Book wants your historical input
Warren County residents who would like to document Warren County history will get their chance by contributing articles to the Warren County Heritage Book Committee for publication in a book to be titled “The Heritage of Warren County.”
Joe McPeak, local chairman of the committee, says the books have been published in several states including West Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia and Tennessee. A copy of the edition for White County has been made available at Magness Library for people to examine.
Joe and his wife, Dora, got involved with the White County edition and then decided to help get a Warren County edition started. Anyone can submit an article as long as they meet eligibility requirements. Those who will be eligible to submit articles include present residents of Warren County, former residents of Warren County and those with roots in Warren County.
Standard submissions of a set word length are free of charge, according to McPeak.
“For families, it’s 500 words and a picture at no cost,” McPeak said. “For businesses, churches, clubs, social organizations and so forth, it’s 250 words and a picture at no cost.”
Longer articles are 10 cents per word extra, and extra photographs are $12.50 each.
The deadline for submissions will be Sept. 15 and the book will be published in 2004.
McPeak described how the book would be laid out.
“We divide the families and the businesses, certain businesses into two categories. We have a pioneer section and a regular section. In other words, in the early businesses in Warren County, if they were here before 1851, they will be in the pioneer section. Families who were here before 1851 will be in the pioneer section. All other families will be in the root section.
“Now that’s each individual household, 500 words,” McPeak said. “So one family, as you would think of it, all generations, might be 12 or 15 households in that one series.”
Schools receive extensive coverage in the books as well, according to McPeak. “For the schools in White County, we had approximately 90 pages in that book,” he said.
The cost of the finished books is $60.50 delivered, which includes $7 postage and handling, or $54.50 if picked up in McMinnville.
McPeak noted the book is a non-profit service as far as local organizers are concerned and the price simply covers the cost of publication.
For more information and guidelines on making submissions, contact McPeak at 815-2938, or write the committee at: Warren County Heritage Book Committee, P.O. Box 8223, McMinnville, Tenn., 37111, or visit the Web site at www.countyheritagebooks.com, or e-mail them at [email protected].