The Times-Gazette publication "Bedford County Bicentennial: Celebrating the Past, 1807-2007" has left the building.

"We are thrilled to have the book at the printers and being readied for printing," said book author and T-G Editor René A. Capley. "This is exciting, to see months of work come together."

The book is expected to be available the first week in December.

According to publication plans, the book will measure 9.5 inches by 12 inches and will be a coffee-table edition.

"This book starts with the first glance in capturing the history of the county," said Capley. "The actual cover features a map of the county from 1878. In the upper section, is a rendering of the 1873 courthouse that was, of course, destroyed in 1932 during a riot on the public square."

Capley said the book features the growth and changes of the county from the days when it was occupied by Native Americans through to the present day.

"There is so much to cover, and really, so little space to do it in," she said. "Early in the writing process, the printer had to have a page count from which to build the spine and covers of the book. That was hard because I didn't know how long the book would be. The count was given at approximately 200 pages, but I could easily have written 200 more than that and still had stories to tell."

Inside the hardcover publication, the stories of the people of Bedford County unfold.

"There are special highlight pages called "A Closer Look" that gives a deeper insight to a family's history, a home, or a horse," said Capley. "This has been a wonderful experience because I personally have learned so much about a county's history I have lived in my whole life. I think it's a shame that children are not taught the history of their community at the same time they learn American or World history."

Capley said with the completion of the text, the items submitted by citizens are now available for collection.

"At one time, my library at home looked like piles and pieces as pictures and items were placed in some sort of chronological order as the book was written," she said. "These wonderful submissions are now all bagged and identified and ready to return to their owners."

Those who contributed items may pick them up beginning Monday in the lobby of the T-G's offices. Assistance will be provided from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., Monday-Friday.

"This project has been my pleasure," said Capley. "It was an endeavor that has been consuming and I thoroughly enjoyed every second. Working with Rebecca Key, who designed the cover, and the talented Gina Jones, who took my writings and made them into a book, was nothing short of fantastic. The whole experience, from meeting the public and talking to those whom I now consider friends, to the writing and reliving of battles, tornados, epidemics and riots, to unfolding the treasures of this county and viewing the galley proofs in this final stage has been thrilling. I can't wait to see the finished product."

The T-G is offering the book for $49.39 including sales tax. Shipping and handling is $7.50 for orders shipped by mail. A discount price of $38.41 including sales tax is available on orders of 10 or more.

"This has been a labor of love for my hometown," said Capley. "People have said that time and again when doing something that involves their home, but I truly understand the sentiment of the statement having written this book. It was an experience I won't forget as I won't forget the men and women that I fell in love with who lived so many years ago.

"I have said many times that the treasure of the county isn't something that has an economic value. It is the people. Bedford County is rich because of her people, past and present. We need to daily chart the courses of these treasures so that in another 200 years, someone can enjoy unearthing them as much as I have. It has been a privilege."

For more information on "Bedford Bicentennial: Celebrating the Past 1807-2007," call the Times-Gazette at 684-1200.