RADFORD – Radford University history professor Richard Straw, in a partnership with the Athens County Historical Society and Museum in Ohio, has released Athens, part of the Images of America book series by Arcadia Publishing. Arcadia is a leading publisher of historical books on neighborhoods, cities and towns across the United States.

Athens is a pictorial history of Straw’s hometown. The book includes photos of unique architecture, family gatherings, churches, business, local landmarks and more. The city was founded in the late 1700s by men, most from Massachusetts, who settled in the Appalachian foothills along the Hocking River. The city’s name honors the founders’ belief in the importance of education.

Straw (right), who graduated from Ohio University in Athens, says, “I have always felt Athens was a special place with a lot of character. I’ve been aware of the many, many historical photos that exist of the place and have always felt that these were an important resource to make available to the public.” Well known for its devotion to the arts, the city is also recognized as a center for alternative thinking.

Postcards were released at the same time the book was published but are sold separately. The postcards are a relatively new project for the publisher and Straw says Athens is one of their first releases in the series.

Straw also authored Blacksburg, a part of the Images of America series, and High Mountains Rising: Appalachia in Time and Place.

To order a copy of Athens, visit www.arcadiapublishing.com. The book is also available at online bookstores including Amazon.com.