The Sugar Creek Gang…
Sometimes, one has to get reacquainted with old friends. And if you are not privileged to know Bill, Poetry, Dragonfly, Circus, Big Jim, and Little Jim, may I recommend that you spend a pleasant hour getting to know The Sugar Creek Gang. The last few evenings have found me too tired to do much housework while my husband cuts hay, so I decided to sit in the hammock with a tattered old favorite.
The adventures of the Sugar Creek Gang, chronicled by “red-haired, freckle-faced ordinary boy” Bill Collins, are some of the most wholesome books I’ve ever read. It’s like taking Tom Sawyer and giving him Christian parents, a growing faith in God, and a gang of boys who have fun together while learning to become men. The books are filled with every kind of adventure, from killing a bear to helping catch bank robbers. And all throughout, without the least bit of “moralizing”, the reader learns lessons of obedience to parents, praying for others, and being a good citizen, right along with Bill and the rest of the gang.
My brother and I used to read and re-read the Sugar Creek Gang books every chance we got. And we often caught Daddy with one, too. From those short little books I learned so many lessons about prayer and life. Re-reading some of the tales brought tears to my eyes. I can’t think of any books I would rather have my sons (or daughters) read. Will and I read his set of 33 paperbacks from Christian Book Distributors so many times.
My husband only heard the radio versions of the stories growing up, which didn’t capture half of their depth or fun, so he didn’t quite understand my excitement when I found an original 1941 hardback at an antique store for $2.95. But so far I’ve managed to collect 9 of the series, and one of these days, I’ll convince him to read one. And he’ll be quoting “The Village Blacksmith” right along with Poetry, and longing for a sip of Old Man Paddler’s famous sassafras tea.
I read one of these books when I was in the second grade, in 1953! I didn’t know there were more; I’ll have to find them for my granddaughter.
I was trying to remember the name of it, and found this blog by googling.
I am a great fan of The Sugar Creek Gang. I love listening to them on tape. Although, I will read them too. They are way better than the movies.
I’m a fan of Sugar Creek Gang books also so I love your post. For all those interested the SCG radio series can be purchased from Beloved Books by the album. These are my favorite as I don’t have a lot of time to read and I love listening to books on tape!!
Like your husband, my sisters and I used to listen to the Sugar Creek Gang over the radio years ago. We loved it! I think we actually purchased all of the books through CBD as well, but I personally found them sort of boring and preferred the radio versions (perhaps I need to go pick up one of the copies again sometime soon :)).
Melea Bulkley
I thought I must be the only girl to read the Sugar Creek Gang series! I convinced my parents to buy me the whole set and they are still on my shelf. I should start re-reading them. I absolutely loved them and your post brought back such memories. Thank you.
God be with you, Lora
I grew up with the sugar creek gang books. My mom would read them to my brother and I just before we went to bed. I would have to agree with Gretchen, I can hardly think of any books I’d rather have my (hopefully) future sons read!
Thanks for bringing back great memories! It has been so long since I’ve read these. I loved the Swamp Robber esp!
Sounds like a fun read! I actually saw a Sugar Creek Gang book the other day, but hadn’t heard of them.