CANTON — Amidst the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping, local vendors are encouraging Cherokee County residents to slow down a little and reminisce about the days of old with unique gift offerings representative of the county, both past and present.

At Yawn’s Books & More in Canton, owner Farris Yawn said his store carries books from a variety of local authors, including Hickory Flat resident Lowell Lawson, and selections by Woodstock’s official historian Juanita Hughes.

“We basically carry every (local author) we know about,” Yawn joked Friday afternoon.

At Chamberhouse in Canton, Cleveland Chambers sells custom graphic T-shirts from Old School Apparel, created by Cherokee native Jay Wallace which feature graphic depictions of local school mascots and iconic locations including the old Canton High School, Gober Beach and Skyline Café.

“I think it brings back happy memories,” Chambers said. “A lot of people buy them for gifts.”

The shirts retail for $20 and can also be purchased at Three Sisters in Hickory Flat, Traditions in Free Home and the Green Bean Exchange at Free Home Store.

Those shopping in downtown Woodstock can stop by the Visitor’s Center at Dean’s Store to purchase locally themed ornaments presented by the Cherokee County Historical Society, magnets, history books, maps and cookbooks from the Cherokee County Service League.

Hughes, who also works at the visitor’s center, said a popular item is the store’s “I Love Woodstock” tumbler that retails for $10.

“I think people like to send gifts back home to show their relatives what it’s like to live here,” Hughes said. “There’s just a lot of great features to Cherokee County that people are nostalgic for. … They want mementos to either keep or give as gifts.”

This year’s commemorative ornament for the historical society depicts Canton’s Main Street in November 1962.

“The collection that this photograph is from represents the work of Buddy Alexander, a local photographer who recorded Cherokee County from the late 1940s to mid-1970s,” said Stefanie Joyner, president of Cherokee County Historical Society. “His work encompasses many different types of photography, of scenes and events in and around Cherokee County.”

Joyner said Alexander’s collection, composed of 76,665 images, was donated by Frances Alexander to the Historical Society in 2004.

The historical society spent a year cataloging and storing the collection. Meghan Griffin, archivist at the society, digitally added color to the photograph featured on the ornament. The ornament retails for $15.

“She used older color photographs and oral history from local citizens to determine the colors of the buildings, signs, and vehicles,” Joyner said.

To purchase the 2012 featured ornament or any of the previous years’ ornaments, visit the Woodstock Visitors Center or www.shop.rockbarn.org.