Sesquicentennial book committee to chronicle Vernon County's history

The story of Vernon County and its people hasn't been compiled into book form for years, and the Sesquicentennial book committee is determined to create the story of who Vernon County was and is today in a book scheduled to print in time for the Sesquicentennial celebration in June 2005. It's a big job, but one well worth undertaking, said Randy Bell of Bell Books, a Rich Hill publisher of historical records of communities in several states. "It's a long, hard job. If somebody tells you putting together a book like this is not too much trouble, that it's not much work, they're lying to you," Bell said. There's a bright side to it, though -- volunteers and the citizens who contribute to the book will be creating something that will survive many years beyond those who do so. It's a treasure that will be sought out by the historians of the future, a legacy that will serve as a resource for generations to come. The book will be as complete an account of life in Vernon County, both past and present, as the volunteers and the people of Vernon County can make it. "Every family that lives or has lived in Vernon County should be in this book," Bell said. Volunteers will be seeking 300-word family histories from each household, including those who relocated to another area but called Vernon County home at some point. Family histories are limited to 300 words in the interest of fairness and controlling the size of the book. However, longer submissions may be accepted at a fee of 10 cents per word beyond the limit. Each household is urged to include one photo. Additional family photos may be included for $10 each. However, general interest photos are needed as well, and add a vital dimension to the story of Vernon County. In addition to families, it's important that businesses, churches, organizations, civic groups, clubs and schools be included as well. Volunteers are still needed for several townships, but several will be making phone calls and knocking on doors in an effort to spread the word that the stories of Vernon County's past and present are needed. "It's not just about Vernon County's past. It's about now -- people in the future will be just as interested in reading about what life is like now as we are in reading these," Bell said, indicating the historical society's copies of similar histories written in the distant past. Telling the history of your family, your church, your business, your organization will be a unique experience for many, and for some it'll be a voyage of discovery. Sometimes, people discover less than positive facts about family members, but Bell noted people sometimes include these as well. He related a story about a man who'd discovered his grandfather had been hanged. Not wanting to bluntly relate that story, the man said that he died when a platform collapsed underneath him on the courthouse lawn -- it was the featured attraction of the day. Most people, however, simply share an anecdote of how the family came to reside in Vernon County, who the parents and children are and what became of them. Volunteers will provide examples for residents to help foster ideas of how to go about relating the entry in the book. It's hard to say at this point how long the book will be, but in the end it's expected to be a two-volume set, with volumes ranging from 600 to 800 pages. There are no strings attached to including your family account in the book. The 300-word entry is free, and there's no obligation to buy the book. However, pre-orders are now being accepted at the "early bird" price of $75, which will remain in effect until December 2003, subject to extension at the discretion of the book committee. Proceeds from the book sales will go toward a Sesquicentennial legacy project. Charlie Johnson, representing the Sesquicentennial Committee at the book committee meeting Thursday night, said the hope is to leave something big, although exactly what it will be is still undetermined. The Centennial celebration in 1955 brought about the Centennial Park Fairgrounds still in use today, and the Sesquecentennial Committee hopes to leave behind a similar legacy for future residents, Johnson said. In addition to several volunteers who agreed to type, proofread and canvas their neighborhoods for the stories that make Vernon County its own unique community, several volunteers agreed to help with mailings and other work related to the project. Organizations like the chamber of commerce, the historical society, and alumni associations are doing all they can to support the project. Much work and planning is still ahead of the committee in order to get the book published in time, and efforts to spread the word and seek contributions are continuing, with more volunteers now joining the effort. Workers will be making individual contact as well as providing information at a booth at the youth fair in July. The committee's next meeting is set for 6:30 p.m., June 26, at the Bushwhacker Museum.