Merced County Historical Society will release its newest publication, Le Grand History: Memories of Le Grand History Club, on December 16, just in time for Christmas. This book, featuring 36 stories by members of the former Le Grand Historical Club, explores the life of Le Grand and Plainsburg communities in the following subjects: Native Settlement, Explorer, Pioneer, Farming, Transportation, Business, Education, Community, Church, and Disaster. Lydia Anne Kahl's 1859 westward journey to California diary, John Samuel Wallis' revolution in grain farming, Genevieve Wilson Gillette's early day stores, and Glenn Baxter's first automobiles in Le Grand are just a few of the very captivating stories that chronicle the life and exemplify the wisdom of the pioneers of this once very tight-knit community.

The History Club was organized on January 26, 1962 with Muriel Paxton as the first president. The founding members of the club were born in the late 1800s and the early 1900s and lived most of their lives in the Le Grand area. As one of the objectives of the organization, a community paper project was started in the 1960s to collect and preserve their memories of Le Grand and Plainsburg. Most of their stories were read and shared at their meetings and now compiled in a book format. These are, indeed, old stories from yesteryear.

This 100-page book with over 45 historical photographs will be available for sale only in the Museum store for $9.95. A new exhibit, based on this book, will open at the Museum on Sunday, December 16. Past president of Le Grand History Club Elizabeth Kahl Miller and past secretary Donna Gillette Hall will be signing the books from 1:00 to 4:00 pm this afternoon. The exhibit will run through April 20, 2008.