Saint Stephen's Church Ridgefield, Connecticut: Its History For 250 Years 1725 to 1975 (Signed)

First Edition (NAP). This book is signed and inscribed by both the author (on the title page) and by the illustrator (on the last page). The inscriptions are to a Dirk Bollenback (the illustrator mistakenly wrote 'Dick') who was a long time history teacher in Ridgefield. Here's a little bit about him: 'A graduate of Deerfield Academy, Wesleyan, and the School of Advanced International Studies of Johns Hopkins University, Mr. Bollenback came to Ridgefield and its high school in 1958, and was among the most honored and admired teachers of the century by the time he retired in 1996. In 1963, the social studies teacher and longtime department chairman won a John Hay Fellowship to study for a year at the University of Chicago. He received a John F. Kennedy Library award in 1991 for developing creative, effective curriculum, was voted by students to Who's Who among America's Teachers, won Outstanding Teacher Awards from Tufts and the University of Chicago, and was honored in 1996 by the League of Women Voters for service to school and community'. Also, 'life as a Ridgefield teacher has not always been pleasant. In the early 1970s Mr. Bollenback was in the middle of one of Ridgefield's worst controversies when some members of the community and the school board wanted to ban several books, including Eldridge Cleaver's Soul on Ice, from the high school. He was called a Communist by some critics. But he, other teachers and community leaders stood their ground, and the books remained'. You can see this less controversial book in the photographs provided. The covers are in very good condition. There's very little wear, a little wrinkle at the bottom of the spine. There is also a little bit of sun fading, particularly off the top and bottom edges. The interior of the book is in excellent condition. The pages are very clean. They don't show any wear, no creasing or dogeared corners. With the exception of the signed inscriptions, no one has written their name or anything else anywhere in the book. Nor are there any markings or attachments. Finally, the book is very solidly bound, absolutely no issues in that regard.…