BREA : Despite Troubles, Book Gets Published

The Brea Historical Society published a historical account of the city, highlighting its pioneers and people who made Brea one of Orange County’s 31 cities.

Producing the book itself was a pioneering effort by members of the society, who had never attempted such a task, after the publishing company they contracted with went bankrupt and bowed out of the project.

The society, which lost $25,000 when the publishing company went bankrupt, decided it owed the community and published “Brea: Celebrating 75 Years.”

But it wasn’t easy, members recalled.

They set out to do something they knew nothing about and ended up producing a 232-page book about the city’s history, complete with pictures and stories about the town’s people, oil fields, architecture and landmarks.

A computer was purchased and all the work--including writing, editing and laying out the pages--was done by members who solicited money from local businesses to pay for the printing costs, which reached about $20,000.

Teresa F. Hampson--a Brea resident and historical society member who authored the book--never got paid.

In fact, no one was paid for the project that took two years to complete.

“We already had three chapters done when Windsor Publications filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy,” Hampson said.

“We felt so badly about what happened that we decided to finish the book anyway.”

Windsor Publications Inc. officials could not be reached for comment.

However, the company filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 of federal bankruptcy laws in September, 1991, according to documents.

The society, a nonprofit organization, sold 75 books in advance and sent the money to the company but lost contact with Windsor for several months, said Sharon Dean, a society board member who was instrumental in getting the book published.

“We did some checking around and found out about the bankruptcy,” she said.

“Then it became a matter of responsibility to the people who were waiting for the book, the community and the businesses that invested in it.”

The City Council last month issued a proclamation honoring the society for producing the book.

“In the face of what for most people would be insurmountable odds, they kept going,” said Councilman Burnie Dunlap.

“Their feeling for wanting the book not to die deserved acknowledgment and commendation.”