Niagara library’s Author Talk to feature Huotari
IRON MOUNTAIN –Keith Huotari, known as “Hoots” in some circles, will present an Author Talk at the Niagara Public Library at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 28.
His debut book, “Perfect Union – Iron Mountain and Its Last Surviving Civil War Soldier,” was published in 2022 and recounts the life and times of Iron Mountain pioneer Samuel Bassett.
Bassett, who served in the American Civil War on battlefields from Bull Run to Gettysburg and dozens of others, was an early settler of Iron Mountain — a place he and his wife called home for more than 60 years. He was an interesting fellow, known to possess a razor-sharp wit and an easygoing demeanor.
Huotari himself is an Iron Mountain resident and is passionate about history, especially local history. He ran across Bassett’s headstone at Iron Mountain’s Cemetery Park during a jogging adventure, which set in motion the research and writing of the book.
He has been the operations manager and program director for Results Broadcasting, Inc. of Iron Mountain since 2003.
He and his wife, Jayna, are currently working on two more books of local historical interest.