Brief History
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Northeast Philadelphia
A Brief History
by Harry C. Silcox
Part of the Brief History series
Northeast Philadelphia chronicles this area's history of transformation, from scattered communities to an urban center.
Before the Consolidation Act of 1854 more than tripled the former capital's population, Northeast Philadelphia was a scattered group of pastoral communities just beyond the city limits. Holmesburg, Somerton and other small villages initially struggled but ultimately triumphed in their transition from rural townships to a bustling urban center. Dr. Harry C. Silcox has collaborated with Frank W. Hollingsworth to chart this fascinating evolution, from the demise of the family farm to neighbors uniting on the homefront during World War II. With such lively characters as Mary Disston, the founding mother of Tacony, and tales of the local effort for suffrage, Silcox and Hollingsworth create a brilliant and affectionate portrait of Northeast Philadelphia.
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Sea Girt, New Jersey
A Brief History
by Joseph G. Bilby
Part of the Brief History series
From the thunder of National Guard rifle practice squads to the applause of FDR's presidential campaign kickoff, Sea Girt sparkles with a dynamic history that belies its mystique as a quiet seaside resort. In the place that was once called the Summer Capital of New Jersey, a governor's parade could send a parachutist through the window and a beachside stroll could lead to an encounter with Woodrow Wilson or Frank Hague. Joe Bilby's thorough chronicle of this square mile of history is as joyous as a Jersey farmer plunging into the surf on Salt Water Day.
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Ponte Vedra Beach
A History
by Maurice J. Robinson
Part of the Brief History series
Shaped by a mix of cultures ranging from early Spanish settlers in the 1500s to invading golfers in the 1980s, Ponte Vedra Beach has a rich and unique history. Ponte Vedra was home to pre-Columbian natives, Timucuan Indian warriors, the Spanish who settled historic Diego, Scottish outlaws, Palm Valley moonshiners and the employees of the National Lead Company who created a nine-hole company golf course that would later become the world-famous Ponte Vedra Inn and Club. Further developed by visionary real estate investors, what was once a sleepy, twenty-eight-mile stretch of beach is now known as Money Magazine's "Best Place to Live in Florida" and is named among the top fifty places to live in the United States.
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Madison
History of a Model City
by Erika Janik
Part of the Brief History series
Beginning with the retreat of the Wisconsin glacier and the story of early Native American peoples, Janik narrates the journey of Wisconsin's capital city from the "center of the wilderness"? to the "Laboratory of Democracy."? Learn how Madison's citizens responded to the Civil War, industrialization and two world wars, as well as how advances in the rights of workers, women, Native Americans and African Americans made Madison the multifaceted city it is today. Comprehensive, accessible and swift, Madison: History of a Model City offers a fresh take on how Madison and its people came into being.
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A History Of Mystic, Conneticut
From Pequot Village to Tourist Town
by Leigh Fought
Part of the Brief History series
Tucked away in a natural port, Mystic has long been home to seagoing adventure. In A History of Mystic, Connecticut, author and former Mystic Seaport librarian Leigh Fought relates the compelling story of this picturesque coastal community. Forged from the brutal Pequot War, for years Mystic was a quiet little farming village. Then came the War of 1812. Mystic's upstart venture capitalists seized on the war's dislocations to transform the settlement into a shipbuilding powerhouse. The shipyards launched vessels by the hundreds and an industry was born. The Civil War, steam-powered ships and the decline of commercial whaling halted Mystic's shipbuilding boom. Yet the town recovered, transforming itself into the charming nautical-themed tourist destination that has enchanted millions. Read Fought's comprehensive narrative to discover Mystic's role in New England's thrilling maritime saga.
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Snyder, New York
A Brief History
by Julianna Fiddler-Woite
Part of the Brief History series
In 1823, the Erie Canal sparked visions of opportunity and fortune in many, including Abraham Snyder, who traversed to the land that would become his namesake. But when Abraham mysteriously disappeared in 1832, his son, Michael, became the "man of the family" and consequently became a one-man powerhouse of industry and generosity. Michael Snyder's eponymous settlement became a hamlet of Amherst in western New York that boasts a rich history dating back to its origins. The Snyders and other early settlers established several town institutions and landmarks--including the first mercantile and band hall--that gave locals a sense of community. Further, because of their humanitarian spirit, residents cultivated a sense of generosity and tolerance, evidenced by the practice of donating instruments to schoolchildren and embracing the Seneca Indian tribe as equals. Lifelong resident and Snyder descendant Julianna Fiddler-Woite
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Bell County, Kentucky
A Brief History
by Tim Cornett
Part of the Brief History series
Site of the Gateway to the West, the Cumberland Gap, the history of Kentucky begins right here in Bell County. Early pioneers like Thomas Walker and Daniel Boone endured the untamed wilderness and opened the door to the Bluegrass for civilizations to follow. Those who subsequently made their homes here--who eked a living out of the rocky soil, survived civil war, world war, labor war and the booms and busts of timber and coal--have preserved this pioneering spirit. Lifelong resident Tim Cornett presents the history of his homeland from its first known inhabitants through the twentieth century, drawing on old letters, memoirs and personal interviews from the men and women who explored the land, exploited the land and shaped it into the Bell County we know today.
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Cedar Key, Florida
A History
by Kevin McCarthy
Part of the Brief History series
Rich in small town atmosphere and old Florida history, Cedar Key is a quiet island community nestled among many tiny keys on the Gulf Coast of Florida. Refuge for birds and wildlife, Florida's oldest port, and home to artists and writers, the island has long been admired for its tranquility and natural beauty. Visit "the island where time stands still" and explore the romantic, almost forgotten history of old Florida.
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Ecorse, Michigan
A Brief History
by Kathy Covert Warnes
Part of the Brief History series
Ecorse, the oldest downriver community, was the site of many critical battles from the French and Indian War through the War of 1812, as French and English settlers forged new homes in the Michigan wilderness. By 1827, the scattering of settlers had developed into a small community, and the township of Ecorse was formed. During the Prohibition era, the peaceful riverfront was transformed into hideouts for rumrunners and other nefarious lawbreakers. From a prosperous shipbuilding industry to a championship rowing club and the Detroit River runs made by the Bob-Lo boats, Ecorse's maritime history is one that continues to engage residents and impel the community forward.
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Virginia Pittsylvania County
A Brief History
by Larry G. Aaron
Part of the Brief History series
Queen of Virginia's tobacco-producing counties, one of the top five fossil sites in the world, home to heroes, adventurers, counterfeiters and innovators...Pittsylvania County's lush, rolling farmland has seen a host of significant events and personalities throughout its nearly three centuries. Join local historian and longtime resident Larry G. Aaron as he guides you through Pittsylvania's rich and remarkable history, from the achievements and sufferings of Pittsylvanians through all of America's major wars to the lives of the county's African Americans and the early history of neighboring Danville, the last capital of the Confederacy. A concise, enjoyable volume that you will treasure for years to come.
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Historic Bristol
Tales from an Old Rhode Island Seaport
by Richard V. Simpson
Part of the Brief History series
Author Richard V. Simpson (who also penned Herreshoff Yachts) offers up a diverse sampling of fascinating and entertaining stories that explore Bristol's every facet from early investigations into possible Viking settlements on the peninsula to the nationally famous Fourth of July celebration, and from the antics of local politicians to the yachts and sailors that have brought the town glory and renown.
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Hurley, New York
A Brief History
by Deana F. Decker
Part of the Brief History series
Since its earliest days as a Dutch colony, Hurley, New York, has undergone many transformations: it has been fought over by the Lenape tribe, commandeered by British settlers, and buffeted between Revolutionaries and Loyalists as a strategic stronghold in the Revolutionary War. Local historian Deana F. Decker explores this Hudson Valley town's history with a comprehensive assessment of its notable residents, such as Sojourner Truth, as well as its historical buildings, such as the Bevier House and Hurley Mountain Inn. From its roots as the dangerous Esopus frontier region to its industrial metamorphosis through bluestone harvesting and the Ashokan Reservoir, Hurley chronicles the remarkable story of this Upstate town.
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Magnolia
A Brief History
by Lisa Peek Ramos
Part of the Brief History series
Magnolia's rocky coastline, long known to the native population for its abundant fishing grounds, was "discovered" in 1623 by a European expedition sent by England's King James to establish an outpost for exporting fish. Over the next three centuries, the settlement gradually grew from a sparsely developed farming community into a summer resort destination for the rich and famous. In Magnolia: A Brief History, author Lisa Peek Ramos, a fourth-generation native, chronicles the incredible transformation of Magnolia. In its heyday the famed Oceanside Hotel and Casino attracted such notables as big-band leader Sammy Eisen, movie star Lucille Ball, and John Philip Sousa and his Marine Corps Band. The stock market crash of 1929 and the destruction of the Oceanside Hotel, a victim of Magnolia's well-documented "fire curse," ended the golden years. In the decades since, Magnolia has once again transformed itself and is now known as a quaint, vibrant seaside community.
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The Road to Derry
A Brief History
by Richard Holmes
Part of the Brief History series
When the Ulster Scots arrived in New Hampshire in 1719, there were no roads in Derry (then called Nutfield). Led by the Reverend James McGregor, the "Moses of the Scotch-Irish in America," the entire congregation of Aghadowey had trekked from their home county of Londonderry, Ireland, to start their lives anew, undeterred by British prejudice or Anglican intolerance. These hardy men and women were great walkers, and during the eighteenth century a warren of footpaths crisscrossed East Derry Hill. Richard Holmes retraces their footsteps, walking the road of Derry's history from its rough-and-tumble politics and early educational institutions through its dramatic split from Londonderry Parish to the sprawling shoe factories of the Industrial Revolution. In this first history in decades, Holmes demonstrates that the hometown of Robert Frost and astronaut Alan Shepherd is also home to a hardworking, free-thinking, vibrant community.
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Bethel, Maine
A Brief History
by Stanley Russell Howe
Part of the Brief History series
The town of Bethel had a tumultuous birth, caught in a land battle between France and Britain in the late seventeenth century. This hardy Maine town was originally called Sudbury Canada, and its rugged settlers weathered the hardships of nature and devastating Indian raids. With the growth of agriculture, more and more families began settling the rich intervales along the Androscoggin River until, in 1796, they were incorporated as the town of Bethel, Maine. In this detailed and comprehensive history, Stanley Russell Howe outlines the importance of the railroad to the town's growth, its post-Civil War industrialization, the birth of Gould Academy and the rise of modern tourism spawned by Sunday River Ski Resort. From the famous Indian healer Molly Ockett to Dr. True, first historian of Bethel, the characters from Bethel's past are sure to inspire the residents of today.
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Rutherford
A Brief History
by William Neumann
Part of the Brief History series
It was a homeland for the Leni-Lenape Indians before it was settled by tenacious Dutch immigrants. Two centuries later, in 1881, Rutherford, New Jersey, became an independent borough the first in Bergen County. Author William Neumann narrates Rutherford's remarkable transition from a rural retreat popular for its abundant springs to a bustling New York City suburb. Along the way he introduces some of the town's extraordinary citizens, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet William Carlos Williams, who led the life of a small-town doctor at 9 Ridge Road, and the local husband and wife team who founded Fairleigh Dickinson University- a love story as much as a historical achievement.
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A Brief History of St. Johnsbury
by Peggy Pearl
Part of the Brief History series
Tucked away in the dark forests of Vermont's Northeast Kingdom, St. Johnsbury was mostly unbroken wilderness when first chartered in 1786. Swinging axes soon made way for the burgeoning split-level town, with stately Main Street homes on St. Johnsbury Plain presiding in grandeur over the bustling commerce of Railroad Street below. Peggy Pearl brings a decidedly human element to this comprehensive history, wandering the graves of Mount Pleasant Cemetery and bringing to life the stories of those tanners, cobblers, millworkers and brick makers who made St. Johnsbury their home. With excerpts from vintage newspapers like the Caledonian-Record and the Farmer's Herald, Pearl unfolds the transformation from quiet mill town into picturesque manufacturing hub of Caledonia County.
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Louisa County, Virginia
A Brief History
by Pattie Gordon Pavlansky Cooke
Part of the Brief History series
Set amidst lush, rolling hills, Louisa County was once home to religious dissenters, emancipationists and some of Virginia's first families. Its epicenter was Louisa Courthouse, where all the county's residents managed their business affairs. From Patrick Henry's seminal speech for Louisa against tyranny, to a county chief justice too fat to ride horseback, Louisa has a rich and fascinating heritage. Historian and longtime Louisa County resident Pattie G.P. Cooke chronicles the county's coming of age as part of the new United States of America, retaining its small, tightly knit communities while embracing inevitable progress.
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A Brief History Of Waterbury
by Edith Reynolds
Part of the Brief History series
In 1681, just twenty-eight humble log cabins built around a marshy green made up what is today Waterbury, Connecticut. The town flourished, and by 1850, its brass- and button-making industries welcomed the Industrial Revolution. When the call came for the Civil War and World Wars I and II, Waterbury gave generously: buttons, to adorn United States military uniforms; and young soldiers, to fight for freedom and become heroes. A Brief History of Waterbury details the ebb and flow of this Connecticut town, the climb to its height, the struggles through adversity and scandal and the glory of modern-day triumphs. In this endlessly intriguing account, authors Edith Reynolds and John Murray uncover the true reaches of Waterbury's dynamic spirit.
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Pompano Beach
A History
by Frank J. Cavaioli, Ph. D.
Part of the Brief History series
Pompano Beach: A History tells the story of the hardworking men and women who transformed Pompano from a wild farming community into a flourishing city on Florida's coast. From the hardships of hurricanes to the riches of the 1920s real estate boom, through the tough times of the Depression to victory in World War II, author Frank J. Cavaioli, PhD, traces the history of Pompano through fascinating facts and residents' own accounts.
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Massachusetts Somerville
A Brief History
by Dee Morris
Part of the Brief History series
Enter Somerville, a city packed with stories larger than itself, to salute a heritage that justifies the fierce pride of its citizens. Share a perch on one of Somerville's celebrated hills with Dee Morris and Dora St. Martin and watch the raising of America's first flag and the stringing of its first telephone line. Strolling from neighborhood to neighborhood, this brief history knocks on the doors of everyone from the father of Fenway Park to Missy LeHand, Franklin D. Roosevelt s private secretary and steadfast companion. Even the notoriously elusive Captain Kidd is caught for inspection as he tries to slip through a trapdoor in a bedroom closet.
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Fort Collins
A History
by Barbara Fleming
Part of the Brief History series
While today's Fort Collins is a popular destination for foodies and weekend adventurers, it was once a lonely military outpost poised on the nation's frontier. Cattle rustlers and trigger-happy cowboys walked an uneasy line between saloon doors and the hangman's noose. By 1895, Fort Collins had lost some of its gritty edge, and it became a dry town full of churches, sheep ranches and sugar beet farms. The city was again transformed over the past century into a community that embraced a thriving beer culture and green living. Local historian Barbara Fleming traces the story of the Choice City from its early pioneer days through its modern renaissance.
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Medford
A Brief History
by Dee Morris
Part of the Brief History series
Since its early days in the possession of a man who never set foot on the land itself, Medford has been a place of possibility. Many Medford residents have made their mark on American culture, including James W. Tufts, the inventor of the soda fountain, and Fannie Farmer, author of the first modern cookbook. Medford has been the site of revolutionary changes, as entrepreneur Thatcher Magoun built the wildly successful clipper ship industry, and in the case of Belinda Royall, a slave who remarkably won her legal emancipation in 1773. Author Dee Morris renders a richly detailed history, from the Medford Square rum distilleries that sent a molasses smell wafting through town for centuries to the celebration for Amelia Earhart, who lived in West Medford briefly, before her first successful transatlantic flight. Medford: A Brief History reveals hidden stories behind a small town with a big legacy.
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Atlanta's Druid Hills
A Brief History
by Robert Hartle Jr.
Part of the Brief History series
The Druid Hills neighborhood is characterized by rolling hills, magnificent trees and shrubs and gorgeous, expansive houses. Its Ponce de Leon corridor bears the imprint of the founder of American landscape architecture, Frederick Law Olmsted. The brainchild of Joel Hurt, the neighborhood was brought to fruition by some of Atlanta's most prominent businessmen, including Asa Candler, founder of Coca-Cola. It was these movers and shakers of the city who lived in the neighborhood during the early decades of the twentieth century. In 1914, Druid Hills was permanently altered with the announcement that it would be the site of Emory University's new main campus. Now the residents coexist with what has become an international university community. Historian Robert Hartle Jr. has written an honest, impeccably researched tribute to Druid Hills, truly one of the jewels in Atlanta's crown.
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Park City
A Knoxville Neighborhood History
by Margery Weber Bensey
Part of the Brief History series
Park City's tree-shaded streets frame a neighborhood with an identity all its own. The distinctive homes designed by famed architect George Barber lend Park City its unique visual appeal and local flavor. Yet behind the well-preserved, innovative architectural designs is a history that stretches back to Knoxville's earliest beginnings. Knox County's first sheriff, Robert Houston, was a Park City resident, establishing the county's first court in the late 1700s. Since then, Park City residents have helped shape Knoxville's history by shaping their community. Longtime Park City resident and local historian Margery W. Bensey tracks the history of its development from village to vibrant residential neighborhood. From stories of the first settlers and community events to the dramatic tale of a neighborhood duel, this is the complete Park City chronicle.
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Eastside Indianapolis
A Brief History
by Julie Young
Part of the Brief History series
In its early days, Indianapolis was designed to be a city of only one square mile, but as settlers flocked to the Circle City, a steady beat of progress made its way across the Eastside. Through their dedication to maintaining the character of neighborhoods like Woodruff Place, Fountain Square and Irvington, Eastsiders have banded together time and again to preserve the memories of landmarks like the Rivoli Theatre and Al Green's. Julie Young, a lifelong resident of the Eastside, celebrates one of the most culturally diverse areas of Indianapolis as she illuminates the strength and determination that would make any resident proud to call the Eastside home.
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Los Angeles University Park
A Brief History
by Charles Epting
Part of the Brief History series
University Park is one of Los Angeles's most diverse and historic neighborhoods. Beginning with the founding of the University of Southern California in 1880, the area has hosted two Olympic Games and numerous presidents and been featured as a backdrop for dozens of movies, along with countless other events of cultural and historical significance. Few areas in Southern California boast such a wide variety of historic buildings--residential, educational and commercial--dating to LA's earliest days. With USC as its anchor, University Park thrives as a microcosm of LA's culture, architecture and development from an outpost accumulating settlers into one of the world's great cosmopolitan metropolises. Join author Charles Epting on this historical inventory of University Park's significant moments and lasting legacy.
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Herrin
The Brief History of an Infamous American City
by John Griswold
Part of the Brief History series
Herrin, Illinois, has seen many dramatic events unfold in the nearly two hundred years since it was a bell-shaped prairie on the frontier. Now, Herrin native John Griswold, a writer and teacher at the University of Illinois, provides the first comprehensive history of this most American city, a place that in its time became not just a melting pot, but a cauldron. Discover why the coal was so good in the "Quality Circle" and what happened to the boom that followed its discovery. Explore the roots of the vicious Herrin Massacre of 1922 and learn why the entire nation has focused its gaze on this small Midwestern city so many times. Incorporating the most recent scholarship, interviews, and classic histories and narratives, this brief and entertaining history is illustrated with more than seventy-five archival photos that help tell this important American story.
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Ithaca
A Brief History
by Carol Kammen
Part of the Brief History series
Calmly nestled among the glacial streams and hills of central New York, residents of Ithaca may find it hard to believe that their city began with a rocky start. Transient teamsters and salt barge workers gave the town a rowdy reputation in its pioneer days, and the fledgling village seemed doomed as the "most isolated place on the Eastern Seaboard." Over the course of the nineteenth century, Ithaca's character swung like a pendulum from debauchery to temperance, from boisterous vagrancy to religious fervor and reform. Though the town was hit hard by the Depression of 1837 and periodically ravaged by fire and flood, Ithaca survived to become a lively and bustling community and an important center of education, technological innovation and cultural vibrancy. In this comprehensive history, Carol Kammen shows exactly why Ithaca is known as the "Crown of Cayuga."
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Spring Lake Heights
A Brief History
by Lissa Wickham McGrath
Part of the Brief History series
From very humble beginnings, this small but charming borough has evolved into one of the New Jersey Shore's most vibrant business and residential communities. While Spring Lake Heights now enjoys numerous modern facilities, the town still contains many visible links to its unique past. This book explores these links and offers readers insight into various personalities, socio-economic factors, and local lore that have helped to shape the identity of this community. It includes an Irish pub that was also a brewery and stage coach stop in the late 1800s; an inn that once doubled as a brothel; a tea room once home to an international mail fraud ring; an historic cemetery and church; and a beautiful country club that once frequently hosted Richard Nixon.
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Illinois Galena
A Brief History
by Diann Marsh
Part of the Brief History series
With 85 percent of its buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, Galena truly is a place drenched in history. From the ancient burial mounds crowding the high banks of the Mississippi to the home of President Ulysses S. Grant, the Illinois town's rich past is everywhere on display. Follow Diann Marsh in her dogged pursuit of that fascinating heritage and catch glimpses of unforgettable incidents like the courageous defense put up by a handful of Galena settlers during the Black Hawk War or the monster flood that turned a day in 1892 into a bridge-snapping spectacle. Fortunes are won and lost within the space of a page, but the legacy left by Galena's determined citizens and cared for by passionate guardians like Marsh is one that is sure to endure.
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Atlanta's Stone Mountain
A Multicultural History
by Paul Stephen Hudson
Part of the Brief History series
The breathtaking geological wonder known as Stone Mountain has enchanted people since the age of the Paleo-Indians. Today, Stone Mountain Park annually attracts four million visitors from around the world. Hiking trails showcase rugged granite outcrops with hardy mountain plants, such as endearing yellow daisies. Majestic red-tailed hawks soar overhead. A storied past comes to life through an engaging park quarry exhibit, a historic railroad experience and an epic Confederate Memorial carving envisioned by Gutzon Borglum of Mount Rushmore fame. Writing during the 150th anniversary of the American Civil War, authors Paul Hudson and Lora Mirza of Georgia Perimeter College in Atlanta present with verve this illustrated multicultural history of a legendary landmark.
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Cumberland County, New Jersey
265 Years of History
by Charles Harrison
Part of the Brief History series
Situated along the Delaware Bay and first inhabited by the Lenape Indians, Cumberland County has a rich agricultural and industrial history. After the Revolution, Swedish, Danish and English immigrants were soon joined by others from across Europe and around the world. The Cohansey and Maurice Rivers flow through the county, uniting its cities and towns. They have distinguished histories of their own - Greenwich was a major port of entry in colonial America; Port Norris was the "oyster capital of the world" in the 1800s; and Seabrook Farms was the country's biggest vegetable factory. In 2013, the county celebrates its 265th anniversary. Join the people of Bridgeton, Millville, Vineland and the rest of Cumberland County to explore the stories from its past.
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Florida Orlando
A Brief History
by James C. Clark
Part of the Brief History series
Orlando is known internationally as a tourist destination, attracting fifty million visitors each year to its numerous resorts and parks. In all that excitement, it's easy to overlook the city's interesting past. In the 1800s, the area was embroiled in the Seminole Wars, and Fort Gatlin was constructed to shield citizens from attacks. Soon, a city grew around the fort. During the cowboy era, thousands of cattle, ranchers and cowboys crossed the central Florida terrain moving livestock. Those pioneers soon moved to farming, and Orlando became the center of the Florida citrus industry. Join author and historian James C. Clark as he reveals the remarkable history of one of the world's most popular destinations.
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East Bay Hills
A Brief History
by Amelia Sue Marshall
Part of the Brief History series
Like the mist rising from San Francisco Bay encircles the towering redwoods, the little-known legends of the East Bay Hills enrich a glorious history. Follow the trails of Saclan and Jalquin-Yrgin people over the hills and through the valleys. Ride with the mounted rangers through the Flood of '62. Break into a sealed railroad tunnel with a pack of junior high school boys. Learn how university professors, civil servants and wealthy businessmen planned for years to create a chain of parks twenty miles along the hilltops. Author Amelia Sue Marshall explores the heritage of these storied parklands with the naturalists who continue to preserve them and the old-timers who remember wilder days.
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A Brief History Of Easley
by R. Chad Stewart
Part of the Brief History series
Easley has a rare combination of a quaint Main Street and a thriving industrial presence. The city was a series of small farms and open land until residents convinced officials to make the area a stop along the Atlanta and Richmond Air-Line Railroad after the Civil War. Access to the railroad and the popularity of cotton spurred an era of rapid growth and expansion, culminating in the dominance of the textile industry throughout most of the twentieth century. While cotton drove textiles in the area, advances in agriculture and manufacturing brought dozens of companies, placing Easley at the center of the state's biggest industrial area. Author Chad Stewart details the history of a city that moved from sleepy train stop to vibrant South Carolina city.
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Kentucky Paducah
A History
by John E. L. Robertson
Part of the Brief History series
Established in 1830 and named by the famed pioneer William Clark, the city of Paducah thrived as a result of its position along the waterways. From its beginnings as a rural western outpost to its status today as a UNESCO-designated City of Crafts and Folk Arts, the tenacity of Paducah's people has sustained the city throughout remarkable challenges and changes. After enduring a brief Civil War battle, several catastrophic floods and a stint as an "atomic city," Paducah has bloomed into a flourishing arts community. The City of Murals, the Quilt Museum and many other unique jewels attract visitors from around the world. Join historian John E.L. Robertson as he reveals the stories behind how this enduring river and rail town came to be the innovative, creative city it is today.
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Ocean City
Going Down the Ocean
by Michael Morgan
Part of the Brief History series
Going Down the Ocean, A Brief History of Ocean City, Maryland, will chronicle the long and colorful history of Maryland's premier ocean resort. Beginning with the visit of the explorer Giovanni da Verrazano, this book will examine the arrival of Asssateague's famous ponies, visits by Blackbeard and other pirates, the birth of Steven Decatur, and brave soldiers who fought in the Civil War. After Ocean City was founded in the late 19th century, the resort became a mecca for vacationers, who enjoyed the surf and sand alongside the pound fishermen who worked their nets a short distance off shore. During the 20th century, Ocean City witnessed the arrival of the automobile, bootleggers, and German submarines. Following the Second World War, Bobby Baker, confidant to Lyndon Johnson, built a motel on the barren dunes to the north and helped ignite the condominium boom that saw Ocean City grow all the way to the Delaware line.
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Seal Beach
A Brief History
by Larry Strawther
Part of the Brief History series
The wooden pier, tree-lined Main Street and ocean views, coupled with a prosperous and happy community, led "Forbes "magazine to name Seal Beach one of the five friendliest towns in America. Getting there, however, was a bumpy adventure. Starting in the 1860s as Anaheim Landing, the first seaport in what would become Orange County, it soon became a summer retreat for squatters and illegal saloons. Despite the efforts of real estate developers to turn the town into an amusement resort and an early center for aviation and motion pictures, Seal Beach became neighboring Long Beach's tavern, brothel and gambling destination. But order and prosperity eventually prevailed to create today's quiet residential city. Join author Larry Strawther as he tracks Seal Beach's evolution from raucous port to cherished community.
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Alabama Trussville
A Brief History
by Gary Lloyd
Part of the Brief History series
Long before Trussville became the commercial hub of northeastern Jefferson County, settlers fell in love with the area's fertile land and proximity to Alabama's longest free-flowing river, the Cahaba. In the late 1930s, a New Deal initiative known as the Cahaba Project established nearly three hundred new homes in the city, a community that became a historic treasure. The Trussville Academy opened its doors in 1869 and is the area's first educational institution. Camp Gertrude Coleman, which opened in 1925, is the third-longest-operating Girl Scouts camp in the nation, remaining open even during the Great Depression and World War II. Join author Gary Lloyd as he recounts the people and events that make Trussville one of the most desirable places to live in Alabama.
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A Brief History of Fairplay
by Linda Bjorklund
Part of the Brief History series
Explore Fairplay from the beginning with local historian Linda Bjorklund as she traces the town's story through Spanish settlers, early American government, Union-Confederate tensions and modern development. Even though Fairplay's remarkable gold and silver boom was reduced to ash overnight in 1873, a strong community overcame history's challenges and preserved its treasures. From the popular annual Burro Days to the Way of Life Museum, Fairplay gives folks a chance to celebrate and relive its rich mining history through festivities and time-capsule buildings such as the general store, drugstore, bank, Summer Brewery and Summer Saloon.
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Griswold Point
History from the Mouth of the Connecticut River
by Wick Griswold
Part of the Brief History series
At the mouth of the Connecticut River, Griswold Point boasts a rich history filled with remarkable individuals. In 1640, Colonel George Fenwick granted the land to Matthew Griswold I, who then turned a teeming wilderness into productive farming and fishing territory. Over the centuries, many prominent Americans called Old Lyme and the Point home. Nathaniel Lynde Griswold and George Griswold built ships that served as privateers in the War of 1812. Florence Griswold invited boarders into her grand house in 1899 and transformed her home into a vibrant artists' colony for the American Impressionist movement. Local author Wick Griswold introduces the community's colorful characters who left indelible marks on history, from colonial governors and judges to adventurers and sea captains.
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Louisiana Forest Hill
A Bloom Town History
by Cheré Dastugue Coen
Part of the Brief History series
Forest Hill boasts one of the largest nursery industries in the country, despite its tiny population. In the early days, the community was a summer retreat for plantation owners. The lumber industry rolled into town with the railroad, which eased the transportation of virgin timber. By 1901, the nurseries had emerged after Samuel Stokes began selling a variety of plants from his woods. Today, more than two hundred nurseries are in operation, many by the families who founded them. Author Chere Dastugue Coen reveals the deep roots of this horticultural hub.
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Long Beach State
A Brief History
by Barbara Kingsley-Wilson
Part of the Brief History series
Long Beach State grew up right along with the sprawling Southern California suburbs. Born in 1949, it swelled to accommodate the post-world war enthusiasm for education and land. The rapid expansion brought its share of growing pains. Students took classes in a cramped converted apartment with no books and playing ring-around-the-rosie for physical education. Money was scarce, and faculty at times feuded with the administration. But the new college's "let's put on a show" spirit produced a scrappiness that endures today. Read about the personalities that grew the college from Fred Bixby's bean fields into one of the largest universities in California.
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Raleigh
A Brief History
by Joe A. Mobley
Part of the Brief History series
Since its establishment in 1792 as the "permanent and unalterable seat of government of the state of North Carolina," Raleigh has seen many changes. Historian Joe Mobley offers a detailed and compelling portrait of North Carolina's capital as it has evolved from town to thriving metropolis, from the Civil War and Reconstruction through the Great Depression and Raleigh's coming of age in the decades following World War II. Learn about the many obstacles Raleigh has overcome on its way to becoming a major center of economic, social and political life in North Carolina.
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Cocoa, Florida
A History
by Bob Harvey
Part of the Brief History series
Cocoa is the gateway to America's Spaceport. But before it became the tourist haven it is today, it was a small village settled by fishermen and their families. The city's location on the Indian River Lagoon made it central to early steamboat passage and breathed life into fishing and commerce. After World War II, the space age brought science and engineering to nearby Cape Canaveral. The city also has a history of baseball nearly as long as the sport itself. It was home to the Cocoa Fliers of the 1940s and hosted the Houston Colt 45s during spring training for twenty years. Join author Bob Harvey as he recounts the sunny history of one of the Space Coast's oldest cities.
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New Jersey Meadowlands
A History
by Robert Ceberio
Part of the Brief History series
Situated in northern New Jersey, the Meadowlands region is one of stark contrasts as more than thirty square miles of protected wetlands sit close to MetLife Stadium and across the Hudson from Midtown Manhattan. From the time the Dutch arrived in the 1600s, the area has had a storied and mysterious history as fortunes were made and lost. Beloved performers like Frank Sinatra and Bruce Springsteen graced Meadowlands stages, and some of the most legendary athletes played its stadiums. Nearly destroyed by centuries of abuse, Meadowlands waterways are now reclaimed, causing property values to soar and creating new communities that provide a good quality of life for residents. Local authors Robert Ceberio and Ron Kase present the fascinating story of this Garden State region.
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New Jersey Frenchtown
History Along the River
by Robert Rando
Part of the Brief History series
Frenchtown is a picturesque community on the banks of the Delaware River. In the late 1700s, a series of land sales to French-speaking Swiss gave the town its name. The river fostered the town's growth throughout the nineteenth century, bringing railroads and successful businesses like Frenchtown Porcelain Works. Remnants of this industrial past are still visible in places like the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park. Visitors and locals admire historic landmarks along Bridge Street, including the Frenchtown Inn and the Hummer Building. Annual celebrations like Bastille Day and RiverFest celebrate the town's home and heritage. Local authors Robert Rando and Caroline Scutt commemorate the unique history of this bucolic New Jersey community.