ESCANABA — Author James Lewnard will be at the Escanaba Public Library on Wednesday, Aug. 14, at 6:30 p.m. for an author talk about his most recent book, Chicago & North Western Peninsula Division 1940-1996 Vol. 1.

The Chicago & North Western’s Peninsula Division, or the C&NW, was built to haul ore from the Marquette and Menominee iron ranges to the docks in Escanaba where the load would be transferred to waiting ore boats. As industry grew in the area, the railroad expanded its service to carry just about anything that a person or industry could need. For more than 120 years, the C&NW was a local icon in the Escanaba area.

In his book the author combines a history of the railroad’s facilities, equipment, and operations from Green Bay through Escanaba to Ishpeming, and from Powers through Iron Mountain to Watersmeet, with a special focus on the Escanaba ore docks while explaining the impact the C&NW had on a local and national scale.

This event is free and open to the public. No registration is required. The event is sponsored by the Friends of the Escanaba Public Library.

For more information, visit the library’s website at www.escanabalibrary.org, Facebook/Instagram or call 906-789-7323. The Escanaba Public Library is located at 400 Ludington St. in downtown Escanaba.