Dearborn Historical Commission Seeks Interesting Stories for New Book

The editors behind Dearborn's popular book series, "Best Dearborn Stories" are looking for submissions for a third volume that may be published this year.

“Even though we don’t have the official go-ahead for the third volume, the first two have been such a hit with people that we’re well into collecting stories for it,”  said L. Glenn O’Kray, vice chairman of the Dearborn Historical Commission and coordinator of the project.

“So far we have about 53 stories, so we’re about one-third of the way to our goal of 163. That would be one more than we had for Volume II. And there are so many great stories involving Dearborn that I’m very confident we’ll make it," he said.

Sales of the book serve as a fundraiser for the Dearborn Historical Museum. The first two volumes in the series, released in 2011 and 2012, have grossed $33,000 with sales of 1,500 copies. The first book raised nearly $15,000 in profits for the museum, while volume II has reached its break-even point in less than three months, already covering printing and design costs, according to O'Kray.

Previous volumes have included submissions from state Rep. George T. Darany, Wayne County Commission Chairman Gary Woronchak, and local residents Jennifer Ganem and Orville Hubbard, among others.

The Guild will consider funding for Volume III within the next few months, according to Richard Danes, the group’s president.

“The first two books have been just about the best fundraiser ever for the museum, so I’m sure we’ll give serious consideration to approving the next volume,” wrote on the group's blog.

The Historical Commission is seeking stories roughly 700 words in length about life in Dearborn. Stories can be emailed to O’Kray at lglennokray@cavtel.net. Writers who need help developing an article may contact O'Kray at 313-724-8203.

Copies of the previous two volumes are available online at www.thedhm.com, or at the museum’s McFadden-Ross House, 915 S. Brady St. in Dearborn.