Eric Christianson’s debut book, South Bend to Spring Valley: The Davids-Sims Story, offers a compelling non-fiction narrative rooted in personal history and preserved correspondence. Drawing from a diverse professional background that includes tutoring, teaching, DJing, tour guiding, and acting, Christianson brings a thoughtful and empathetic voice to this story. The project began as a deeply personal labor of love, undertaken to fulfill the parting desire of his late wife, who always dreamed of sharing this important story.
“This book was born from a promise,” Christianson explains. “My wife experienced these events as a child, and they profoundly impacted her, so much so that she swore that one day, she’d write a book about them, as her mother kept a scrapbook filled with correspondence and news articles. Sadly, she became gravely ill and was unable to complete her journey. Before she passed, she asked me to finish what she started… so I did. This is her legacy—a tribute to an amazing person—and an equally amazing story of incredible, interracial camaraderie. Becoming a best-selling author was not my goal; I wrote this book because it was my wife’s dream and her dying wish.”
South Bend to Spring Valley chronicles the historical friendship formed during a turbulent era in mid-20th-century America between two families: the Sims family of South Bend, Indiana, who are Black, and the Davids family of Spring Valley, Minnesota, who are white. This extraordinary relationship began with a single letter sent in 1959 by Roselyn Davids, Christianson’s mother-in-law, in response to a radio program in which Mr. Sims expressed that he had never been invited as a guest into a white person’s home. Her letter, inviting the Sims family to visit the Davids’ farm, sparked a meaningful correspondence that ultimately became a lasting bond grounded in shared faith and a mutual desire to overcome racial prejudice.
The narrative primarily consists of preserved letters exchanged between the two families, enriched with Christianson’s commentary and contextual insights drawn from period publications and news accounts. Presented in chronological order, the book situates the families’ story within the broader backdrop of the 1960s civil rights struggles, referencing events such as the Little Rock Crisis and the Birmingham protests. Christianson illustrates how the families maintained their friendship despite external pressures, including hate mail and death threats, exemplifying resilience and conviction.
Christianson has preserved the original tone and sentiment of the letters, supplementing them with narrative bridges and historical context where necessary. The book stands as a testament to how personal connection can transcend societal divisions and as a tribute to those who upheld their commitment to one another during a challenging time in American history.
While not a comprehensive historical analysis, the book offers a focused and intimate account of this unique friendship, ensuring that details at risk of being lost to time are preserved for future generations. Christianson’s motivation was rooted in honoring a family legacy rather than seeking public recognition as an author.
A recent article in the Rochester Post-Bulletin features an interview with Christianson, providing additional background and highlighting Mrs. Davids’ role in fostering this enduring fellowship. This contemporary piece serves to illuminate the significance of the story and its relevance today. It can be accessed at Post-Bulletin.
South Bend to Spring Valley: The Davids-Sims Story is available for purchase on Amazon and through a variety of online booksellers. Further information about the book and the story behind it can be found at SouthBendToSpringValley.com.
