Author of Rockland History Book Seeks Contributions

How would you like to leave your mark on history? Now's your chance as writer Linda Zimmermann is updating her book "Rockland County Century of History" which came out in 2002. Zimmermann, along with the Rockland County Historical Society, are spreading the word that in the new updated edition residents of Rockland County are able to send in photographs that they have that did not make it to the first edition.

"With it coming up on the tenth anniversary, we wanted to do something special," said Zimmermann. She said that her love of writing has inspired her to take a look into the past from multiple points of view, and her writing reflects of where the people of Rockland County came from.

"I remember as I put this book together, I included a section about milk machines," she said. She described how the vending milk machines were like soda vending machines. "You put your money in and you got a half gallon of milk out."

She said that including the story in the book has been met with skepticism, but she pushed forward with it. "I remember as a little girl, my father picking me up and giving me the change to put the money in and the milk came out, so I had to include it in the book," said Zimmermann. "When I relayed the story, some skeptics thought it was too new and not historical enough and I disagreed and I was proven correct."

Zimmermann said the vending milk machines proved to be one of the most talked about aspects of the book. "I have people telling me all the time how they remember those," she said.

Ultimately, this always leads into a conversation about a forgotten photo or another story that Zimmermann would happen upon long after the book was published and now, she said, is the opportunity to put in the book.

"I am asking people to send me photos via e-mail," she said. "I ask that no one send originals, because those are heirlooms and I would hate for something to happen with them. What I want is for people to scan the images and e-mail them to me."

She asks the subject matter be related to the 20th Century, the photos be scanned at 300 dpi and be sent to Lindazim@optonline.net and sent in no later than Aug. 31. Zimmermann said that with the many scanners, video phones and digital cameras in usage, persons should be able to get the photo scanned or this can be taken to a Kinkos or other copy center.

"This is our history," said Zimmermann. "And it is up to us to preserve it."

For more information, visit her site at www.gotozim.com.