(Publisher’s note: Be sure to also read Lisa Carolin’s story that also published today about Will Johnson’s talk at the Chelsea District Library, which took place earlier this month.)
The Chelsea community loves learning about history of the city.
Its buildings.
Its businesses.
And of course, its prominent people; what brought them here and why they decided to stay.
Checking all those boxes is the book Musings and Memories by Will Johnson, the former CEO of Chelsea Community Hospital.
This is a lovely written, history laden, hard cover book filled with wonderful vignettes and great photos. Some of the photos are by Michelle Massey Barnes, whom I’m sure you’ve heard of as well.
The stories take place throughout Johnson’s lifetime, starting well before September 1975, when he moved to Chelsea with his family and took over the helm at the hospital.
These carefully chosen memories mesh together like a beautifully made quilt.
A mosaic, if you will, of the life events that led the Johnsons to this community. A choice that played, and continues to play, a big part in the fabric of this community. (If you hadn’t made the connection yet, Melissa Johnson, Chelsea’s current mayor, is one of his children. Or, perhaps you’ve traveled on Will Johnson Drive?)
Aside from learning more about the history of Chelsea’s buildings and businesses and prominent people, I was surprised to learn that Will Johnson attended Blair Academy in Blairstown, NJ, and that he continues to support students at that fine preparatory school.
Why am I highlighting this? Because I graduated from The Peddie School, Blair Academy’s big rival. So, this book took me back a number of years as well – as I remembered the grand fun surrounding Blair Day, when the two schools played football against each other marking one of the oldest and continuous high school football rivalries in the country. (Think a high school version of U-M v. Ohio State football.)
Plus, learning more about all the wonderful folks who were integral parts of the success of our local hospital was eye-opening and interesting as well.
I don’t want to give away all the good parts, (spoiler alert: the duckling story was precious) so I’ll just recommend that you check it out from the Chelsea District Library and read for yourself.
You’ll be delighted that you did.
