On March 28, 1907 the Waynesburg Republican announced to the public that Fred High's souvenir book Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful was ready for purchase.

After a year’s worth of preparation, High made his contribution to Greene County history, not only with facts and text, but with, more than anything else, photographs. Identified photographs too, almost every one of the hundreds in his book have names and/or addresses associated with them. These photos go beyond the general images we often see in history books; instead, they feature specific individuals, homes and businesses – identities and all. The first time I came face-to-face with an ancestor was on a page of collaged Waynesburg College graduate photographs which identified a sweet-looking, young woman as Sadie Buchanan.

If you are looking for photos for your family or trying to put names to photos you have in your collection, you might make a great start by searching the pages of Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful for familiar names or faces. The same goes for the local places that matter to you: churches, schools, banks and more. 

As described in the 1907 announcement, the book “contains 136 pages, is exquisitely printed on heavy coated paper, 225 pictures of interest to the public are shown, and many historical facts given. Two fine birds-eye views of Waynesburg are included….In addition there are scores of other pictures well worth preserving, old street scenes in Waynesburg, historic buildings, the churches, modern and ancient, college, schools, park, and handsome residences. The pictures are all very fine and equal to photographs in appearance. Mr. High deserves much credit for his enterprise and the perfection of this souvenir and is entitled to the appreciation which the public has shown. The book is not only one very desirable to keep for yourself but would make a most suitable present for friends away from here."

High's achievement, grand enough to be appreciated for its historical value in its own time, is today a most unique gem among our local history resources.

Fortunately, this book is not only available to view today, but has also been reprinted for purchase at the Greene County Historical Society and will soon be available in digital form on CD-Rom through GCHS as well. Appropriate, to this 100th anniversary month for Waynesburg Prosperous & Beautiful, March happens to be the month of Heritage Week and brings two days of open hours (March 14 and 15, 11AM – 4PM) at the GCHS Museum during which the public is invited to help identify unmarked photographs and also to share their own photos with the Greene County Photo Archive Project by bringing pictures into the museum to be immediately scanned and returned. Not to mention, the gift shop will be open and you can take this perfect opportunity to celebrate your personal and local history by picking up your own copy of High’s century-honored book, because as they said it in 1907, “The book is not only one very desirable to keep for yourself but would make a most suitable present for friends away from here."