A story centuries (and 10 years) in the making for W. Brookfield.

Byline: J.P. Ellery

WEST BROOKFIELD - It has taken about 10 years to produce the final product, but those who have perused it say it has been worth the wait.

In 385 pages, author Jeffrey H. Fiske of New Braintree has captured the history of West Brookfield from 1675 to 1990 and told a story of the town's uncanny ability to retain its character and New England charm over all those years.

Richard J. Rossman, chairman of the local Historical Commission, said that lots of bumps and detours were encountered in getting the nearly $30,000 project completed, but he said the timing of its release could not be better.

The book, "A History of West Brookfield 1675-1990," comes out just a few months before West Brookfield and five other nearby towns celebrate the 350th anniversary of what was known as the Quaboag Plantation, the geographic area that later become the four Brookfields, New Braintree and Warren. The anniversary year is 2010.

"We probably got the last chapter from Mr. Fiske in 2005, but the next thing we had to do was to get it edited and that took about a year and a half, and then it took about a year to get photos, to gather them up," Mr. Rossman said.

The book contains more than 140 photos depicting the town's history.

Former Historical Commission member Newton Frost broached the idea of a town history, and it was decided in 1999 to obtain the services of Mr. Fiske, who has written histories of other area towns.

The retail price of the book is $49.95, according to Mr. Rossman, but for a limited time the book is on sale for $39.95.

It is available at Town Hall and the nearby Merriam-Gilbert Public Library, 3 West Main St.

State Sen. Stephen M. Brewer, D-Barre, who expresses his amazement at being able to walk through history every time he comes to West Brookfield, offered his thoughts on the book's cover. Mr. Brewer talked of being amazed to tread where George Washington once walked in town.

The book is dedicated to those early residents "who had the courage to settle in what was a wilderness in 1660 and to those who followed with the vision and dedication that has made West Brookfield the special community that it is today," Mr. Rossman said.

Book signings by Mr. Fiske will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 14 and from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 19 at the Merriam-Gilbert Public Library.

When the book project was proceeding ever so slowly, according to Mr. Rossman, members joked that it would not be completed until the 350th anniversary of the Quaboag Plantation and, as it turned out "we had to struggle to get it done by then," he said.

ART: PHOTO

CUTLINE: Jeffrey H. Fiske of New Braintree, author of "A History of West Brookfield 1675-1990," poses outside North Brookfield Congregational Church, one of the subjects of Mr. Fiske's books.

PHOTOG: T&G File Photo/DAN GOULD