Arcadia Publishing Will Produce Little Cities Book

Arcadia Publishing Company has selected historic preservationist Jeff Darbee of Columbus to publish a pictorial essay book depicting the Little Cities of Black Diamonds. Arcadia’s Images of America series chronicles the history of communities from coast-to-coast. With more than two hundred vintage black-and-white photos, each title celebrates a town or region, depicting the people, places, and events that define the community. Publications in the series include Zanesville, Marietta, Athens, Ohio’s Oil Fields, Granville and Buckeye Lake.
Darbee had presented a proposal to Arcadia a year ago. More recently Columbus author David Meyer presented a similar proposal. Meyer was present at this year’s LCBD Day to collect photographs. Realizing that they had entertained two proposals at the same time, Arcadia was forced to select one of the authors. Both were highly qualified.
Darbee is now selecting historical pictures of the region for inclusion in the book to be released in late 2009. Persons who had photos scanned by Meyer at LCBD Day and wish to have them considered for inclusion should contact Darbee at 614-221-0358 or at jeffdarbee@columbus.rr.com. Darbee will donate royalties to the Little Cities Council, New Straitsville History Group and Haydenville Preservation. Darbee and his wife Nancy Recchie have a long standing relationship with the region including nomination of Shawnee, Eclipse and the Little Cities region to the National Register of Historic Places