BUCYRUS – A project “bigger than just Bucyrus” is bound for the printing presses.
The Bicentennial Commission’s book series “Down to Earth” – a history of Bucyrus and Crawford County written by Jim Croneis – will be printed in September. The three-volume set is a reprint of articles by the same name published in the Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum.
“It’s really a living history of what happened in Bucyrus and the county,” said Fred Fischer, a Commission member and chairman of the Book Publishing Project. “We’re pretty excited about it. We’re talking well over 600 articles in this thing. Just a lot of information.”
Fischer said Croneis, the longtime publisher of the Telegraph-Forum, spent more than 20 years of his newspaper career writing “Down to Earth.” “When Jim retired, I encouraged him to start publishing these books, and when the Bicentennial came around, it was the perfect time to do so,” he said.
The articles trace the rich history of Bucyrus from its founding 200 years ago, as well as its schools, businesses, and railroads. Also included are stories of Indian lore, Johnny Appleseed, and the legacy of Colonel William Crawford, plus countless others about the Crawford County area.
Fischer, a lifelong friend Croneis, said the series offers readers a unique perspective into not only the history of Bucyrus but also the “make-up and the fabric of our community for 200 years, what made us who we are and what we are today.”
The set, which will be available sometime in October, can be pre-ordered for $89.95. Each 9-by-12-inch paperback has 200 pages and plenty of photos featuring “a little of the old newspaper look to it.” They are being printed at Herald Printing in New Washington.
In conjunction with “Down to Earth,” the Bicentennial Commission is also offering a special edition of “About Bucyrus,” a book written by Dr. Daniel Arnold of Bucyrus for the city’s Sesquicentennial celebration in 1971. That reprinting is available for $26.95.
In that book, the author gives readers a tour of North Central Ohio, its industry, railroads, law enforcement, automobiles, and aviation. Local institutions, buildings, and other artifacts are also highlighted, from the time Bucyrus was first settled until the 1970s.
Proceeds from the book sales will be split between the Bicentennial Commission, the Bucyrus Historical Society, and the Bucyrus Preservation Society, Fischer said. “I’ve known Jim for the better part of my life.
It’s gracious on his part to allow us to do that.”
Free shipping is available on all pre-orders. Order information is available on the Commission’s website www.Bucyrus2021.com or by emailing books@Bucyrus2021.com.
