Publications
The Historical Society has many talented authors who have generously contributed their talent to the writing of our history. Our books are for sale and may be purchased at Asahel's Emporium.
Prospective authors wishing to seek
assistance from the Historical Society are asked to prepare a proposal before
they begin to write. The proposal should include a description of the
project, an accurate estimation of cost, arrangements for outside funding, work
schedule, distribution scheme, and estimation of sales.
A marketing strategy will also be an essential part of the
original presentation. The strategy should state the projected target
market group, promotional events, chain of responsibility, and estimated costs.
The Publications Committee will act as the oversight
committee. Once the members have reviewed the proposal material, a
committee representative will present the proposal to the Board of Trustees for
approval. The committee's designated representative will then act as a
liaison to the author.
| War Stories: Oral Histories of World War II, by Robert G. Thobaben, 2007 |
| Veterans from Centerville & Washington Township continue to tell their stories of experiences during World War II. This book is a companion to For Comrade and Country. It includes original illustrations by Virginia Krause Hess. |
| Softcover, 132 pages, $10.00 + .70 tax |
| A Great Place to Learn: Centerville Schools 1803-2003, by Pamela Ferris-Olson, 2005 |
| From the first nine one-room schoolhouses, through the growing pains, the changing times and into the 21st century, two hundred years of high expectations and standards of excellence in our schools are chronicled in this book. |
| Softcover, 215 pages, $24.95 + 1.87 tax |
|
For Comrade and Country: Oral Histories of World
War II Veterans, by Robert G. Thobaben, 2003 All military persons interviewed in these oral histories are residents of Centerville or Washington Township |
| Softcover, 305 pages, $29.95 + 2.10 tax |
| A Sense of Taste, 2003 |
| This cookbook not only contains delicious recipes that are favorites of all its contributors, but it includes bites of history to go with each one. |
| Softcover, $14.99 + 1.12 tax |
| The Old Tree, by Ferne Reilich and Donna Clark , 2003 |
| This book is a story for children with a historical view of Centerville and Washington Township |
| Softcover, $5.00 + .38 tax |
| Normandy Farms, the Land and Legacy of Richard H. Grant, Sr., 2002 |
| Grant, 1878-1957, obtained his wealth in sales and management with National Cash Register Co., Delco Light Co., and General Motors Corp. He lived in his Washington Township mansion, Normandy Farms, which was a dairy farm, and commuted to Detroit. |
| Softcover, 215 pages, $24.95 + 1.87 tax |
| A Centerville Memoir: 1933, by Celia Himes Elliott, 1999 |
| Celia was ten years old in 1933 and she remembers what it was like as a child living and learning in our community. |
| Softcover, 15 pages, $5.00 + .38 tax |
| Here & There on Old Ohio Roads Between the Miami Rivers, by G. Terrence McConville, 2000 |
| Whether they were built by "ancient road builders", animals who have the ability to get from here to there with the least effort, or a county work crew, roads are an important part of our history too. |
| Softcover, 43 pages, $6.00 + .45 tax |
| A History of Blacks in Centerville & Washington Township, by Janet Thobaben, 2000 |
| Although the history of our community is mostly about Caucasians, African-Americans have always lived, worked, and influenced our community. |
| Softcover, 18 pages, $6.00 + .45 tax |
| The Frigidaire Years, by Howard Houser, 1996 |
| This 20 page pamphlet tells the story of the true giant of the appliance industry. |
| Softcover, 20 pages, $3.00 + .23 tax |
| Maps of the Shaker West, A Journey of Discovery, by Martha Boice, Dale Covington, and Richard Spence, 1997 |
| "A collection of maps and histories of better known and lesser known Shaker sites in Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan beginning in 1800" |
| Softcover, 140 pages, $19.95 + 1.50 tax |
| A Sense of Community, by The Centerville Historical Society, 1996 |
| Our Bicentennial Book highlights key people, major events, and social changes in the community. |
| Hardcover, 210 pages, $24.95 + 1.87 tax |
| A Sense of Place, edited by Howard R. Houser, 1977, 2nd edition 1985 |
This book contains the history and descriptions of nearly 100 early
buildings and their residents. It includes 190 maps and photographs.
|
The Old Schoolhouse Robbery: Three Hits and You're Out, by Janet Thobaben, 1995 |
| This book tells the story of Centerville's first bank robbery and the man who robbed it three times. It is a story that includes a shoot-out and a man hunt, and one that affected the lives of all involved. |
| Softcover, 40 pages, $5.50 + .41 tax |
Pieces of the Past, by Howard R. Houser, 1994 |
| This book is a collection of stories about our early history, focusing on the struggles and triumphs of the early settlers. It includes over 50 photographs, maps, and drawings. |
| Softcover, spiral-bound, 141 pages, $16.50 + 1.24 tax |
A Sense of Service 1860-1994: Parade of Patriots, by Jack W. Savage, 1994 |
| The 597 men and women of our community who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces from the Revolutionary War to the Persian Gulf War are listed in this book. It includes brief service notes for 314 of those veterans and over 25 photographs and illustrations. |
| Softcover, spiral-bound, 233 pages, $12.00 + .90 tax |
The Royal Rebels: The Sunderlands in America, by Howard R. Houser, 1992 |
| The Sunderlands, whose ancestors include Winston Churchill, the Princess of Wales (Diane Spencer), and George Washington, settled in Washington Township around 1800. This book traces the family history from England to the Colonies. |
| Softcover, spiral-bound, 50 pages, $7.00 + .53 tax |
Aaron Nutt: Small Town Quaker Entrepreneur, by Howard R. Houser, 1990 |
| Aaron Nutt was one of the three brothers-in-law who were the founders of Centerville. A Quaker who served in the Revolutionary War, Nutt established the first store, tavern, and cemetery. |
| Softcover, spiral-bound, 40 pages, $5.00 + .38 tax |
Woodbourne: A Faded Memory, by Howard R. Houser, 1984 |
| In the early 1800s, Woodbourne was a prosperous community with a textile mill, a sawmill, a grist mill, a tannery, a distillery, a general store, a wagon shop, a machine shop, a foundry, a cooper shop, a fulling and carding mill, a calico printing establishment, a clock factory, and an inn. What turned this town that was larger than Dayton into a ghost town? |
| Softcover, 25 pages, $3.00 + .23 tax |
Wilderness Doctor: The Life and Times of Dr. John Hole, by Howard R. Houser, 1980 |
| Dr. Hole was a patriot, soldier, woodsman, Indian fighter, hunter, surveyor, home builder, farmer, business leader, and the first doctor to practice medicine in the Miami Valley. He was building his new home in Woodbourne as Nutt, Robbins, and Archer were building theirs in Centerville. |
| Softcover booklet, 32 pages, $3.50 + .26 tax |
From Blacksmith to General: Edmund Munger and the War of 1812, by Howard R. Houser, 1985 |
| This book tells the story of a blacksmith, farmer, civic leader, and war hero. |
| Softcover, spiral-bound, 82 pages,
out of print
|
| The Runaway Slave, by Janet Thobaben, 1980 |
| This story is based upon a true incident that happened in 1826 to the Peter Sunderland Family in Washington Township. |
| Softcover, 10 pages, out of print |