By Maud Hart Lovelace (Author) and Sutton Foster (Narrator)

In October, 2005 the nationally syndicated PBS home improvement show, Hometime, worked and filmed two episodes at Betsy's house. Host Dean Johnson and his crew spent three days working with Betsy-Tacy Society staff and volunteers on the exterior of Betsy's house. Work included replacing the old siding on the south side of the house, installing three custom made windows that were specially built to match the other windows in the house, remove the old concrete front steps and replace with wooden steps, and hang antique doors in the front entry.

Vol I features episodes 1 and 2 of the restoration including historical biographical information of Maud Hart Lovelace and her work. The DVD is being used as a fundraiser for continued restoration of the interior of Betsy's house. If you would like to support our restoration with a donation of $50, we'll send you the Hometime DVD FREE.

The interior restoration of Betsy’s house is featured in episodes 3 and 4. Drywall is hung and the walls are plastered. The DVD is being used as a fundraiser for continued restoration of the interior of Betsy's house. If you would like to support our restoration with a donation of $50, we'll send you the Hometime DVD FREE.

This recording pays tribute to Maud Hart Lovelace (1892-1980), the author of six novels and eighteen children's books. She is best known for her beloved series of Betsy-Tacy books, which to a great extent depicts her childhood days in Mankato, Minnesota, the fictionalized "Deep Valley."

Maud's descriptions of daily life in early 1900 are accurately described in the Betsy-Tacy books and as an author she paid careful attention to historic detail. Music was an important part of family life for Maud growing up and is often mentioned in her books. Her older sister, Kathleen, whose life ambition was to become an opera singer, played many popular tunes of the day as well as classical, opera and religious music. All three Hart sisters learned to play the piano. Music set the tone for many social activities including school programs and dances, musical theater and touring shows at the Opera House, as well as at home when family and friends gathered around the piano and rolled up the rugs in the parlor to dance. Maud used over 200 music references in her children's books.

Maud often remarked that she always felt destined to become an author. Her books tell the story of life in small town mid-western America at the turn of the century and the music captures the spirit of the times. Listen and you will feel as though you stepped into the pages of the Betsy-Tacy books and this classic era in American history.

Song titles include: Annie Laurie, Bedelia, Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Your Charms, Blue Bell, Hiawatha, I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now, I'd Love to Live in Loveland with a Girl Like You, I'm Afraid to Come Home in the Dark, In My Merry Oldsmobile, In the Good Old Summertime, Let Me Call You Sweetheart, Meet Me To-Night in Dreamland, Merry Widow Waltz, Morning Cy, My Wild Irish Rose, Navajo, Oh Promise Me, School Days, The Moon Has His Eyes On You, and Peg Of My Heart.

This compilation of music from the turn of the century features Minnesota pianist Craig Timmerman and is produced by Cellar Sounds Studio of Mankato. This project was made possible by a grant provided by the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council from funds appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature and the McKnight Foundation.

A new, revised DVD by Oxcart Productions, updated from the 1983 original with new visuals, music and color. An overview of the Betsy-Tacy books and the life of Maud Hart Lovelace.

14 min. Ages 7-12
Published by Oxcart Productions, Inc.

A Visual Collection of Letters Written by Maud Hart Lovelace

By Julie A. Schrader

This digital collection of letters was assembled to provide insight into the life of Lovelace when she wrote the Betsy-Tacy series. Her letters, all addressed to Thomas Edwards, illustrate the author's attention to historical accuracy as she recalls her childhood memories of Mankato. Edwards, whose pen name was Willie Putt, was the author of the Betsy-Tacy book reviews written for the Mankato Free Press from 1940 - 1958. Thomas Edwards writes in one of his reviews, "Maud Hart Lovelace is in the process of becoming one of the best accepted of contemporary writers in the field of youth reading." Letters written by Lovelace to Edwards are from the private collection of the Edwards family. A companion booklet is included with the CD and is a collection of the transcribed Free Press book reviews. Includes reviews written from 1940 - 1958. 18 pp., Spiral bound. Please note that the CD is PC-compatible but will only run on late model MAC versions. Published by Minnesota Heritage Publishing.