Missouri at War
Part of the Postcard History series
The Show-Me State possesses an enduring military heritage that unfolded several decades before it became a state in 1821 and stretches forth to the present day. Missouri has molded many notable military leaders, such as Gen. John J. Pershing, the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I. It has been the site of a Spanish fort, built in the area that is now downtown St. Louis, and serves as the home of the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City. These people and memorials continue to generate reminders to its citizens of the sacrifices made by the brave men and women who have fought on behalf of the state and nation.
Yavapai County
Part of the Postcard History series
In 1864, Arizona was divided into four counties named after the local Indian communities: Yavapai, Yuma, Mohave, and Pima. Believed to have been the largest county ever created in the lower 48 states at the time, Yavapai encompassed over 65,000 square miles until 1891, when the state was divided into additional counties. Yavapai finally settled to 8,125 square miles. While still a US territory in 1900, Yavapai County had a population just under 13,800 people and was quite remote. Within a few years, postcards started appearing in drugstores, such as Brisley, Timerhoff, Owl, Heit, Corbin and Bork, or Eagle Drug in Prescott and Lynn Boyd or Mitchell in Jerome. Many of the original postcards showcase early mines, towns, and buildings that no longer exist today.
Petaluma in Vintage Postcards
Part of the Postcard History series
Incorporated in 1858, Petaluma rapidly became a thriving commercial and major transportation center. This carefully curated selection of vintage postcards illustrates Petaluma's identity and pride as it grew from a strategic port location provisioning San Francisco during the Gold Rush to an agricultural and manufacturing town in the late 1800s. After the turn of the 20th century, Petaluma focused on the poultry industry and proclaimed itself "The World's Egg Basket." The cast-iron storefronts and iconic buildings, such as the Carnegie Library, post office, and silk mill, are some of the impressive landmarks constructed during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Images of a busy waterfront with a bustling downtown surrounded by Victorian homes, beautiful churches, and public parks demonstrate the town's development and prosperity.
The Kennebunks in Vintage Postcards
by The Brick Store Museum
Part of the Postcard History series
The town of Kennebunk split from the neighboring town of Wells on June 24, 1820, just three months after Maine became a state. Kennebunk's proximity to three large bodies of water, the Kennebunk River, the Mousam River, and the Atlantic Ocean, fueled its development over thousands of years. Kennebunk's waterways were home to Wabanaki hunters, settlement farmers, early lumber mills, and a booming shipbuilding business. The Maine coast soon brought tourists to Kennebunk and its beaches. By the 1930s, Kennebunk Beach and its surrounding area contained several hotels and beach cottages. Sites like the Wedding Cake House, Kennebunk Beach, Main Street, and Blowing Cave quickly reached new heights as well-known landmarks. Postcards played a part in fueling the powerhouse tourist industry that remains active to this day.
Missoula
Part of the Postcard History series
Missoula began in 1860 as Hellgate Village, a trading post located about 4 miles west of what is now downtown. In 1864, the construction of a mill powered by water diverted from Rattlesnake Creek drew residents of Hellgate to the new town, and the arrival of the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1883 assured Missoula's future. The establishment of the University of Montana led to growth on the south side of the Clark Fork River, and the timber industry drove the economy. Missoula has evolved into a trade, medical, educational, and governmental center of western Montana.
The Outer Banks in Vintage Postcards
Part of the Postcard History series
The Outer Banks of North Carolina have been a destination for seasonal visitors since Algonkian Indians hunted and fished on the islands. In 1584, English explorers arrived and before long were promoting the area as a land of natural abundance and beauty, pleasant weather, and kindly natives. Not much has changed in that respect. By the beginning of the 20th century, visitors and residents alike were using postcards to share the things that make the Outer Banks unique with family and friends in other places.
New York City Skyscrapers
Part of the Postcard History series
New York City Skyscrapers celebrates the numerous awe-inspiring buildings that have made New York the skyscraper capital of the world. This book traces the history of New York's tallest structures from the late 19th century, when church spires ruled the skyline, through the 20th century, when a succession of amazing buildings soared to new heights. From the Flatiron and Woolworth Buildings to the Chrysler and Empire State Buildings, the skyscrapers of New York have long captured the imagination of people around the world.
Belle Isle
by Karen Macarthur Grizzard
Part of the Postcard History series
Detroit's crowning jewel, Belle Isle, has been a leisure destination for natives and visitors alike for well over a century. Originating as Wahnabezee or "Swan Island" by Native Americans and Isle aux Cochons or "Hog Island" by early French settlers, the name was changed to Belle Isle in 1845 to honor Michigan governor Lewis Cass's daughter Isabelle. After generations of passing between public and private ownership, the island was bought in 1879 by the City of Detroit, which commissioned famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted to create the beloved haven that is known today. An island oasis with attractions dating back to its early years, Belle Isle continues to connect the past, present, and future of a vibrant city.
Long Island Beaches
Part of the Postcard History series
For centuries, Long Island's beaches have provided sustenance, relaxation, and inspiration. The coastline is renowned for its sandy Atlantic Ocean surf beaches, calm bayfront beaches, and rugged north shore Long Island Sound beaches. First inhabited by Native Americans, the area was called Sewanhacky ("Isle of Shells") in reverence to the offerings received where the water met the land. Drawing from the archives of local libraries, historical societies, museums, and private collections, Long Island Beaches presents a curated selection of vintage postcards illustrating the diversity of Nassau and Suffolk Counties' beautiful shores. Rare photographs and maps accompany the postcards to provide historical context. Through extensive research, author Kristen J. Nyitray documents a facet of Long Island's social and cultural history and the lure of its picturesque beaches.
Along Iowa's Historic Highway 20
Part of the Postcard History series
US Highway 20 was designated a federal highway in 1926. For the first half of the 20th century, it was the most important east-west road across northern Iowa, extending from the Mississippi to the Missouri River. The road connected 13 counties, four major metropolitan areas, and many smaller communities along its route. Fortunately, the historic two-lane road remains almost completely intact and can be driven much as travelers did in years gone by. Along Iowa's Historic Highway 20 celebrates such a trip, illustrated by more than 200 antique postcards that show the personality of the road: town and city scenes, rural vistas, rivers, bridges, and historic sites. Not to be forgotten are the tourist courts, hotels, diners, and gas stations that made travel possible.
The William Penn Highway
by Robert A. Musson, M. D.
Part of the Postcard History series
The William Penn Highway was a major route through the Appalachian Mountains between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh throughout the 20th century. Established in 1916, a decade prior to the federal highway system, the road succeeded the former Northern Turnpike, with much of it following the course of the Pennsylvania Railroad through the Juniata River Valley. The highway also followed the former path of the Allegheny Portage Railroad in climbing the long grade of the Allegheny Ridge. In 1926, US Route 22 was established to follow the highway's course, extending it eastward to Newark, New Jersey, and westward to Cincinnati, Ohio, where it remains well traveled today. This book shows many of the highway's scenic and historic sites.
Honolulu
Part of the Postcard History series
Honolulu's population grew in the first few decades of the 1800s from a few hundred people living in thatched huts to about 3,000 in 1823. Missionaries erected the city's earliest wooden buildings in the 1820s.
Starting in the 1840s, stones were used in construction. With so many foreigners moving to Honolulu during the late 1800s, rapid growth occurred, and the remaining thatched huts and old paths were replaced with permanent structures and patterned streets. By the 1900s, control of the city was dominated by the ever-increasing tide of Caucasians. The early 1900s also marked the beginning of a time when millions of postcards were mailed daily throughout Honolulu and the world.
Pittsfield
by The Berkshire County Historical Society
Part of the Postcard History series
Pittsfield is the center of Berkshire County, Massachusetts. For centuries, visitors have traveled trails, railroads, and highways across the Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts to enjoy the serene beauty of Pontoosuc and Onota Lakes, shop on bustling North Street, or stay at a fine hotel. Many more moved here from across the country and around the world to work at Pittsfield's farms and factories. Since the early 19th century, Pittsfield has been host to woolen mills and General Electric's factories, hotels and motels, hospitals and schools, and much more. Cultural sites, such as Arrowhead, where Herman Melville wrote Moby-Dick, and Park Square, the location of the first agricultural fair ever held in the United States, continue to attract visitors to the city.
Fort Campbell in Vintage Postcards
Part of the Postcard History series
Since its establishment in 1941, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, has grown to approximately 30,000 soldiers on over 100,000 acres. With its Southern culture, the base has a rich and interesting history. German prisoners of war were held here during World War II, and Campbell Army Air Field has always been a favorite stopover of NASA shuttle crews. Fort Campbell units have inspired numerous movies and books, such as Black Hawk Down, Band of Brothers, and Shadow Warriors. Through over 200 vintage postcards and photographs, this pictorial history tells the unique story of an army base and its brave soldiers who have fought to defend our country.
Around Ford City
Part of the Postcard History series
Ford City was once known as one of the fastest-growing communities in Pennsylvania. The Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company and the Ford China Company, both established by John B. Ford, made this town the destination of many United States citizens, as well as European immigrants searching for a new life of employment and prosperity. The vintage postcards in Around Ford City reflect the essence of this hardworking, proud, ethnic community. The people, along with the factories, hotels, churches, and many homes, have grown together over generations to form the spirit of Ford City.
Lower Merion and Narberth
by The Lower Merion Historical Society
Part of the Postcard History series
First settled in 1682 by William Penn's coterie of Welsh Quakers, the Lower Merion area has since undergone several transformations: from farmland, to the home of Philadelphia's industrial elite, to built-out suburb. Besides the development of the unique and impressive Main Line mansions for which the area is famous, Lower Merion and Narberth have been the scene of dramatic railroad rivalries and advances for the middle class. Lower Merion and Narberth focuses on the era of the most intense development, between 1900 and 1950, when the character of each individual neighborhood was coming into its own.
Grinnell in Vintage Postcards
Part of the Postcard History series
From an abolitionist hotbed to the home of a prestigious liberal arts college, Grinnell, Iowa, is known across the country as a "jewel of the prairie." Originally conceived as a Congregationalist utopia, Grinnell developed a reputation as a highly-educated community with a wealth of incredible architecture. It was also a turn-of-the-century industrial hub, despite a population of less than 5,000, where buggies, early automobiles, and gloves were made. The historic postcards in this book recall a community on the verge of transition, from a small agriculture-based town on the prairie to a thriving center of commerce and higher education. They provide a remarkable glimpse of the buildings that make up what is now a "Historic Commercial District" on the National Register of Historic Places. Still others are visual reminders of great buildings-both in the community and on the Grinnell College campus-that now exist only in memory.
Malden
by Malden Historical Society
Part of the Postcard History series
By the turn of the 20th century, Malden had become a fairly large city and was home to wealthy families, immigrants, and workers. Farms disappeared as factories and businesses of all types and sizes grew. Elisha Converse, the city's first mayor and founder of the Boston Rubber Shoe Company, left his mark on Malden by funding a public library and hospital and designating land for development of Pine Banks Park. A vibrant downtown emerged at the intersection of two colonial roads. It became a regional center of shopping and commerce as well as a hub for transportation by train, trolley, or automobile. The early 1900s were marked by the construction of grand residences, business buildings, numerous parks and churches, and many schools. However, by mid-century, many of these institutions had undergone great change, if they had not entirely disappeared.
Grand Lake and Presque Isle
Part of the Postcard History series
For centuries, Presque Isle served as a way station for Native Americans and explorers. Lumbering and shipping led to the development of wooding stations along the Lake Huron shore, where settlements emerged. The roads created by loggers eventually led to the building of resorts and hotels for tourists. Postcard History Series: Grand Lake and Presque Isle explores Burnham's Landing, the abandoned community of Bell, Presque Isle's two renowned lighthouses, two youth camps, the new limestone mining industry at Rockport, and other important sites. Some 20th-century visitors bemoaned water that was too cold, fish that were not biting, journeys that were too long, or visits that were too short. The postcard messages indicate that they knew Grand Lake and Presque Isle would remain in their hearts and minds until they could return.
Corona
Part of the Postcard History series
More lemons once were shipped from Corona than anywhere on Earth, as a dozen citrus packinghouses were located along the railroad tracks in this rural Riverside County enclave known for its circular boulevard and hard-working inhabitants. The postcards collected for this trip down Corona's memory lane reflect its six decades of citrus-industry dominance and portray the past in street scenes, commerce, ranches, schools, churches, homes, and the outlying resorts of Glen Ivy and the Norconian Club. The Corona Road Races-spectacular national affairs in 1913, 1914, and 1916-are also depicted.
Berrien County Postcards
Part of the Postcard History series
As one of the earliest developed areas of the state of Michigan, Berrien County has a rich history that appeals to the locals as well as the tourists who still enjoy the many treasures to be found there. Author Sherry Arent Cawley has compiled over 200 vintage postcards chronicling the life and times of this historic area. The historic Benton Harbor Fruit Market, Silver Beach, the mineral baths at the Whitecomb Hotel, and the House of David are all featured here in vivid postcards, some never before published, with accompanying captions. Images of Grand Beach, Niles, New Buffalo, Paw Paw Lake, and Berrien Springs offer readers a nostalgic glimpse into a Berrien County of yesteryear.
Lakeland
Part of the Postcard History series
Lakeland celebrates the history of one of central Florida's most scenic cities. The small town that encompasses dozens of lakes was perfectly named in 1883, and grew to include an eclectic mix of downtown buildings, elegant hotels, roadways, handsome parks, and picturesque neighborhoods. By mid-century, Lakeland had grown to support small industries, churches, several schools, an airport, and two small colleges, one of which features the largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.
Long Branch
Part of the Postcard History series
In days gone by, Long Branch was filled with the mansions of millionaires, a business district bustling with commerce, and an oceanfront dotted with glittering gambling casinos and the finest hotels. At the dawn of the 20th century, everyone flocked to Ocean Avenue, either as a resident or visitor just taking in the sights. Some of these people were well-known actors, politicians, and business tycoons of the day. Others were day-trippers here to enjoy the cool breezes and summer entertainment that Long Branch had to offer. Some local citizens worked in the city, helping to maintain its reputation as the premier summer resort in the nation--a distinction bestowed by Mary Todd Lincoln when she visited in the summer of 1861. Many people came to Long Branch for many reasons, but all of them had one thing in common, the important role they played in its proud past.
Aurora
Part of the Postcard History series
Covered wagons brought a wave of migration to northern Illinois in the mid-1830s. On April 1, 1834, the first permanent white settlers, Joseph McCarthy and two assistants, paddled up the Fox River. The vicinity was known as Waubonsie's Village at that time. They built a log cabin, a dam across the Fox, and eventually a sawmill. The village had about 400 Native Americans who bartered fish for bread and tobacco. For almost 175 years now, growth has been steady and sure, and the city of Aurora is the second-largest metropolitan area in Illinois. Aurora is home to honorable civic institutions, excellent education, and a multicultural and energetic population.
Durango
Part of the Postcard History series
This collection presents a postcard tour of Durango and its environs and provides keen insight into the history and colorful character of this area, which has been a vibrant center of Southwestern Colorado for more than a century. A brief history of postcards as a convenient medium for sharing messages--and as a revolutionary departure from Victorian-era long letters--is included here as well. The Center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College is pleased to present these evocative images gathered by the indefatigable Nina Heald Webber.
Part of the Postcard History series
Bridgeport: 1900-1960 presents a fascinating look into the history of Bridgeport through vintage postcards from the city's formative years. These vintage postcards depict the change and expansion in Bridgeport during the 20th century, from the growth of the University of Bridgeport from a small junior college into a major university to the changes in transportation from the horse and buggy to early automobiles and trolley cars. Bridgeport's waterfront played an important role in the development of the city, drawing visitors and wealthy residents who built homes along the shore. Following the two world wars, the city saw a large population increase, and a building boom soon followed. Factories and homes were built, retail stores moved in, and recreational options increased to serve the needs of the thousands of people who came to Bridgeport seeking employment.
Billings
Part of the Postcard History series
Billings is sometimes called "The Magic City" for its rapid growth that seems to change the skyline overnight. Located in the heart of the Yellowstone Valley, it is Montana's largest city and the state's premier business destination. From 1900 to the 1960s--Billings's "Golden Years"--locals and tourists alike enjoyed a variety of hotels, fine restaurants, and retail and wholesale shopping, while businesses such as sugar and oil refineries, banking, and brewing kept the economy running. Surrounded by unparalleled natural splendor, Billings has always had the stark juxtaposition of a modern city set amid wilderness, as these vintage postcards attest.
Redlands
Part of the Postcard History series
Cultural traditions coalesce in the city of Redlands like nowhere else in the Inland Empire. The University of Redlands is distinguished by a century of academic leadership to the community, the Fortnightly Club is one of the oldest literary organizations in the United States, and Spinnet plays favorites as one of the oldest musical societies in California. The rich cultural legacy of this sun-drenched San Bernardino County municipality intertwines with its past as a farming, citrus-growing, and health-care community, and lives on in the Redlands Symphony Orchestra, Redlands Art Association, and other regionally recognized organizations. The renowned A. K. Smiley Library remains an enduring tribute to one of the city's pioneering twin brothers (A. H. was the other) who oversaw its formative years.
Bethlehem Revisited
Part of the Postcard History series
Due in part to the Lehigh Canal and the Lehigh Valley Railroad, Bethlehem evolved from a tranquil town to a modern industrial city. Built in 1829, the Lehigh Canal passed by the center of Bethlehem. With it brought a steady stream of outsiders who shaped and changed the community. The Lehigh Valley Railroad was established in South Bethlehem in the 1850s, turning the city into a manufacturing center with such new industries as Lehigh Zinc and Bethlehem Steel as well as silk mills. Bethlehem Revisited captures a city in transition, at a time when its streets could barely accommodate the influx of horses, trolleys, automobiles, and pedestrians. Bursting at its seams with people, businesses, and residences, Bethlehem comes alive through this collection of extraordinary postcards.
Clark County
Part of the Postcard History series
Clark County was created in 1873 by an act of territorial legislature. It was named for Newton Clark, a territorial legislator. On June 27, 1878, the first white settlers arrived in Clark County. Settlers continued migrating to Clark County, and by 1880, there were enough settlers to petition for organization. On May 23, 1881, Clark County became an official county. The first courthouse was built in 1888 in Clark. Besides Clark, the following towns were soon formed: Bradley, Carpenter, Crocker, Elrod, Garden City, Melham, Naples, Raymond, Vienna, and Willow Lake. Clark County, located in northeast South Dakota in the Glacial Lakes and Prairie Region, is home to some 4,500 residents.
French Lick and West Baden Springs
Part of the Postcard History series
During the heyday of spas, two luxurious hotels, owned by flamboyant competing visionaries, attracted the rich and famous to southern Indiana. Hotel guests came from throughout the United States in search of cures and pleasure. Among the many noted celebrities visiting the French Lick Springs and West Baden Springs Hotels were Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Al Capone, Joe Lewis, and professional golfer Walter Hagen, and the West Baden Springs Hotel was known as the "Eighth Wonder of the World." After years of neglect, the two hotels have been restored to their original splendor. Legalization of gambling and the building of a "riverboat" casino between the hotels have lured pleasure seekers to celebrate modern-day opulence and recreation.
Hot Springs, Arkansas in Vintage Postcards
Part of the Postcard History series
On the corner of Central Avenue and Monroe Street, in the center of downtown Phoenix, is the historic Hotel San Carlos. Local Native Americans once worshipped a god of learning in this same area, and so early white settlers chose the site for the city's first school, the Little Adobe School, in 1873. After the Little Adobe School, the location served as a ballpark, a brick schoolhouse, the Central School, and finally the Hotel San Carlos, which opened in March 1928. The first hotel in Phoenix to boast steam heat, elevators, and air-conditioning, Hotel San Carlos has a remarkable story and has even seen its share of movie stars, including Mae West, Gene Autry, and Marilyn Monroe. Clark Gable always stayed in the same corner room on the fourth floor so he could people-watch. Even the friendly ghost of Leone Jensen, who appears regularly at the foot of the guest beds, has added to the unique legacy and continuing popularity of Hotel San Carlos.
Jeannette
Part of the Postcard History series
Jeannette, the Glass City, was the first industrial city in Westmoreland County. From Jeannette's founding in 1888 by Pittsburgh industrialist H. Sellers McKee, the city was destined for fame. Jeannette produced more glass in various forms than any other city in the world. At one time there were seven great glass factories in Jeannette, all producing glass that was shipped worldwide. Jeannette was a beautiful planned Victorian town, and the residents were proud of their city. A new form of correspondence became popular: the penny postcard. Jeannette features postcards showing the area's Victorian mansions, workers' row houses, factories, schools, churches, businesses, streets, and government buildings.
West Orange
Part of the Postcard History series
Although West Orange is best known for Thomas Edison, there is much more to this New Jersey town than its famous inventor. Through vintage postcards, West Orange explores the town's history from the days of cable cars that once climbed the mountain to the long-gone amusement park at Crystal Lake. Postcards illustrate how Llewellyn Park and Eagle Rock share a common beginning and West Orange once had two train stations. The familiar roads of home come alive as images reveal West Orange's rich history.
DeKalb County in Vintage Postcards
Part of the Postcard History series
The fleeting scenes of the train depot in Ashley, the Auburn Hotel in Auburn, and the Thompson Opera House in Butler were captured on postcards sent or collected by DeKalb County's residents and visitors. Showcased here on over 200 vintage postcards and images is the history of DeKalb County. Offering a unique visual history of the area through preserved one-cent postcards, this book portrays the socials, events, buildings, homes, and residents of a by-gone era from the towns of DeKalb County, including Corunna, Garrett, Spencerville, St. Joe, Waterloo, and many other small towns and rural areas.
Pennsylvania's Historic Bridges
Part of the Postcard History series
Pennsylvania's Historic Bridges examines the development of different types of bridge structures across Pennsylvania through the world of postcards, many of which are from the early 1900s. The structures featured are constructed from various materials and in a multitude of styles. Also found within these pages are several postcards of pedestrian bridges, canal bridges, trolley bridges, railroad bridges, and an aqueduct.
Grundy County
Part of the Postcard History series
In 1673, Louis Jolliet and Fr. Jacques Marquette were the first Europeans to explore the Mississippi River and the Illinois River valleys. With their canoes loaded with furs, pelts, and other goods on their return trip to Montreal, their explorations through much of the interior of Illinois included encounters with Native American tribes and took them through what is now Grundy County. Over 150 years later, the first permanent residents, including William Marquis, began settling and farming in the area. While the chief occupation of the residents is agriculture, the county also has the Illinois River and the Illinois and Michigan Canal that pass through its northern sections, as well as the Rock Island and the Chicago and Alton Railways. With communities rich in history and small-town charm, Grundy County continues to draw visitors and residents to its towns, parks, museums, rivers, and lakes. Grundy County attempts to reveal this unique county and its sense of community and pride.
Lexington, Kentucky
Changes in the Early Twentieth Century
Part of the Postcard History series
From the 1890s through the 1920s, the postcard was an extraordinarily popular means of communication, and many of the postcards produced during this "golden age" can today be considered works of art. Postcard photographers traveled the length and breadth of the nation snapping photographs of busy street scenes, documenting local landmarks, and assembling crowds of friends and neighbors only too happy to pose for a picture. These images, printed as postcards and sold in general stores across the country, survive as telling reminders of an important era in America's history. This fascinating new history of Lexington, Kentucky, showcases more than two hundred of the best vintage postcards available.
Bristol
Part of the Postcard History series
Bristol was incorporated in 1785 and quickly became recognized as a clock-manufacturing center and home of the E. Ingraham Company's "dollar watch." The town grew with the many immigrant workers who arrived to work for local knitting mills, spring companies, and brass manufacturers. By the 1890s, the strong growth of the town brought an influx of people with different skills who established the Bristol Press, banks, local neighborhood shops and markets, and service industries. In 1920, Bristol Nurseries created new varieties of chrysanthemums that eventually made Bristol known as the "Mum City." Redevelopment in the 1960s brought the new Bristol Plaza and changes on Farmington Avenue. In 1979, ESPN started its first broadcast in its new home on Middle Street. With the completion of the new Route 72, Bristol will today continue to offer new opportunities for business and industry to grow.
Buxton
by James D. Libby, Ph. D.
Part of the Postcard History series
Buxton sits along the eastern side of the Saco River in northern York County. The Saco was instrumental in the town's establishment, as early settlers moved up the river from the towns of Biddeford and Saco and settled on the river's bank at Salmon Falls. Buxton's inhabitants powered their mills from the river and other local tributaries, and the town's early villages were located near these mills. Buxton presents vintage postcards of the riverside villages of Salmon Falls, Union Falls, Bar Mills, West Buxton, and Bonny Eagle, along with inland centers, including Groveville, Buxton Center, Lower Corner, Duck Pond, and other hamlets. Postcard images of Buxton from the year 1895 forward provide valuable insight into the life and times of the citizens of this onetime industrial center.
Along New York's Route 20
Part of the Postcard History series
Few roads can match Route 20's beauty, history, or contribution to New York's vitality. In 1926, Route 20 became a federal highway and evolved into New York's foremost east-west road. But unlike most early highways, it has survived almost completely intact. The story of Route 20 is told through more than 200 vintage postcards showing scenes from the Shaker communities in Columbia County to the Lake Erie Shore. The postcards show the personality of the road: main streets, the Finger Lakes, and scenic vistas. Not to be forgotten are the tourist courts, hotels, diners, and gas stations that made travel possible.
Wawarsing
Part of the Postcard History series
Established in 1806, the town of Wawarsing is located in the beautiful Shawangunk Mountains in Ulster County. The town is comprised of many small hamlets, as well as the village of Ellenville. The abundance of mountain streams provided electricity to run factories, and in the early 1900s, these communities were flourishing. The Delaware and Hudson Canal opened in 1828 and provided a venue for factories to transport goods. Following the close of the canal in 1898, the Ontario and Western Railroad took over, shuttling summer vacationers from New York City. The vintage postcards in Wawarsing provide views of the Delaware and Hudson Canal, the Ontario and Western Railroad, and a glimpse back to a quieter time when the mountain and valley landscape provided picturesque locations for lovely hotels and boardinghouses.
Along Chautauqua Lake
Part of the Postcard History series
Shortly after settlement began along Chautauqua Lake, steamboats furnished transportation and the first hotel catered to visiting hunters and fishermen. Families escaping the summers in the city soon followed to enjoy the cool, healthy air. Chautauqua Institution and Point Chautauqua both began as religious assembly grounds. Celoron Park, often called the "Coney Island of the West," and later Midway Park provided entertainment for families and attracted thousands of visitors who traveled by trolley and steamboat in the summer. Local residents and visitors alike enjoyed the parks, picnic groves, and assorted resorts along the lake. A century later, fish are still caught, boats still ply the waters, and families continue to enjoy everything Chautauqua Lake has to offer.
DeKalb County in Vintage Postcards
Part of the Postcard History series
Before Fulton County, there was DeKalb County; before Atlanta, there was Decatur. It is a community rich in history and the "mother county" of the city of Atlanta. A tiny town called Terminus was established in 1846 and from this early settlement in DeKalb County, the South's most thriving city, its cosmopolitan center, was born. DeKalb County in Vintage Postcards depicts the tranquil days before the boom of Atlanta, revealing a landscape unfamiliar to present-day residents of the area. Postcard scenes of the famed Stone Mountain, Camp Gordon, and the historic neighborhood of Druid Hills are featured within these pages, along with a variety of churches and educational institutions.
Santa Monica in Vintage Postcards
Part of the Postcard History series
Santa Monica was founded in 1875 and by 1887, the area was caught up in the real estate frenzy of the time with advertisements suggesting that it had "one of the grandest panoramic views the human eye has ever rested on . . . " In over 200 vintage postcards, here is Santa Monica in all its coastal splendor, including views of the bathing beaches, the Roosevelt Highway, and private citizens' beautiful Chinese Gardens.
Princeton
Part of the Postcard History series
In 1831, the settlement of Princeton, Illinois, began as families from New England, and later the Mid-Atlantic states, traveled West seeking good land. These early settlers built the Hampshire Colony Congregational Church. Rev. Owen Lovejoy, one of its earliest pastors, became a well-known abolitionist and used his Princeton home to harbor runaway slaves. Before the Civil War, Princeton citizens convinced Burlington Railroad to lay rails within a mile of their town. The community expanded its main street to meet the railroad and insure the town's growth. Today Princeton remains a richly endowed and vital community, set in the peaceful countryside of North Central Illinois.
San Francisco
Part of the Postcard History series
The golden age of postcards coincided with several momentous events in San Francisco history, including a major earthquake and fire destroying over one third of the city, rapid reconstruction, strikes, political upheaval, parades, festivals, and a world's fair. From World War I through World War II, jazz-age San Francisco experienced a building boom of houses, skyscrapers, and engineering marvels such as the Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge, creating a marvelous Bay Area landscape documented on thousands of ubiquitous, inexpensive picture postcards popular with both visiting tourists and local residents.
Virginia Beach in Vintage Postcards
Part of the Postcard History series
First visited by English settlers in 1607, Virginia Beach has been a popular tourist destination ever since. The sea, sand, and sun are the most popular attractions, but throughout history the city has also been known for its unique architecture. The first geodesic dome built in the United States, designed by Buckminster Fuller, was the city's convention center for many years. The Cavalier Hotel, when built in 1927, was the state's largest brick structure. The new Cape Henry lighthouse, completed in 1881, remains the tallest cast iron lighthouse in the country. The lighthouse it replaced, a structure that still stands today, was erected in 1791 and was the first federally funded structure built in the United States.