Book Review

Local businessman and philanthropist Andrew Kalnow’s first book of photography, “Our Town & Country: A Photographic Journey in Tiffin – Seneca”, is considered by many to be the quintessential modern portrait of our community.  Created with artist and designer Audrey Burkholder, and published in 2018, the book captures images from the area’s lush farmland and country roads to scenic river and railroad vistas, to the justice center and other downtown buildings, creating a lovely portrayal of a town with much to offer.

Kalnow’s follow-up book, “Our Town & Country, Volume 2,” is, in his words, an effort “to further highlight the beauty and visual enjoyment that can be discovered outside our doorsteps.”  As with the first book, this volume is divided into sections, each of which features a different aspect of Tiffin and the surrounding area. 

“Town” explores a downtown basking in the beauty and fragrance of springtime blossoms, a night time view from Frost Parkway, scenes from farmers’ markets and celebrations, concerts at the East Green Amphitheatre, and evening scenes from local pubs to a full house enjoying  the hit performance of TOTO at the Ritz Theater.  

“East Green” depicts the creation and active delight of the park at National Corner, with a drone shot capturing close to a hundred children and adults alike frolicking in and around the splash pad by day, and ground-level photos displaying the splendor of a colorful fountain by night. 

Perspectives from “A Downtown Neighborhood” depict the inviting city life ambience of the oldest part of Tiffin located just across the Washington and Perry Street bridges from downtown. Known as Fort Ball, this once dilapidated neighborhood has a mix of pre-1900 stately homes and apartment buildings (and an old train station) that have been or are currently being renovated, some with a restoration throw-back look to earlier times. This section of the book (and also the book’s front cover) highlights stunning river and town views along Frost Parkway. 

“Country” highlights the endless cornfields, rural cemeteries, barns, historic churches, and old schoolhouses that dot the winding roads surrounding Tiffin. Shown with backdrops of blue and stormy skies, fields fallow in winter and luxuriantly green in summer tell the story of the richness of the land we are blessed to share.  

Kalnow’s book reflects the heart, soul, and hard work that go into the County Fair; the patriotism and pride evident in the Memorial Day Parade; and a “jam-packed summer day” in August, a sultry Saturday starting with a Farmer’s Market morning, then an afternoon car show at the East Tower, and ending with a gorgeous evening concert at the Frost-Kalnow Amphitheater at the East Green.  

A new section, “Portraits”, joyfully portrays the people from all walks of life, who come out to support the events and institutions that comprise this truly special place.  Many of the portraits are of leaders from the business, educational, government, and professional communities, enjoying themselves in non-work settings, or relaxing over the fruits of their labor.  It is a remarkable testament to the generations of people who have dedicated themselves to providing a high quality of life for all the residents of Seneca County.  

“Parting Shots” came about because Kalnow found he had taken an eclectic group of photographs that didn’t fall neatly into any one category, but deserved to be seen.  And “Winter Wonderland” tells the visual tale of a bitter January snowstorm and its aftermath. Whether in the midst of the blizzard, trudging through the snow, or in the peace of the next, sunny morning, these photos show the journey that the intrepid photographer made, traversing miles to capture both cityscape and rural landscape blanketed in white, somehow managing at once to be breathtakingly beautiful, dramatic and serene.  

“Our Town & Country, Volume 2” showcases a different side of the many diverse, photo-worthy locations in Seneca County. Where the architecture in Volume 1 focused primarily on a few blocks of historic downtown Tiffin, giving the reader close-up views of renovated architectural elements, as well as panoramic views of the entire street, Volume 2 expands to include many of Tiffin’s most carefully restored “grand lady” homes and other buildings off the main commercial street.  As a companion piece, it is a worthy addition, not only to the original book, but to the body of documented history of this place we call home.

“Our Town & Country, Volume 2” is available at select Tiffin retail locations, including The Empire 138, Frameworks, Jeffrey Jewelry, Molyet’s Farm Market, Paper & Ink and Simply Susan’s.  One hundred percent of profits from the book will go to the East Green Summer Concert Series, ensuring another summer of musical entertainment, free to the public.