Wakefield Authors to Discuss New Book Tonight at Library

Two Wakefield authors have created a new vintage photo book focusing on the Breakheart Reservation.

Alison C. Simcox and Douglas L. Heath will give their talk at the Beebe Library tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. In a recent conversation with Wakfield Patch, they said that they've lived in Wakefield since 1994 and currently have a 16 year old son at Wakefield High School while another graduated in 2004 and now works in London for Save the Children. Heath is a hydrogeologist while Simcox also works in environmental science for an air quality program. The two met while students at UMass.

The Breakheart Reservation book reportedly took about seven months to assemble, using photos from various sources, including members of the Saugus Historical Society, the Mass. Department of Conservation and Recreation, and DPW archives. Many structures in the nature reservation were built by Civilian Conservation Corps workers during the Great Depression.

Much of the reservation is located in Saugus but in Wakefield its extensive trail system can be accessed from near the vocational school.

Heath and Simcox are also the authors of the Images of America book on Wakefield's Lake Quannapowitt. That first book reportedly began as an idea for a pamphlet for the Friends of Lake Quannapowitt, was submitted as an idea to Arcadia Publishing in 2009, and was published in 2011. The two also reported that some of the inspiration to create that first book came from Bob McLaughlin, who created his own book with Arcadia focusing on the former Pleasure Island Amusement Park. Nancy Bertrand, President of the Wakefield Historical Society and the Wakefield Historical Commission, has also published two Images of America books, entitled "Wakefield" and Wakefield Revisited." All of the books typically contain between 180 and 240 images of their respective topic or town,

The book is available online at the Arcadia Publishing website and also at local businesses including Hart's Hardware, Smith Drug, Book Oasis in Stoneham, and Barnes and Noble.