Like a lot of folks my age, I grew up reading children’s books authored by my cousin Robert Burch, who was born in my hometown of Inman, on the same road, Hill’s Bridge Road, where I have spent most of my life. Chris Gibson and his family live in a house built on the same lot as the house where Robert was born and raised. It’s the first one on the left after you turn off Highway 92.
Robert Burch (photo believed to have been taken when he lived in New York City. Photo from Friends of Historic Woolsey, courtesy of Sam & Susan Burch)
I don’t know the proper term to describe how Robert is related to me, but my great-grandmother Blanche Burch Harp and his dad Ambrose Burch Sr. were brother and sister.
He grew up during the hard times of the Depression, and most of his books were based on his memories of that era.
My favorite of his 19 children’s books, Queenie Peavy, was set in fictional town of Cotton Junction, his description of which pretty much fits Fayetteville.
As a young fellow, I always enjoyed reading his books and was proud to be related to someone so famous.
My brother Rob and I, like a lot of others around here, were extras in a short movie based on his book Tyler, Wilkin and Skee. It’s a story about three brothers who grew up out in the country during the Depression.
We were in the audience in the auditorium at the old Woolsey School for an awards ceremony where Wilkin Coley was being honored. Dr. Jim Sams, who runs the sugar cane mill and cooker at Inman Farm Heritage Days, played Tyler, the oldest brother. His brother Fletcher Sams played Wilkin, and Al Gaskins was Skee.
I recently watched that movie, and I think the Fayetteville folks who had speaking roles did a dang good job as actors. We need to find a good copy of that movie and organize a showing.
Several years ago, I re-read several of Robert’s books and was amazed at how good they are.
I immediately contacted Cousin Robert and let him know how impressed I was with his writing. I’m forever thankful that we had that conversation before he passed away in 2007.
He’s received numerous honors over the years, including having a school named for him here – Robert Burch Elementary.
I’ve read articles that make the argument that he and his characters would be as famous as Laura Ingalls Wilder and her subjects in Little House on the Prairie if not for bias against Southern writers when Robert was in his prime.
If you go back and read his books, I think you’ll agree.