The special coffee table hardback edition of “Bartholomew County: Celebrating 200 Years 1821-2021” has entered a second printing of 500 copies after selling out of the first 500 copies in only days.
The new volumes should arrive by early next month, according to Diane Robbins, the historical society’s executive director.
“We definitely will have them for holiday gift giving,” Robbins said.
Once the additional books have been delivered, they will again be available for $40 at the Bartholomew County Historical Society Museum at 524 Third St., Viewpoint Books at 548 Washington St., and the Columbus Area Visitors Center, 506 Fifth St.
Beyond the costs for design and printing, all proceeds from the sales of the book go the historical society’s programs since author and county historian Tami Stone Iorio donated a year’s worth of time to planning, organizing and writing.
“We were a bit shocked by the rapid sales, and so happy that people were interested in our county history,” Iorio said.
Amy Harden worked alongside Iorio to design the book, borrowing bold red stripes and other graphics from the historical society’s timeline exhibit at the museum at 524 Third St. Harden’s cover highlights creatively cropped images of everything from old City Hall to the Bartholomew County Courthouse.
The 320-page effort is purposely photo heavy with short bursts of historical facts presented in a breezy, nearly at-a-glance fashion to take readers on a brisk jaunt through two centuries. It covers everything from corporate giants such as Cummins Inc. to small-town churches, spotlighting the unique value of both in a county both cosmopolitan and rural.
