The Herald-Star Wednesday, May 12, 1999 page 3A
Author presents first book to city
by John Grant Emeigh
Staff writer
STEUBENVILLE -- Everyone who attended the book signing hosted by author Mary Minor Evans had plenty of nice things to relate about the writer's mother.
That was the ultimate compliment for the author because her book, "A Twentieth Century Lady: The Story of Katharine Sinclair Minor," is about the life and times of her mother.
The book is a tribute to Evans' mother, who lived her entire life in Steubenville. Minor and her family, whose roots in Steubenville are as old as the city, are credited for many contributions to the city over the years. The author's mother died on her 90th birthday last summer.
Evans, a granddaughter of Dohrman J. Sinclair, the man considered to be the father of Steubenville, signed dozens of copies of her first book in Mayor Domenick Mucci's office Tuesday morning.
"She was a wonderful lady," said Tom Goosman, who was Minor's neighbor for serveral years, as he waited for Evans to sign a copy of the book.
"She was - how do you put it..," he said, as his eyes looked up to the ceiling as he searched for the right word - then he found it "class."
Mucci agreed that Minor was a class act.
"This book is a great history to the city of Steubenville, and the (Sinclair) family made great contributions to the city," Mucci said.
Evans presented the mayor with two copies of the book. One will be put in the city's time capsule. The other will be kept in the city's archives.
She signed the copy, "To the city that my mother loved, Steubenville, Ohio."
Mucci said he was thrilled to receive a book written by someone has who lived in Steubenville, that takes place in Steubenville and is about someone who lived in Steubenville. The book was even published at Tri-State Publishing in Steubenville.
"It was her goal to do everything locally," Mucci said. "That is why I wanted her to have the book signing here in Steubenville."
Richard Pflug, president of the publishing company, said he was happy with the number of people stopping by to buy the book at the signing. He said there were 1,000 copies of the book.
"It was quite nice that she kept the book local by publishing with us," Pflug said.
Evans said she began writing the book as a birthday present to her mother.
"I used to read it to my mother while I was working on it," Evans said. " She even gave me some tips as I was working on it."
After her mother died, friends encouraged Evans to have the book published, she said.
"It's an exciting book for this town," she said. "And for people who like history and love Steubenville," Evans said.
This is the first book written by Evans, who now lives in Duluth,
Minn. She will hold another book signing today at the mayor's office
from 2-4 p.m. The book may also be purchased at the Bishop of Books,
145 N. Fifth St., at a cost of $18.95
The Author: Mary Minor Evans lives in Duluth, Minn., with her husband, Robert. They have four grown sons. Evans grew up in Steubenville and spent her summers in Chautauqua, N.Y. Active in many organizations, she has recruited and coordinated 2,000 volunteers when they built a children's park in a week; served on the board of a locally owned ski hill; been the United Way's communication director; raised money for a nature center; set up a volunteer program for a great lakes center; and been director of an historical home in Duluth.