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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2012-12-13, Page 16THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2012. PAGE 15.It’s been a long time coming, but A Harvest of Memories has finally been published and those involved couldn’t be happier with the final product. A Harvest of Memories, of course, is the expansive, two-volume history of the former townships of Morris and Turnberry. The history of Morris accounts for just under 800 pages, while the history of Turnberry accounts for just under 700 pages. The book began as an idea of Morris-Turnberry Council and grew from there. Over time, however, there were delays as the book was originally scheduled for publication last year.The book’s editor Jenny Versteegsaid it’s unbelievable to think of theamount of work that went into the book and its publication was only made possible by the strong team she had supporting her on the project. Versteeg was brought onto the project due to her previous work with municipal history books, including Howick’s book. Versteeg said that when she was approached by Morris-Turnberry staff, it was Howick’s history book that they were praising. She said they were hoping that the Morris- Turnberry book could be presented in a similar format. Student researchers had already spent an entire summer compiling property information beforeVersteeg was brought aboard. It wasthat research, she said, that formedthe backbone of what would eventually become the book. The students formulated a comprehensive list of lots and concessions and early owners of the property. From this list, Versteeg began to collect information. The concept behind the layout of the book, she says, is that someone could drive through the municipality, concession by concession and read the history behind the properties in that order. Versteeg said she began a file for every concession and just began filing information as it came in. “This is how the book looked in everybody’s mind,” Versteeg said inan interview with The Citizen.She said the group sent a testsection of the book away to the printer to get an impression of how it would all look when ink was put to paper. She said she chose a concession that included homes, a church, a school and the township office. She said it was a perfect section of the township to get a good idea of how all these different establishments would appear in the book. That was the last time Versteeg would see a printed section of the book until its launch earlier this month when she saw the book, in its entirety, for the first time. She said that seeing the book for the first time was “just part of the hub-ub of the day” in whichvolunteers were packing volumes ofthe book and readying them forpeople to pick up this month. Versteeg said the process was made infinitely easier than her previous work on municipal history books as this is the first book she’s worked on since the popularity of e- mail has grown into an everyday service. Some stories still would come in handwritten, however, and Versteeg said formulating a family’s story out of handwritten notes, some of which came scrawled on the back on an envelope or the like, was one of the tougher tasks she was charged with. “They were wonderful stories, but they didn’t come in a format that we Expansive history book launches, selling well This Christmas help support your local businesses. Shop Local. Save Big. McGavin Farm Equipment Ltd. 1-877-887-6365 Walton 519-887-6365 Gift Ideas by the Wagon Load! Wooden wagon with removable sides For your Little Farmer... Scale Model Tractors for kids and collectors Toys for Big Boys Too!... Grease Gun Set Jump Starter Chainsaws Hats Toy Tractors McDonald Home Hardware Building Centre 519-887-6277 • Brussels • 1-800-881-0030 www.mcdonaldhomehardware.com Great Gift Ideas 18V Drill Combo $19999 Save$10000 Dewalt Bit Set $1297 Reg.$3299 20% off regular priced Christmas Decorations & Home Décor 30% off Time & Again Candles Come see our Christmas gift and décor ideas plus many in-store specials. Gift certificates available Gift registry & custom framing Tues. ~ Fri. 10 - 5:30; Sat. 10 am - 5 pm Opening extended hours in December 414 Queen St., Blyth ~ 519-523-4299 By Shawn LoughlinThe Citizen Continued on page 16