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.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
BRPC Committee Mulls Input on State Housing Plan
By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Regional Planning Commission's Regional Issues Committee brainstormed representation for the county in upcoming housing listening sessions.
"The administration is coming up with what they like to tout is their first housing plan that's been done for Massachusetts, and this is one of a number of various initiatives that they've done over the last several months," Executive Director Thomas Matuszko said.
"But it seems like they are intent upon doing something and taking comments from the different regions across the state and then turning that into policy so here is our chance to really speak up on that."
The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities and members of the Housing Advisory Council will host multiple listening sessions around the Commonwealth to hear input on the Healey-Driscoll administration's five-year strategic statewide housing plan.
One will be held at Berkshire Community College on May 15 at 2 p.m.
One of Matuszko's biggest concerns is the overall age of the housing stock in Berkshire County.
"And that the various rehab programs that are out there are inadequate and they are too cumbersome to manipulate through," he explained.
"And so I think that there needs to be a greater emphasis not on new housing development only but housing retention and how we can do that in a meaningful way. It's going to be pretty important."
Non-commission member Andrew Groff, Williamstown's community developer director, added that the bureaucracies need to coordinate themselves and "stop creating well-intended policies like the new energy code that actually work against all of this other stuff."
Downtown Pittsfield Inc. proposed angled parking on North Street and was pleasantly surprised that the city responded with an in-depth study and new plans — even if they don't include angled parking.
click for more
Officials celebrated Arbor Day on Friday by installing a commemorative plaque next to the American elm sapling. This is a tree that James McGrath, the city's park program manager, said Presutti would have been particularly proud of.
click for more
Albert Ingegni III was applauded for four decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals during City Council. Mayor Peter Marchetti presented him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the community.
click for more