New Book Compares Abingdon’s Past and Present

Nov. 29, 2010 - PRLog -- Abingdon, first named Wolf Hills by Daniel Boone, was one of the earliest towns and commercial centers in southwestern Virginia.  Named after Martha Washington's ancestral parish in England, this unique town has weathered many economic changes and has emerged as a leading cultural and arts center for the area.

New from Arcadia Publishing is Abingdon, by local author and Washington County native Donna Gayle Akers.  Abingdon is part of Arcadia’s popular Then & Now series which offers a special view of American life, placing historical images side by side with contemporary photographs to chronicle the area’s past.

The author hopes her work will “bring back good memories for the citizens, inspire more historic research in the area and serve to educate the youth and newcomers to the area about the rich historic heritage of this area of southwest Virginia.”

Highlights of Abingdon:
• Several photographs of the Belmont Hotel, which was demolished years ago
• Street scenes show the downtown changes through the years
• The Martha Washington Inn, now a historic hotel, has changed little from its days as a girls’ school

Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at www.arcadiapublishing.com or 888.313.2665.  

Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States.  Our mission is to make history accessible and meaningful through the publication of books on the heritage of America’s people and places.  Have we done a book on your town?  Visit www.arcadiapublishing.com.

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With more than 6,000 local history titles published to date, Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States. Widely recognized sepia books feature hundreds of vintage historical images.