Just in time for the holidays, a new book on Wakefield's history will be released this week. The new book, entitled "Images of America: Wakefield Revisited," was written by Nancy Bertrand and is published by Arcadia Publishing. The book, a supplement to "Images of America: Wakefield," published in 2000, is rich in never before seen photos and images of the town, including a series of photos produced from glass plate negatives from the archives of the Wakefield Historical Society, discovered during the Museum's move earlier this year.

The book traces the evolution of Main Street from the grassy trail visible in nineteenth century paintings through the establishment of the village of South Reading, to the bustling, newly industrial town of Wakefield.

Some of the town's most unforgettable characters stride through the pages of this book, from the nineteenth century house-painter Franklin Poole, who captured the character of the town in a myriad of rare, precise oil paintings, to the fascinating strong women who played a major role in forging the personality of the town now known as Wakefield. In these pages, the reader will also revisit almost forgotten landmarks, buildings and sites and will rediscover the long lost businesses and industries that made Wakefield "the most enterprising community north of Boston." Capping it all will be images of celebrations, from Grand Army of the Republic marches to the High School relocation procession to the town's trademark Fourth of July parade.

The sales of the book will directly benefit the Wakefield History Museum at the West Ward School, since all of the author's royalties are being donated to the support of the Museum by author Nancy Bertrand.

The books will be available at the Wakefield Historical Society Holiday Open House at the West Ward School at 39 Prospect St. on Sunday, Dec. 12 from noon to 2 p.m., or can be purchased at "Wakefield Un-Common Antiques" at 306 Main St.