DALTON, Mass. — The Historical Commission announced during its meeting on Wednesday that it will be reissuing the book "Down Memory Lane" in the near future.
The Historical Commission has been discussing how to reissue the book for the last few months, navigating concerns surrounding copyright, cost and printing company selection.
The book is a compiled series of weekly columns by the Rev. Franklin L. "Cap" Couch that appeared in the now defunct Dalton News Record from 1972 to 1977.
To advertise this project and gauge community interest, the commission will request the Dalton Library display one of its copies of the book next to the sign-up sheet.
The library has three copies of the book but two have to stay in the library and only one can be borrowed.
The project would improve the accessibility of the book so that interested buyers can purchase it because finding a copy is difficult.
The commissioners said selling items like calendars, bicentennial books, magnets, tiles, plates, and other Dalton-themed merchandise during elections was popular among residents.
They are also exploring tabling at the presidential election in November to gather a list of residents interested in purchasing the book.
They also authorized using the donation account to cover the cost of reprinting 10 copies of the book using Adams Specialty & Printing Co.
Adams Specialty has a one-time fee of $60 to cover scanning the pages and laying them out.
The books will be perfect bound (glued) and will cost the commission $19.86 per book, if it submits an order of 10. The estimated total cost of the first order of 10 books is projected to be $259.50.
If the commission receives more than 10 requests and need to order books individually, they reach out to Adams Specialty & Printing Co to determine the cost of the individual books if they order less than 10.
The commission will set the price of the book based on the total cost of the project.
Cap Couch's son Robert Couch attended the meeting on Wednesday and expressed his interest in seeing this happen and offered to help in whatever way he can.
The commission will be emailing him a letter to sign that gives them permission to reprint his father's columns.
The commissioners originally considered going to Studley Press to have the book reprinted but they quoted a price of $429 to print 10 copies.
In 2006 the publisher, Berkshire Family History Association, had originally compiled the columns. But the association told the commission it did not know who held the copyright and so was unable to help, Bonnie Eastwood said.
Commissioners feel comfortable proceeding with the project especially since they will not be making a profit and they have permission from the family. They suspect that since the book does not have a copyright page the only approval they need is from the family.
In other news:
• The commission bought a fireproof cabinet for $1,199, leaving $1,767 in the town budget. This amount includes what the commission is receiving this fiscal year.
• The commission will be moving back into the Town Hall on Sept. 23.
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More than 600 Participate in Steel Rail Races
iBerkshires.com Sports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. -- Matthew Ferraro was the first runner across the finish line at the MountainOne Steel Rail Marathon.
Ferraro clocked a time of 2 hours, 41 minutes flat on the Ashuwilticook Rail Trail course.
He finished a little more than five minutes ahead of runner-up Nick Reid (2:46:15).
Simone Veale won the race's women's division in a time of 3:18:42. She beat out Jill Hussain, who covered the course in 3:27:23.
The fastest marathoner on Sunday was Stephen Gulley, a hand cyclist, who clocked a time of 2:15:03.
The 26.2-mile circuit was covered by 150 finishers ranging in age from 18 (William Hanley in 14th place) to 72 (Ric Nudell, who finished in 6:04:47).
The day also featured a half-marathon and an 8-kilometer race.
The crashes happened at 9:40 p.m. when a westbound Honda Accord on Dalton Avenue crossed the double yellow line, striking a Subaru sedan traveling east, causing it to spin out.
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Around 100 local officials, business and community leaders and residents attended the session that will help fuel the state's five-year housing plan. click for more
Voters approved all 22 articles on the warrant unanimously at the annual Fire District meeting on Tuesday night at the Stationery Factory.
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More than 800 residents cast their votes during Monday's town elections, resulting in Select Board incumbent Robert Bishop retaining his seat. click for more