image description
Dalton Historical Commission with Robert Couch, seated, the son of Franklin 'Cap' Couch, who wrote columns about the town.

Dalton Historical Reissuing 'Down Memory Lane'

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story

Robert Couch
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. 

Tags: historical commission,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

State Fire Marshal: Fall Back Safely

STOW, Mass.—With the end of daylight savings time coming on Nov. 3, Massachusetts fire officials issued a seasonal reminder to check smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms and change the batteries when changing clocks.

"Working smoke and CO alarms are vital to your safety at home," said State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine. "As we 'fall back' this weekend, protect yourself and the people you care for by putting fresh alkaline batteries in alarms that use them and replacing alarms that are out of date."

Today's smoke and carbon monoxide alarms have the manufacturing date printed on the back of the device. Smoke alarms should be replaced after 10 years, and CO alarms should be replaced according to the manufacturer's instructions – usually 5, 7, or 10 years, depending on the model. Unless you have newer alarms with 10-year sealed batteries, this is also a good time to replace the alkaline batteries in all your alarms. And remember to test your smoke and CO alarms once a month to be sure they're working properly.

Heating Season Brings Carbon Monoxide Hazards

Foxborough Fire Chief Michael Kelleher, president of the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts, emphasized the importance of working carbon monoxide alarms as we enter the colder months.

"Carbon monoxide is a leading cause of poisoning deaths in the United States, and heating equipment is the main source of carbon monoxide in the home," Chief Kelleher said. "We can't see, smell, or taste carbon monoxide. Working CO alarms are the only way to detect this invisible killer."

Replacement Alarms Should Have Sealed, Long-Life Batteries and a Hush Feature

Replacing your old single-station smoke alarm? Choose alarms that have sealed, long-life batteries and a hush feature. This makes it less likely that someone in the home will use the batteries for another device, forget to change them twice a year, or remove them when cooking causes smoke in the kitchen.

"Disabling a smoke alarm puts you, your loved ones, and everyone in the building at risk," said State Fire Marshal Davine. "Never remove batteries from a smoke alarm except when putting fresh ones in."

Alarms Should Be Listed by an Independent Lab

Massachusetts requires that all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms be listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or Intertek (ETL). Listed devices will have the laboratory's mark on the back. In recent years, fire officials have seen numerous smoke and carbon monoxide alarms that were purchased online and either have counterfeit marks or no mark at all.

"Smoke and CO alarms can be the difference between life and death, but only if they work properly." said Chief Kelleher. "When you purchase a new alarm, choose one from a well-known, national brand. We've seen many alarms that were purchased online and don't meet the safety requirements of our State Fire Code. If the price seems too good to be true, then it probably is."

Create & Practice a Home Escape Plan

"Changes to building construction and furnishings mean we have less time to escape a fire at home than ever before," said State Fire Marshal Davine. "You could have just three minutes to get out safely."

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories