While doing a bit of last-minute research recently in reporting on President George W. Bush's historic visit, I made a great discovery.

Perhaps it would be better to describe it differently. I was given a great discovery.

Don Edwards, an acquaintance from my own early days in Ironton - two years ago - showed up at the office and handed me a copy of "Glorious Past: Story of One Hundred Years." The booklet was the official souvenir created by the Ironton Centennial Commission to celebrate Ironton's 100th birthday back in October 1949. I am forever indebted to Don for showing me the book. Inside the booklet is a treasure trove of interesting information, culled from 100 years of newspapers published in Lawrence County, including the predecessor of the one you are currently reading.

The book tells the story of the city at a time when industry was still king in these parts.

"Ironton's industries since 1849 have helped build the nation called America," the booklet's "forword" reads. It's unclear whether the unfamiliar spelling was a typographical error or just the way the word "foreword" was spelled in 1949.

"Iron for industry, railroads, guns and ships … Lumber and nails for buildings and home … Cement for foundations, skyscrapers, road and bridges … Brick for churches, schools and streets … Stoves for cooking and heating … What city anywhere has manufactured all these materials down through the years?" the booklet's intro continues.

The booklet details the history of the city year by year.

Did you know how the first streets were named for area iron furnaces? Vesuvius Street was Ironton's first named street, followed by Hecla, Etna, Buckhorn, Lawrence, Center, Olive and Vernon streets.

The city's first chartered bank, The Iron Bank of Ironton, opened in 1851 with $40,000 starting capital.

One year later the city's population was 1,751. The first street to be paved with brick was a portion of Center Street, from Fifth to Second streets. In 1891, the going rate was $9,151.80.

In 1909, voters approved a local option and closed the city's saloons. That same year, the first airplane ever seen in town flew from Beechwood Park, where admission was charged to inspect the one-seat wonder.

Yes, our area is filled with history. It's one of things we're trying to include more of in our coverage.

We hope to begin publishing more items of historical interest including Naomi Deer's column about the events at the Lawrence County Historical Museum. Today we also revive a new feature that will be familiar to long-time Tribune readers, Memory Lane.

Each Sunday we'll publish a photograph from our area's past. If you have an old photograph you would like to submit, please feel free to do so by either mailing it to us or dropping it by our office. In addition, we'll publish a flashback to the headlines of yesteryear each day with a brief look back to five, 10 and 25 years ago.

The changes are among several we have planned including some changes to help make some of our daily features easier to read. Please let us know how you like the changes and feel free to offer feedback to us.

Kevin Cooper is publisher of The Ironton Tribune. He may be reached at (740) 532-1445 ext. 12 or by e-mail to kevin.cooper@irontontribune.com.