By Anita Weier
Friends of Lakeview Library

When Rose Steinmetz was 15, her mother walked away from their Camp Douglas home and disappeared. As the eldest of seven children, Rose assumed many of the household duties and strived to keep her siblings happy despite their loss.

Now Rose Bingham, she has written a book about her experiences since that time and how the family remained close, despite orphanage life and foster homes. Rose kept up connections to her siblings and her father until his death. Thanks to ancestor research sites, they eventually found where their mother had gone and were able to visit her grave. They also met relatives in her second family.

To learn more, read Bingham’s book “Buy the Little Ones a Dolly” and/or come to her speech at Lakeview Library Tuesday, Oct. 2. After a social time with refreshments at 6 pm, Bingham’s presentation will begin at 6:30 pm. The free event is presented by the Friends of Lakeview Library.

Bingham lived on the Northside of Madison from 1960‒1988. After a scholarship helped her obtain her nursing degree, she worked as a nurse at Mendota State Hospital (now Mendota Mental Health Institute) and the Central Wisconsin Center for the Developmentally Disabled. Her husband Michael Bingham was a Madison firefighter for 22 years. They raised their children on the Northside, moved to Lodi in 1988 and now live in Reedsburg.

Rose and Mike are looking forward to seeing old acquaintances, and Mike said he will bake cookies for the social time.

Doris Marten of the Friends of Lakeview Board arranged the appearance.