“Merrill,” the latest book in Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series, will be unveiled in a reception and signing, featuring author Robin Krueger Comeau, at T.B. Scott Free Library’s Community Room on Sunday, Feb. 17 from 1- 3 p.m.
Comeau wrote the book in cooperation with T.B. Scott Library and the Merrill Historical Society, who are co-sponsoring the program. Copies, which will be available for purchase and signing by the author at Sunday’s reception, cost $21.99 each.
History buffs will have an opportunity to meet the author and enjoy her collection. Subjects covered by the 10 chapters of Comeau’s book, filled with historic photos and descriptions, range from Logging and Farming to The Fair to a Reading, Writing and Religion chapter.
More than just “ancient” history is here-chapters on the Seven Wonders of Merrill, Sports and Leisure and Mother Nature are enduring topics. Rounding out this pictorial account of Merrill life are chapters entitled City of Parks, Around the Town, The Railroad, and Jenny Bull Falls to Merrill.
Author Robin L. Comeau grew up on a farm just south of Tomahawk in the township of Skanawan. A resident of Buffalo, NY since 1987, she considers herself a lifelong student of local history and area folklore.
A graduate of the State University at Buffalo with a B.A. in History and a Masters in Library Science, Comeau has written local history articles for the Tomahawk Leader, and published “Boom Town, Early History of Tomahawk, Wisconsin 1886-1924” in 2007, and “Early Patents, Merrill, Wisconsin,” and “Early Patents, Tomahawk, Wisconsin” in 2009.
Comeau, an active genealogist for nearly 50 years, is fully engaged in Northwoods history. She volunteers for the Tomahawk Area Historical Society as their webmaster, and edits the newsletter for the North Pines Genealogical Group, based in Merrill.
Ms. Comeau hopes that “Images of America: Merrill” inspires others to look at history as something other than merely factual accounts of the ‘olden days.” Every place has a story, everyone has a legacy-and history is an opportunity to find that legacy.
Sunday’s program is part of the library Words Worth Hearing series. The next series program, “Mining in Wisconsin: Points of View” on Thursday, Feb. 21 at 6:30 p.m. will feature Frank Koehn of Ashland; State Senator Tom Tiffany has also been invited to attend.