Historic Tales of the Llano Estacado
Part of the American Chronicles series
The distinctive high mesa straddling West Texas and Eastern New Mexico creates a vista that is equal parts sprawling lore and big blue sky. From Lubbock, the area's informal capital, to the farthest reaches of the staked plains known as the Llano Estacado, the land and its inhabitants trace a tradition of tenacity through numberless cycles of dust storms and drought. In 1887, a bison hunter observed antelope, sand crane and coyote alike crowding together to drink from the same wet-weather lake. A similarly odd assortment of characters shared and shaped the region's heritage, although neighborliness has occasionally been strained by incidents like the 1903 Fence Cutting War. David Murrah and Paul Carlson have collected some three dozen vignettes that stretch across the uncharted terrain of the tableland's past.
The Making of St. Petersberg
Part of the American Chronicles series
A wide-ranging history of this city on Florida's Gulf Coast, one of America's oldest, with numerous photos and maps included.
“The Making of St. Petersburg” captures the character of this bay city through its past, from the Spanish clash with indigenous peoples to the creation of the downtown waterfront parks and grand hotels. Take a journey with local historian, preservationist, and former museum executive Will Michaels as he chronicles St. Petersburg's storied history, including the world's first airline, the birth of Pinellas County, and the good old American pastime, Major League Baseball. From hurricanes to home run king Babe Ruth, the people and events covered in this work paint a rich portrait of a coastal Florida city and capture St. Petersburg's unique sense of place.
Civil War Maryland
Stories from the Old Line State
Part of the American Chronicles series
Compelling stories from a state on the border of the Mason-Dixon line that illustrate its unique role in the American Civil War.
By the time the American Civil War began, the agrarian, slave-owning South and the rapidly industrializing North had become almost two separate nations. As a border state with ties to both sides, Maryland and its people played a unique role in the war.
This series of essays on Maryland's involvement in the conflict and its aftermath highlights some of the personalities and events that make Maryland's Civil War stories unusual and compelling. Author Richard P. Cox draws on original sources and contributions from historians to relate the many ironies, curiosities, and legends that abound.
Portland's Past
Stories From The City By The Sea
Part of the American Chronicles series
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow immortalized Portland, Maine, as the �beautiful town that is seated by the sea.� In this volume, Maine author Luann Yetter presents the stories from its past that not only showcase this exquisiteness but also illuminate its diverse and exciting history. The founding members of the Forest City braved the harsh winters, but not without scandals and struggles. One man raised a navy to fight the Barbary pirates threatening ships that sailed from Casco Bay, and privateers brought rum onboard and ashore. And while one Portlander traded slaves, many others worked the Underground Railroad as staunch antislavery crusaders. Discover Portland from its beginning as uncharted territory through to its development into the quintessential New England city it is today.
Hampton Roads Chronicles
History from the Brithplace of America
Part of the American Chronicles series
Just like the tide, history flows through every corner of Old Dominion's Hampton Roads region, and for decades it has been chronicled in the Virginian-Pilot's column, "Our Stories." These stories are now told by local historian and longtime columnist Paul Clancy, who offers up this unparalleled and uninhibited collection of articles and stunning historical images. Rediscover the history behind landmarks such as Fort Monroe, Sewell's Point and Cape Henry and take in the view from the vantage point of those who witnessed history being made before their eyes: stories about the hurricane of '33, the old fairgrounds on the bay, the trolleys that ran to Ocean View, the semipro baseball teams that battled for glory, the harrowing and courageous struggle for racial equality and the soldiers and sailors who went off to war. This is the real stuff of Hampton Roads history.
Grand Times in Grand Rapids
Pieces of Furniture City History
Part of the American Chronicles series
Join longtime journalist Gordon Beld on a historical tour of the Furniture City. Gleaned from the best of Beld's work for Grand Rapids Magazine, this collection weaves together intriguing vignettes highlighting the unique character of the Grand Rapids people and their community. Get a glimpse into the lives of famous leaders Gerald Ford and Arthur Vandenberg and marvel at Harry "Human Fly" Gardiner, who scaled the buildings of downtown Grand Rapids. Take a nostalgic trip down to Reed's Lake, where the streetcars will drop you off at Ramona Gardens to dance the night away. Find the grand in Grand Rapids just don't get lost in Saddlebag Swamp on the way.
Philadelphia Reflections
Stories from the Delaware to the Schuylkill
Part of the American Chronicles series
Beyond the iconic landmarks of Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell is the Philadelphia the locals know. The gritty waterfront district, the vital farming suburbs and the immigrant communities of Germantown and Kensington are all part of the hometown face of Philly. From the bustling streets of the downtown of today and yesteryear to the bingo halls of Allentown and the Middletown Grange Fair, this collection takes the reader on a nostalgic journey through the cityscapes and suburbs. Sixteen of Pennsylvania's finest creative nonfiction writers share their stories of taking SEPTA buses, riding the Wanamaker's monorail and kayaking the Schuylkill. This collection of vignettes masterfully reveals the unforgettable histories and colorful traditions that make up the City of Neighborhoods.
Stories from Montana's Enduring Frontier
Exploring an Untamed Legacy
Part of the American Chronicles series
At the turn of the twentieth century, Montana started emerging from its rugged past. Permanent towns and cities, powered by mining, tourism, and trade, replaced ramshackle outposts. Yet Montana's frontier endured, both in remote pockets and in the wider cultural imagination. The frontier thus played a continuing role in Montanans' lives, often in fascinating ways. Author John Clayton has written extensively on these shifts in Montana history, chronicling the breadth of the frontier's legacy with this diverse collection of stories. Explore the remnants of Montana's frontier through stories of the Little Bighorn Battlefield, the Beartooth Highway, and the lost mining camp of Swift Current--and through legendary characters such as Charlie Russell, Haydie Yates, and "Liver-eating" Johnston.
Historic Tales From the Texas Republic
A Glimpse of Texas Past
Part of the American Chronicles series
Though the Republic of Texas existed as a sovereign nation for just nine years, the legacy lives on in the names that distinguish the landscape of the Lone Star State. Austin, Houston, Travis, Lamar, Seguin, Burnet, Bowie, Zavala, Crockett--these historical giants, often at odds, fought through their differences to achieve freedom from Mexico and Santa Anna, establishing a republic fit to be the twenty-eighth state to join the Union. In nineteen historical tales, Jeffery Robenalt chronicles the fight to define and defend the Republic of Texas, from revolutionary beginnings to annexation.
Part of the American Chronicles series
In an era when the heart of Tustin was the intersection of Main and D, folks flocked to town to get supplies and swap stories. Some of these stories featured Tustin notables like C.E. Utt, who tried his hand at every local crop; Sam Tustin, whose Buick touring car became the town fire truck; Big John Stanton, who formed the one-man police department; and Dr. William B. Wall, who found inspiration for his orange crate label in a rooster painting from Grover Cleveland. Drawing from her Tustin News column "Remember When," third-generation Tustin resident Juanita Lovret recalls the small-town ranching roots of Tustin as It Once Was.
Stories from Highlands, New Jersey
A Sea of Memories
Part of the American Chronicles series
The Historic Highlands are known as "where the Jersey Shore begins," and in its long life, its residents and visitors have contributed to a rich, vibrant past. In this book, local historian John King compiles over 80 stories authored by more than 40 Highlands residents who have experienced life there and embrace its heritage. Some of their tales deal with aspects intrinsic to the Highlands, such as clamming and vacationing summer tourists. Some are thrilling accounts from the days of Prohibition, when rum-runners used the shores as ports for illicit booze. From everyday life, to World War II, to sailing and famous residents, discover the history of the Highlands.
Stories from Perth Amboy
Part of the American Chronicles series
Since its establishment in 1683, Perth Amboy has been a progressive and welcoming community. Residents have consistently made a stand for equality--in the 1920s, riots at a local KKK meeting ousted the Klan for good, and the nation's first African American vote was cast here by Thomas Mundy Peterson. Another Perth Amboy first was Dr. Solomon Andrews's flight over the town in 1863. Since 1853, the Eagleswood School has hosted lectures from figures like Henry David Thoreau. In 1968, the Perth Amboy basketball team swept the state championship. These and Perth Amboy's other fascinating stories and characters are chronicled by local author Katherine Massopust.
Bethania
The Village by the Black Walnut Botton
Part of the American Chronicles series
Founded in 1759, Bethania was the first planned Moravian settlement in North Carolina, situated favorably on the Great Wagon Road of the colonial era. Bethania's narrative weaves together 250 years of history and memory, with voices from the town's white and black heritage speaking through autobiographical accounts, diaries, letters, oral histories, photographs, and archival research. Join local resident Beverly Hamel as she tells the story of proud pilgrim people who journeyed into an unknown wilderness and built a community that would remain intact through the volatile periods of the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, slavery and the years leading to the Civil War, the Reconstruction era, and into the twentieth century. The story of Bethania is a celebration of an enduring spirit that will never die.
Knoxville
This Obscure Prismatic City
Part of the American Chronicles series
Discover the vibrant history of Knoxville, Tennessee, in this series of articles from Jack Neely's acclaimed "Secret History" column in Knoxville's Metro Pulse. Neely delves into the shadows of centuries past and weaves a path of local history with unmistakable wit and precision. Learn about the people who made Knoxville the "obscure prismatic city" through their genius, bravery or even impiety--natives like Adolph Ochs, whose fear of the old Presbyterian cemetery kick-started his ascent to the editor's desk at the New York Times; Clarence Brown, the University of Tennessee graduate turned Hollywood icon; and Knoxville's own Mark Twain. Learn about race riots, labor riots and good old-fashioned drunken riots, and discover why Knoxville is Tennessee's forgotten music city.
White Mountains Hiking History
Trailblazers of the Granite State
Part of the American Chronicles series
Since the time of pioneer settlers Abel and Ethan Allen Crawford, explorers and adventurers have been lured by the stunning peaks and lush valleys of New Hampshire's White Mountains. In the nearly two centuries since the Crawfords constructed their first crude footpath onto the heights of Mount Washington and the Presidential Range, the White Mountain trail system has evolved into an intricate network featuring more than 1,400 miles of marked paths. Retrace the steps of early mountain guides such as Charles Lowe and Allen "Old Man" Thompson and learn how these early path-makers made New England's most popular and extensive mountain trail system possible. Longtime northern New Hampshire hiking columnist and guidebook author Mike Dickerman traces the fascinating story of this evolution with this new collection of profiles and reflections on the early trails and trailblazers of the region.
West Texas Tales
Part of the American Chronicles series
Historian Mike Cox has been writing about Texas history for four decades, sharing tales that have been overlooked or forgotten through the years. Travel to El Paso during the "Big Blow" of 1895, brave the frontier with Elizabeth Russell Baker, and stare down the infamous killer known as Old Three Toe. From frontier stories and ghost towns to famous folks and accounts of everyday life, this collection of West Texas Tales has it all.
Life Along the Apalachicola River
Part of the American Chronicles series
In the Apalachicola River Valley, outdoor adventure is a way of life. It's a culture of fishing, hunting and everything in between, but this culture is fading as overdevelopment upstream dries up the region's natural resources. These narratives are part of an effort to capture the memories and keep those traditions alive. The quirky stories include calling a gator to a creek bank, exploring the origin of "Polehenge" and understanding just what makes Catawba worms so special. Learn the basics of frog gigging and ponder how many fish make a "mess." Author and Florida native Jim McClellan revives local stories from the banks of the Big River and preserves the allure of this fading swamp paradise.
Remembering Lee County
Where Winter Spends the Summer
Part of the American Chronicles series
In this charming retrospective, Lee County native Prudy Taylor Board writes with love, respect, and wry humor as she reveals the true history of Lee County, its communities and some of its most intriguing and prominent pioneers. For example: In 1884, Fort Myers comprised 139 acres at the original site of the town that was platted into a working community. But the burgeoning town that had grown to include about 50 families did not have a newspaper. So when the opportunity to "kidnap" an editor and his press presented itself, Henry L. Roan, captain of the schooner Lily White, wasted no time. Although a paradise for tourists today, Sanibel was originally noted for its prolific agriculture. By 1896, farmers were shipping a thousand crates of tomatoes a week during their growing season. A few years later, crops included eggplant, beets, squash, green peppers, cucumbers and beans. Unfortunately, the torrential tides of salt water accompanying a disastrous hurricane in 1921 destroyed the groves and arid farms that marked the finish to Sanibel's agricultural prominence. With these delightful historical vignettes, Board presents an interesting and fascinating history of the three cities that presently make up Lee County, Florida. Locals, visitors and newcomers alike are sure to enjoy Board's witty and causal style, and will view the area with a renewed appreciation for its rich past.
Texas Panhandle Tales
Part of the American Chronicles series
The Texas Panhandle is like a whole 'nother country. The area stretching from just south of Lubbock all the way north to Oklahoma is filled with ranch land, oil fields, windy plains, and some of the Lone Star State's most unique history. Meet the duck that started a gun battle in Oldham County and find out how Kate Polly's pancake flipping saved her life. Or witness Gene Autry's days as a performer in Childress and a different sort of "gold rush" in Palo Duro Canyon as historian Mike Cox shares his favorite pieces of the Panhandle's past.
True Tales of Aurora Illinois
Mysterious Murders, Presidential Visits and Blues Legends in the City of Lights
Part of the American Chronicles series
Check in on visits from Orville Wright, Casey Stengel, John Dillinger and JFK. Learn about the Aurora man who hired Abe Lincoln to defend his business and the police chief who solved the nation's most gruesome crime. Discover what happened to the man who recorded a landmark blues song in Aurora's tallest tower and how a boy born in the city's poorest neighborhood went on to play for the Chicago Bears in Matt Hanley's fascinating collection of stories from the City of Lights.
Historic Tales of La Jolla
Part of the American Chronicles series
The first settlers to arrive here in 1869 purchased 160 acres for two dollars and change. La Jolla attracted artists, architects, writers and scientists over the years, contributing to today's prized reputation as a valuable world-class destination. Their stories shaped the fascinating history of this seaside village. Pirates and smugglers hid out in Sunny Jim's Cave. Ellen Browning Scripps, the Godmother of La Jolla, founded institutions and recreation areas for not only La Jollans but also the rest of the world, including the famous Children's Pool and Scripps Institute of Oceanography. Theodor Geisel derived inspiration for his art from La Jolla's landscapes and people. Native La Jollan Patricia Daly-Lipe recalls the stories of these and many other people and places that have molded the village of La Jolla into a natural and cultural wonder.
Meredith Chronicles
Passing Time on Lake Winnipesaukee
Part of the American Chronicles series
Ancient beginnings only hinted at the great things to come in the story of Meredith. The earliest residents hunted mammoth and caribou and created the first birch-bark canoe to traverse Lake Winnipesaukee and the network of waterways. Centuries later, Meredith's Dudley Leavitt wrote Leavitt's Farmers Almanack for more than fifty years. The local woods were the solitary home of Joseph Plumer, who was perhaps New Hampshire's most financially successful hermit. Motorcycles, cars and horses once raced on the winter ice of Lake Winnipesaukee. Together, these stories weave the distinctive fabric of Meredith history. Dan Heyduk's town history goes beyond documents and dates, illustrating the unique character of a multifaceted community.
Brattleboro
Historically Speaking
Part of the American Chronicles series
Founded as Fort Dummer in 1724, from its earliest days the town that would become Brattleboro enjoyed beautiful views and a strong spirit. It quickly grew into a home for Vermont industry and pleasure, attracting tourists, traders and innovators from across the region. Former Brattleboro Reformer contributor Fran Lynggaard Hansen describes the town's history through highlights from her "Downstreet" column, including accounts of the 1848 smallpox outbreak, the founding of the Estey Organ Company, the construction of the Harris Ski Jump, the story behind George Crowell's Lindenhurst mansion and the efforts of the dedicated volunteers who launched the first Winter Carnival. Portraying residents at work, at play, and in service to one another, she captures the essence of Brattleboro's enduring charm.
New York Historic Tales of Bethlehem
Part of the American Chronicles series
Bethlehem's bucolic countryside and bustling suburbs reflect the town's rich history. Uncover the stories that shaped the town from its Dutch settlement to today. Nathaniel Adams, along with his wife, Rhogenia, opened a stagecoach inn and became the first postmaster in what is now Delmar. The opening of the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad broadened travel and freight transportation. The LaGrange family farmed the same land for over two centuries and exemplified the region's deep agricultural roots. Suburbs flourished in the region following World War II. Drawing from her articles that first appeared in Our Towne Bethlehem, town historian Susan E. Leath celebrates the enduring community spirit of Bethlehem with this fascinating collection of essays.
Orange County Chronicles
Part of the American Chronicles series
Orange County is one of the best-known, yet least understood, counties in California. The popular image of beautiful people in beach cities is certainly accurate. But the Orange County that is often overlooked includes workaday lives in Anaheim, the barrios of Santa Ana, townhouse living in Brea and the diverse communities of Little Saigon, Little Texas, Los Rios, La Habra and Silverado Canyon. Modern Orange County offers very little sense of history, and it sometimes seems as if the urbanization of the 1960s is all that defines the place. Orange County historian Phil Brigandi fills in the gaps with this collection of essays that explores the very creation of the county, as well as pressing issues of race, citrus, attractions and annexation.
Ligonier Valley Vignettes
Tales from the Laurel Highlands
Part of the American Chronicles series
Secluded between Laurel Mountain and Chestnut Ridge, the Ligonier Valley has been the mountain playground of western Pennsylvania since the nineteenth century. Yet this picturesque retreat was at the tumultuous center of history--during the French and Indian War, Fort Ligonier was key to the British strategy, and in the late nineteenth century, the Ligonier Valley Rail Road helped transform the industry of the region. Author Jennifer Sopko traces the story of the valley and its residents through a series of fascinating vignettes. From the earliest histories to nostalgic reminiscences of the Ligonier Opera House, socials at the Valley Dairy ice cream parlor and bygone days at Idlewild Park, Sopko captures the history and spirit of the Ligonier Valley and its communities.
Virginia Remembering Fairfax County
Part of the American Chronicles series
The passage of time has brought with it vast alterations to the landscape of Northern Virginia and Fairfax County. Once a sleepy rural area dotted with a few small villages, it has changed into a bustling suburb that is now home to thousands of people. Throughout its history, Fairfax County has hosted presidents, been home to slave traders and been a strategic component in multiple campaigns during the Civil War. Remembering Fairfax County, Virginia by longtime local historian Karl Reiner is a collection of historical vignettes that captures not only the essence of the events and people who have shaped the history of Fairfax County, but also their impact on the Old Dominion. Reiner calls upon a breadth of materials, exploring much of the forgotten heritage in the county, to provide an accessible and balanced work that is both informative and entertaining. From the influence of presidents such as George Washington to forgotten battles during the Civil War, this collection chronicles the history of Fairfax County during some of the most influential periods in American history.
Speaking of Atlantic City
Recollections & Memories
Part of the American Chronicles series
For over one hundred years people have been coming to Atlantic City to swim in the ocean, walk on the boardwalk, and get away from their day-to-day lives...
Return to the halcyon days of the sand and sun as local writers and long-time locals present stories from Atlantic City's heartwarming past.
Stories from the Mohawk Valley
The Painted Rocks, the Good Benedict Arnold & More
Part of the American Chronicles series
Nestled in Upstate New York along the banks of the Mohawk River are the many communities of the Mohawk Valley. These villages, towns and cities have unique histories but are inextricably tied together by the waterways that run through them. The mills, railroads and the Erie Canal sustained early growth; the Painted Rocks beautified the landscape; and tales from the local Mohawk Nation still enrich the folklore. Many remarkable individuals have called the Mohawk Valley home, including psychedelic philosopher Benjamin Paul Blood, Queen Libby, the Daiquiris and actor Kirk Douglas. For over a decade, local native Bob Cudmore has documented the interesting, important and unusual stories from the region's past, and he has compiled the best of them here.
Silver Lake Bohemia
A History
Part of the American Chronicles series
Since the early 1900s, Silver Lake has been a magnet for iconoclastic writers, architects and political activists. Famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who designed the Hollyhock House for socialist and oil heiress Aline Barnsdall, drew a wave of visionary modernists to the area. Local civil rights advocate Loren Miller spearheaded the fight against housing discrimination. Silver Lake's Black Cat bar and Harry Hay's Mattachine Society were central to the early gay rights movement. Literary artists Anäis Nin and James Leo Herlihy made the neighborhood their home, as did other notables like first lady of baseball Effa Manley and "Hobo Millionaire" James Eads How. Michael Locke and Vincent Brook chronicle these and other people and places that helped make Silver Lake the bohemian epicenter of Los Angeles.
Texas Remembering Slaton
Centennial Stories, 1911-2011
Part of the American Chronicles series
Retrace Slaton's history with local author James Villanueva as he profiles one hundred years of the town's stories and its people. From its founding in 1911, through the Roaring Twenties, the turbulent 1960s and into today, Remembering Slaton, Texas, is a look at the rich history of this charming Texas town. Sometimes haunting and sometimes inspiring--but always entertaining--these are the tales and legends that made Slaton what it is today.
Eden Prairie
A Brief History
Part of the American Chronicles series
From scouting reports of Native American tribes to Money Magazine's declaration that it was the best place to live in America, Eden Prairie has a history that commands attention. Few can rival Marie Wittenberg's dedication to telling this story or match her intimate knowledge of her hometown's changing landscape, from early sheep barns to modern megachurches. In this brief history, she describes how Eden Prairie got its name, visits with pioneer families and points out the local places and critical moments that shaped this beloved community's identity.
San Ramon Chronicles: Stories of Bygone Days
Part of the American Chronicles series
Though a relatively young city, San Ramon has history stretching back to California's founding. Ohlone Indians first inhabited the area before rancheros grazed the land more than a century ago. Drawn by the Gold Rush, pioneers and prospectors settled the place promoters labeled a "Garden of Eden." Diversified farming of the valley, full of orchards and plentiful fields, sustained the rural population. Sitting in the shadow of historic Mount Diablo, San Ramon is a growing city recognized for its extraordinary parks, schools and active citizenry. Local author Beverly Lane brings to life San Ramon's vibrant past.
Montpelier Chronicles: Historic Stories of the Capital City
Part of the American Chronicles series
Four years after the American Revolution, Colonel Jacob Davis paid tribute to France by naming his settlement Montpelier in 1787. Disasters, industries and larger-than-life personalities helped shape the city's identity. And it didn't take long for Montpelier to make a name for itself-its location created a prime manufacturing hub, and the Vermont Central Railroad made travel convenient. The city also became the scene of the fire of 1875 and the Gould-Caswell murder. Join local historian Paul Heller as he compiles significant moments of Montpelier's past.
Pioneers of Eagle Rock
Part of the American Chronicles series
After the Rancho San Rafael was divided, Benjamin Dreyfus was awarded the hilly area north of downtown Los Angeles known as Eagle Rock Valley. By 1911, this farming community had rapidly grown into a city. The Los Angeles Railway made downtown LA a trolley ride away, and continued growth led to Eagle Rock's consolidation with the city in 1923. Today, Eagle Rock is one of LA's most distinctive neighborhoods, and a pride instilled by early settlers remains here. These inspirational settlers include soldier and ranchero Jose Maria Verdugo, diarist and historian Elena Frackelton Murdock, farmer and amateur hydrologist Mayor Cromwell Galpin and publicist Ann Hare Harrison. Join editors Eric H. Warren and Frank F. Parrello as they profile the bedrock personalities who built Eagle Rock.
Goffstown Reborn
Transformations of a New England Town
Part of the American Chronicles series
Like many rural New England towns, Goffstown has suffered agrarian hardships, sent soldiers off to war, experienced fluctuating demographics and produced larger-than-life leaders, such as Governor David L. Morril and Samuel Blodget. Throughout the twentieth century's great waves of industry, tourism and shifting social values, Goffstown has cultivated a special knack for reinvention and earned a sterling reputation for friendliness. From eighteenth-century border disputes to the first Old Home Day; from the Saint Anselm College fire to the Pumpkin Regatta, over three hundred years' worth of Goffstown's history springs to life with Dubrulle's deft touch.
Historic Tales of Windham
Part of the American Chronicles series
The natural beauty and fertile lands of Windham drew first the Pawtucket Indians and then Scotch-Irish settlers. The town's rich history is full of intriguing stories, including Wallace Fessenden's unscrupulous baseball umpiring, the return of a native son after his burial at sea in Indonesia and the poetic life of the Rustic Bard, Robert Dinsmoor. Tourism boomed as early as the 1850s, when visitors flocked to the waterside temptations of Canobie Lake and later Cobbett's Pond, where eccentric millionaire Edward Searles built his famous castle. Local historian Derek Saffie weaves together a collection of historic stories from the settlement's roots as Nutfield to the town of Windham.
Huntington Beach Chronicles
The Heart of Surf City
Part of the American Chronicles series
Amid the tourist bustle in the biggest beach city in Orange County, hometown personalities and their stories are Chris Epting's business. As a widely published author and columnist for the "Huntington Beach Independent," Epting has covered the famous and not-so-famous, the local people, places and events of Surf City's beachscapes and street scenes with a reporter's curiosity, a historian's exactitude and an ambassador's pride. "Huntington Beach Chronicles" offers a diverse collection of stories about the everyday people and extraordinary events that have woven together a community with a charm and character unlike any other.
Sacramento Chronicles
A Golden Past
Part of the American Chronicles series
Sacramento boomed when forty-niners flocked to California, but the road from riverfront trading post to cosmopolitan capital was bumpy and winding. In this collection, historian and local author Cheryl Anne Stapp reveals the setbacks and successes that shaped the city, including a devastating cholera outbreak, the 1850s' Squatter Riots, two major fires, the glamorous Pony Express and the first transcontinental railroad built by Sacramento merchants. Even bursting levees and swollen riverbanks couldn't keep the fledgling city down, as Sacramento hoisted its downtown buildings and streets above flood level. Come discover the diversity of Sacramento's heritage from agriculture and state fairs to war efforts, Prohibition and historic preservation, and explore the historic sites that mark the city's development.
Chronicles of Historic Brooklyn
Part of the American Chronicles series
Brooklyn has always been a place of diversity and distinction. These qualities are everywhere across the borough, from its people to its events, landmarks, and more. In Chronicles of historic Brooklyn, Borough Historian John Manbeck has collected the stories that reveal the history and spirit of this ever-growing metropolis. From stories of murderous pirates who once besieged Sheepshead Bay to tales of the still-beloved Brooklyn Dodgers who played at Ebbets Field, Manbeck traces the long and colorful history. Explore the forgotten neighborhoods, iconic parks, vanishing waterfront and other attractions that show how and why Brooklyn has endured.
A History of Alma College
Where Plaid and Pride Prevail
Part of the American Chronicles series
Come along with authors Gordon Beld and David McMacken on a trip down memory lane to Alma College, a mid-Michigan school with a fascinating past, rich heritage and impressive influence. Look on as thousands of spectators flock to the campus for the annual Highland festival. Sit in the front row while a yet unknown young performer introduces you to a new song, "Take Me Home, Country Roads." Peek into a voting booth to see the ballot listing two former Alma students who are candidates for the U.S. vice presidency-in the same election. Learn how Alma students reached out to make a difference here at home and around the world…
Northern Virginia Luminaries
Part of the American Chronicles series
Journalist Joe Motheral tells the stories of prominent locals met and interviewed over the course of his long career. People from all over the US and the world move to northern Virginia to be close to the nation's capital, and many people of national importance make their home in the area. There are as many more, born and raised here, who are well known to locals. Become acquainted with a selection of iconic Virginians, with varying personalities and a variety of fulfilling lives. Read about Geraldine Brooks, Roger Mudd and General George C. Marshall, as well as local heroes.
Voices of Winchester World War II Veterans
Part of the American Chronicles series
Stories of the Greatest Generation come alive in the hands of longtime local journalist Adrian O'Connor What made the D-Day attack on Omaha Beach so remarkable was that it was carried out largely out by National Guardsman - men of the 29th Infantry Division who had never before seen combat. One of the companies that was part of this historic day hailed from the environs of Winchester, Virginia. Winchester's martial gallantry was hardly restricted to the beaches of Normandy, though. A future city councilor came ashore at Anzio, Italy. A future school principal fought in what may have been the Pacific's toughest battle, Iwo Jima. Local men held the line at the climactic Battle of the Bulge, flew over Europe and the oil fields of Ploesti and even escaped a German prisoner-of-war camp.
Historic Tales of the Upper Ohio Valley
Part of the American Chronicles series
Local historian Paul J. Zuros weaves a rich narrative of the region, reliving these tales as only a local can. The Upper Ohio River runs along the border between West Virginia and Ohio, where the cities of Weirton and Steubenville face each other across the flowing water. The history of these two municipalities has been intertwined from their earliest days. Discover stories of the early pioneers on both sides of the river and what they learned about their Native American predecessors. Tales of bygone celebrations will entertain, and rumors of local haunts will chill readers to the bone. The stories of these industrial centers as well as their preindustrial past will intrigue and delight young and old.
True Tales of Tennessee
Earthquake to Railroad
Part of the American Chronicles series
The Beginnings of the Volunteer State Tennessee was a remote place in 1810. By 1850, some of the most influential people in America had come from Tennessee, such as Sequoyah, David Crockett, the filibuster William Walker and the slave trader Isaac Franklin. Learn about the state's first steamboats and its initial telegraph message. Read newly discovered accounts from the Trail of Tears. Hop along the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad and relive the glory and tragedy. Author and columnist Bill Carey details these stories and more on early history in The Volunteer State.
True Tales of Prescott
Part of the American Chronicles series
A saloon town like no other.
Carved out of the wilderness to become the first capital of Arizona Territory, Prescott has been a magnet for colorful characters since 1864. From Isaac Goldberg, proprietor of the first saloon, to musical icon Bruce Springsteen, Prescott has hosted its fair share of legends. Highwayman Brazen Bill Brazelton moseyed through the streets of Prescott, as did Bucky O'Neill and Barry Goldwater. Famous landmarks like the Palace Saloon not only survived prohibition but the Great Fire of 1900 that burned through Whiskey Row.
Join historians Bradley G. Courtney and Drew Desmond as they round up tales of Prescott's fascinating past.
Historic Tales of Old Dubuque
Part of the American Chronicles series
History That Shaped a Nation
The history of Dubuque is as important to the nation as it is Iowa. Look into the life of railroad-attorney Abraham Lincoln as he pays a visit to a prominent railroad engineer in Dubuque prior to becoming president. Follow congressional debate on whether U.S. Rep. William Vandever (R-IA) had the right to simultaneously hold a seat in Congress and a commission in the U.S. military during the Civil War. View some of the more popular Americans photographed by famed Dubuque photographer Samuel Root, including an image of Frederick Douglass captured while in Dubuque for one of three lectures the "Self-made Man" made in the Key City. Author and historian John T. Pregler sheds light on these rediscovered facets of American history and many others.
Remembering Chapel Hill
The Twentieth Century As We Lived It
Part of the American Chronicles series
Since the 1789 charter of the country�s first state university, Chapel Hill has attracted people from all over who found that the town was the perfect place to put down roots. In this collection, local newspaper columnist Valarie Schwartz celebrates many of Chapel Hill�s most notable residents, from the World War II veteran who came to law school after the war and ended up as president of the UNC system for thirty years to the couple from the Midwest who arrived in 1935 and spent their careers building the North Carolina Symphony Orchestra. Featuring stories of struggle and success from all walks of life, Remembering Chapel Hill is a tribute to the twentieth-century citizens who made the city what it is today: �a Southern slice of heaven.�