that was tucked in her bosom and wiping her brow, saying, “Now, wasn’t that a wonderful story?”

After marrying and moving back to Braceville, my girls were also introduced to the Bookmobile, being just as intrigued as I was. We still share stories with my grandchildren about Ms. Buttons, and our favorite, The Boxcar Children.

I was born Sept. 13, 1947 to Clifton and Annie Barrow Payne, the 10th of 11 children. Growing up in Braceville is where I learned about family, community, love and the values I and my former husband, Earnie Shavers, would later instill in our daughters.

I dedicated years of service as a mental health, drug and alcohol counselor, helping others to make life changing decisions to better themselves. Although I have retired, I still use my God-given gifts to help others. I am the mother of five daughters, grandmother to 14 and great-grandmother of four.

For more enriched stories by Laverne Payne, you can order my book, “Grams Words Of Wisdom and Short Stories To Help You Through Your Seasons of Life” on Amazon.