Daughter shares 96-year-old father’s amazing life in new book

The book takes you back to the mid-1900s, a simpler time and shares the stories of Curley Curvin

Maxwell Allenby “Curley” Curvin lived an amazing 96 years and often had a story to go with his experiences.

"My dad was a real storyteller," said daughter Connie McCracken.

The East City author has written a book sharing many of those stories.

“He always meant to write them down,” said McCracken.

McCracken started writing five years ago, after taking some writing courses.

“It was really after he died that I started writing it down and asking people if that’s how they remembered it," she said.

Some people remembered them, and other people had not heard them.

“The stories have wide appeal,” she said.

She wrote the book in his voice, including the good and bad, like many families.

“It’s scary putting it out there,” she said. The book is called “Curley Curvin: Nine Decades, Nine Lives.”

Curley Curvin had a background in music, pinball machines and jukeboxes.

He had a roll top desk in the corner of the dining room that was his office.

In the jukebox days, he read Billboard magazine to find out what music was popular and placed the records in his machines.

He was quick to make changes if he had to.

“The tunes that weren’t playing, he replaced with newer ones,” said McCracken.

Curvin also liked fixing things and making things out of nothing.

“Nothing happened in his life where he couldn’t make a buck,” she said.

McCracken has fond memories of the pinball machines her father had. He had a workshop in the yard and he knew how to fix them and keep them running. He did that and more to support his family, often taking jobs that were unique.

The book begins with a prologue that sets the tone for the story and is seen through his eyes.

Early life was spent at Clearview Resort in Young’s Point, being built by his family. The book also includes stories and experiences in Peterborough, Campbellford and the surrounding area.

McCracken wraps up the book with an epilogue, summing up a long, unique life.

She will be signing copies and will also do a reading from the book at 2:30 p.m.

McCracken has also put together a playlist of songs about pinball machines, jukeboxes and top jukebox hits to commemorate her dad’s business over the years.

The book takes you back to the mid-1900s, a simpler time and shares the stories of Curley Curvin.

Curley Curvin: Nine Decades, Nine Lives is also available as an ebook on Kindle.