By Jared Nelson jnelson@timesleader.net Robert Ward (front) assists local residents who pre-ordered copies of the Caldwell County Pictorial History in picking up their books at the George Coon Public Library Sunday. The books were shipped to the library last week and were made available Sunday afternoon. Those who did not pre-order can purchase the book at the library.
	By Jared Nelson jnelson@timesleader.net George Coon Public Library Director Judy Boaz, who chaired the pictorial history committee, presented the first copies of the book to Judge/Executive Brock Thomas (above) and Princeton Mayor Gale Cherry (below) in a ceremony at the library Sunday afternoon. The 288-page book features more than 1,600 photos.
	By Jared Nelson jnelson@timesleader.net

County residents got their first look Sunday at a new pictorial history book printed in celebration of the county’s 200th anniversary.

The book was unveiled during a ceremony at the George Coon Public Library Sunday afternoon.

“This type of project only comes along maybe once in a lifetime,” said Keith Steele, president of Acclaim Press, which published the book.

“This book came out bigger and better than we ever expected.”

Library Director Judy Boaz chaired the committee that procured and compiled the 288-page book.

“Without their work it could not have been carried through,” she said.

Committee members Terry Boone, Pat Fralick, Richard P’Pool, Charlotte Stoneburner, Doris Thomas and Linda Ward each received a specially-embossed copy of the history book, as did Boaz.

“Judy took the bull by the horns and made this happen every step of the way,” said Steele.

Work on the book began a year ago this month, Boaz said. The committee hoped to have the book printed in time for Christmas, but the volume of material included pushed the publication date into January.

“Something of this significance is a monumental effort,” said Steele.

Early on in the project, committee members issued an appeal to the community to submit historic photos.

The response was significant — more than 1,600 submissions made it into the final version.

Each photo was digitally restored for inclusion. Photos were lightened or darkened as needed, and cracks or tears in the images were fixed for their digital reproductions.

“There’s no better way to preserve photos,” he said.

The first copies of the history book were presented to Caldwell County Judge/Executive Brock Thomas and Princeton Mayor Gale Cherry Sunday.

After the ceremony, the crowd of community members who had pre-ordered the book began picking up their copies.

“This will be a legacy for you all to remember,” said Boaz. “We had a wonderful bicentennial.”

More than 700 books were delivered to the library by truck on Tuesday, Jan. 26, in preparation for Sunday’s ceremony.

Of those, close to 400 were preorders. The majority of those have either been picked up or mailed to their recipients, Boaz said.

The remainder are available at the library for sale to the public, at a cost of $52.95 ($49.95 plus $3 tax).

“I’d say we won’t run out any time soon,” said Boaz.