Lowndes County Historical SocietyPatterson Street in Valdosta looking south from Central Avenue, circa 1930. Vinson's Drugs is visible on the left. Streetcars operated on Patterson Street between 1899 and 1924. The tracks were later pulled up and used as scrap metal during World War II. Photo contributed by Lowndes County Historical Society and Museum. See more historic photos like this in "Valdosta & Lowndes County Through Our Eyes: 150 Years of the Valdosta Daily Times." Order today at Valdosta150.PictorialBook.com.

VALDOSTA — At the end of the month, pre-sales for “Valdosta & Lowndes County Through Our Eyes: 150 Years of The Valdosta Daily Times” will be coming to a close.

The book tells the story of Valdosta through words and pictures from the town’s beginnings up into the present, said Dean Poling, executive editor of The Valdosta Daily Times.

Starting with the inception of the town, the book is separated into sections that focus on the people and developments that shaped Valdosta into what it is today.

While Poling provided context to explain the history of the photos, The Times is showcasing photographs both from newspaper archives and from the community, Poling said. Members of the community were given opportunities earlier this year to submit photos for the book.

The newspaper worked along side archivists at the Lowndes County Historical Society and photographer Paul Leavy, who worked for The Times for several years, in selecting the photos, Poling said.

Leavy “came here and worked with the archivist,” Poling said. “Paul knew the history, and helped the archivist select photographs. Paul has a real eye, not just for taking photographs, but for selecting great photographs.”

With Leavy’s eye and the combined effort of the community, “Valdosta & Lowndes County Through Out Eye” tells the story of our town through photos “… that really boil down where we’ve been, where we come from, where we are, and maybe a glimpse of where we are going,” Poling said.

Pre-sale for the book, along with a $15 discount ends Wednesday, Nov. 1. After the date, the book will be available for purchase at the full retail price of $44.95 with pick up being around the end of November and beginning of December.

Jason Smith is a reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. He can be contacted at 229-244-3400 ext.1256.