Features Editor

As time marches on, people, places and events are forgotten unless someone takes the time to make them a matter of record.

Sadly, too often, there are no records.

Now is the time and the opportunity to make sure your family’s history is recorded and that your church, your business and your community are not lost to time.

The Pike County Heritage Book Committee is providing the opportunity but it’s up to the people with county ties to take the time to take advantage of this opportunity.

The committee is preparing a unique collection of family and topical stories which will be compiled in a volume titled "The Heritage of Pike County, Alabama" and deadline for submissions has been set for Feb. 29, 2000.

"We are pleased with the number of submissions to date but we are concerned that there are families, churches, businesses and communities that will not be included because no one has taken the time to submit the information," said Dorothy Ann Folmar, committee member. "It might be possible to reprint the book at some later date but no changes will be made in it after the initial printing. That’s why it is so important that everyone submit their stories now."

Families who came to Pike County before 1890 may submit stories of 1,000 words and two photographs. Those families who came after 1890, may submit 500 word stories and one photograph.

Different family members may submit stories in order to include more information about their family.

"We also need photographs of old country stores, landmarks, events – anything that was part of our county’s history," Folmar said. "We encourage anyone who submits a photograph to submit a copy and hold on to the original themselves."

Folmar said a cutline will be sufficient with a photograph if only a little information is available.

"We still need information on churches, businesses and communities," she said. "Don’t depend on someone else to submit the information because it might not get done."

Folmar said every family who has been and is a part of Pike County will want to be included.

"We don’t want anyone to be left out," she said. "We want this history of Pike County to include as many families as we possibly can so we want to encourage everyone to submit their family histories and their stories."

For more information contact Patsy Lucas, 566-3765, Kathlyn Folmar, 484-3314 or Dorothy Ann Folmar, 484-3431.