Each word we speak, each story we write, each photograph we take instantly becomes a part of history.

Unfortunately, most words, stories and photos are lost or forgotten. And the loss of each takes away a bit of history.

In an effort to preserve the past, the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald is making plans to publish a pictorial history book of Hertford County. This effort comes on the 250th anniversary of the county, one founded in 1759.

To make a project of this magnitude work, we need help.

That’s where the citizens of the Roanoke-Chowan area fit in. If you or your family possesses old photographs of everyday life in Hertford County, we would love to borrow them for a short period of time. We want to preserve those images and share them for the world to see.

We don’t have long to work on this project. Celebrating 250 Years – A Pictorial History of Hertford County, North Carolina will be published in time for Christmas 2009 delivery – making it a perfect gift. But, in order to meet a tight printing schedule, we need your photos no later than Oct. 16.

So, get that old box of photos down from the closet and bring (or mail) them to us as soon as possible. We promise to be extremely careful with them and will return the photos as soon as the book is published.

For instructions on how to have one or more of your treasured family photos published in this book, please see the story on Page 1A of today’s edition.