Brief History
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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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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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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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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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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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The Sebago Lakes Region
A Brief History
by Ned Allen
Part of the Brief History series
The Sebago Lakes Region in southwestern Maine is one of the Pine Tree State's most historic. The lake--along with the Presumpscot and Songo Rivers, Brady Pond and Long Lake--was a major transportation route for Native Americans and English and French settlers. Both conflicts and legends abound along these storied waters. The waterways supported the region's growth into a commercial center, as sawmills, gristmills and tanneries flourished during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Canals and railroads connected it to Portland and the rest of New England and brought many visitors, making it one of Vacationland's most popular destinations and the home of several historic summer camps. Join local author Ned Allen as he explores this rich past and celebrates today's resurgence in activity, arts and culture in Bridgton, Standish and other towns around the Sebago Lakes.
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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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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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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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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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Prattville, Alabama
A Brief History of the Fountain City
by Marc Parker
Part of the Brief History series
In 1833, a New Hampshire industrialist named Daniel Pratt moved south. Pratt established the largest cotton gin factory in the world and, with it, a town known fittingly as Prattville. Soon this humble hamlet outside Montgomery became an industrial hub, fueling Alabama's antebellum cotton production. Prattville weathered the Civil War and recovered faster than any other Alabama town, as Pratt collected on debts owed from his Northern accounts. Since then, Prattville has continued to grow in important ways, gradually shifting from an industrial epicenter to a forward-looking city and a beloved hometown. Through floods, tornadoes, damaging fires and shifting economic conditions, Prattville and its townspeople endured. Now, authors Marc and Melissa Parker ensure that Prattville's history will also endure by recounting the Fountain City's proud heritage.
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California A Brief History of Orange
The Plaza City
by Phil Brigandi
Part of the Brief History series
Orange, California, a city that started small, but grew big on the promise, sweat and toil of agriculture. Born from the breakup of the old Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana, its early days were filled with horse races, gambling, and fiestas. Citrus was the backbone of the economy for more than half a century, though post-war development eventually replaced the orange groves. Historian, and Orange native, Phil Brigandi traces the roots of the city back to its small town origins: the steam whistle of the Peanut Roaster, the citrus packers tissue-wrapping oranges for transport, Miss Orange leading the May Festival parade, and the students of Orange Union High painting the O and celebrating Dutch-Irish Days. In doing so, he captures what makes Orange distinct.
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Clinton
A Brief History
by Nancy Griffith
Part of the Brief History series
Clinton as we know it today is the result of the dreams and hard work of generations of its residents. Starting with early settlers such as the Adairs, the Youngs, and the Copelands, the community was spurred on by the dreams of William Plumer Jacobs and the entrepreneurial spirit of Mercer Silas Bailey and his descendants. The town has been through many changes, starting out as a rural crossroads and eventually developing into both a cultural and industrial center. Clinton continues to change, but the devotion and energy of its citizens ensure that it will remain a vital city for generations to come. Join local resident Nancy Griffith as she follows Clinton's ever-changing story and honors those who nurtured it.
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South St. Paul
A Brief History
by Lois A. Glewwe
Part of the Brief History series
Incorporated in 1887, South St. Paul grew rapidly as the blue-collar counterpart to the bright lights and sophistication of its cosmopolitan neighbors Minneapolis and St. Paul. Its prosperous stockyards and slaughterhouses ranked the city among America's largest meatpacking centers. The proud city fell on hard economic times in the second half of the twentieth century. Broad swaths of empty buildings were razed as an enticement to promised redevelopment programs that never happened. In 1990, South St. Paul began to chart out its own successful path to renewal with a pristine riverfront park, a trail system, and a business park where the stockyards once stood. Author and historian Lois A. Glewwe brings the story of the city's revival to life in this history of a remarkable community.
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La Purisíma Concepción
The Enduring History of a California Mission
by Michael Hardwick
Part of the Brief History series
In two centuries, La Purísima Concepción went from a fledgling frontier mission to a renowned California State Historic Park. Once home to many Spanish soldiers, settlers and hundreds of Chumash Indians, La Purísima held the seat of the California Mission government under Father Mariano Payeras. It withstood catastrophic events, including widespread disease in early years and a great Southern California earthquake in 1812. Emerging from ruins for the last time in 1934, after restoration by the Civilian Conservation Corps, structures appear today as they did in the early nineteenth century. The uniquely restored California Mission complex operates as a state park in a pastoral setting. Author and archivist Michael R. Hardwick chronicles the story of La Purísima and the resilient people and culture that made a lasting influence.
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South Carolina Columbia
A History
by Alexia Jones Helsley
Part of the Brief History series
Columbia sits on hills overlooking the Congaree, Saluda and Broad Rivers. The name evokes sanctuary and the American spirit. Its central location in the state makes it the meeting place of the Upstate and the Lowcountry. The all-American city sprang from wilderness, frame buildings and unpaved streets and valiantly responded to the challenges of change. The city was created by the legislature to be the capital and reflects the "ambitions and fortunes" of South Carolina. Columbia is a diverse city that serves as an educational incubator, a magnet for immigrants, a military center and a place to celebrate the arts. Follow author Alexia Jones Helsley as she weaves together the strands of Columbia's long and eventful past.
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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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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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Homesteading Haxtun And The High Plains
Northeastern Colorado History
by Jean Gray
Part of the Brief History series
Very little has been written about the "real" northeastern plains of Colorado, the small communities that dot its open, sky-filled, mountainless landscape. Haxtun began as two separate homesteads, "proved up" by Alice Strohm and Kate (Fletcher) Edwards, who sold their land to the Lincoln Land Company in 1887, which led to the founding of the town. The area was generally viewed as useless land in those early days but was promoted as being full of opportunity--neglecting mention of a proclivity toward drought, hailstorms and blizzards and the gamble of the land. The High Plains survived, though. Its settlers, proving to be hardy and industrious, faced the challenges head on. Today, Haxtun and the surrounding communities of Fairfield, Dailey, Fleming and Paoli are filled with the descendants of those early settlers, people with a strong sense of community and pride in their little High Plains towns.
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Arlington Heights, Illinois
A Brief History
by Gerry Souter
Part of the Brief History series
The village of Arlington Heights--beginning with the diligence and fortitude of William Dunton--is replete with stories of bitter hardship and exalting triumph. Originally named Dunton after its founder, the village's success was sealed by canny deal-making that brought a railroad through the middle of town. As the state of Illinois boomed, the village on the tracks flourished with agriculture, industry, transportation and an expanding population. From the influx of immigrants and industry to the resurrection of the Arlington Park Racetrack, read the compelling history of a small agricultural village's transformation into a thriving commercial district and the unique way in which its small-town charm and industrious spirit coexist.
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Atlanta's Ponce De Leon Avenue
A History
by Sharon Foster Jones
Part of the Brief History series
Named for the famous Spanish explorer who was said to have discovered the Fountain of Youth, Atlanta's Ponce de Leon Avenue began as a simple country road that conveyed visitors to the healing springs that once bubbled along it. Now, few motorists realize that the avenue, one of Atlanta's major commuter thoroughfares, was a prestigious residential street in Victorian Atlanta, home to mayors and millionaires. An economic turn in the twentieth century transformed the avenue into a crime-ridden commercial corridor, but in recent years, Atlantans have rediscovered the street's venerable architecture and storied history. Join local historian Sharon Foster Jones on a vivid tour of the avenue--from picnics by the springs in hoopskirts and Atlanta Crackers baseball to the Fox Theatre and the days when Vivien Leigh, Clark Gable, and Al Capone lodged in the esteemed hotels lining this magnificent avenue.
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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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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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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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A Brief History of Los Alamitos-Rossmoor
by Larry Strawther
Part of the Brief History series
The city of Los Alamitos and the contiguous, unincorporated community of Rossmoor exemplify small-town America amid the populous western Orange County sprawl. Their tree-lined streets, well-kept homes and first-rate schools are reflected in Rossmoor's selection as the No. 1 suburb in California (and No. 9 nationwide) in a 2012 study by Coldwell Banker Realty. The evolution of Los Alamitos from cattle ranches and sugar beet factory town to World War II military town and ultimately into residential neighborhoods took a century. Meanwhile, the planned "walled 'city' of Rossmoor" was created between 1955 and 1961. Despite annexation talk, Rossmoor and "Los Al" coexist apart together, so to speak, on Long Beach's outskirts. Author Larry Strawther traces the histories of these interdependent sister communities, which epitomize the reality in the legend of the Orange County lifestyle.
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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.
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Virginia Dinwiddie County
A Brief History
by Ronald R. Seagrave
Part of the Brief History series
Rich soil, vast timber and religion brought most of the earliest settlers to what would become Dinwiddie County. Those qualities still play a big part in the lives of most residents here today. Local historian Ronald R. Seagrave presents the story of this heritage, focusing on the people who have made the county a comfortable place to raise a family--the strength and creativity of those who have lived on the farms and in the villages. Discover the whole span of Dinwiddie County's past, from simple beginnings and early development, through the Civil War, Reconstruction and growth and on to world wars, modern times and a glimpse of the present.
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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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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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Iredell County, North Carolina
A Brief History
by Sandra Douglas Campbell
Part of the Brief History series
From the rough trails carved by the Catawba and the Cherokee to the "crossroads of the future," Iredell County has experienced a dramatic and poignant evolution, though its original innovative spirit and agricultural traditions persist to the present day. County native Sandra Douglas Campbell chronicles the area's rich history, drawing from its many renowned sites and from the extensive permanent collections of the Iredell Museums. Iredell County residents will welcome the volume's thorough treatment of their forebears' legacy, much of which can be seen and appreciated in their surroundings, and visitors to the county will appreciate the glimpse into an intriguing North Carolina history.
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Kiawah Island
A History
by Ashton Cobb
Part of the Brief History series
Kiawah Island, located on the picturesque South Carolina coast in the heart of the Lowcountry, has a well-deserved reputation as a world-renowned destination. With its pristine beaches, award-winning golf courses and spectacular resort, Kiawah beckons to thousands of visitors from across the globe each year. Kiawah's charm, however, goes far beyond its breathtaking natural beauty and vaunted destination status. Unknown to many, the history of this beloved sea island is as captivating as its celebrated shoreline; its past as compelling as #17 on the Ocean Course. This landmark new book reveals the history of Kiawah Island as never before. Since the early eighteenth century, Kiawah has been used for myriad purposes by a wide variety of inhabitants. Kiawah Island: A History, by historian Ashton Cobb, provides a comprehensive consideration of the diverse factors and factions that have combined to shape Kiawah's fascinating history. Cobb calls upon a wide array of sources to tell the story of a South Carolina sea island that has been the site of great change through the centuries, but has remained a treasured location for generations of inhabitants and devoted visitors.
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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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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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Bethany Beach
A Brief History
by Michael Morgan
Part of the Brief History series
Before a 1901 ceremony opened the peaceful resort town, the wild dunes of Bethany Beach were part of the rough-and-tumble New World and the deadly land wars between Delawareans and Marylanders. The twentieth century brought crowds eager to partake of a healthy saltwater bath and chicken-and-waffle socials. Local author Michael Morgan chronicles the history of this "quiet" resort with stories of rumrunners who concealed their illicit goods in local chicken coops, World War II residents who anxiously kept a weather eye on the Atlantic and the devastating 1962 nor'easter. Join Morgan as he deftly narrates the storied history of this beloved Delaware beach town.
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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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The Massapequas
Two Thousand Years of History
by George Kirchmann
Part of the Brief History series
Whether as a town, village or hamlet, the communities of East Massapequa, North Massapequa, Massapequa Park and Massapequa proper all share a rich historic legacy. The area's abundant supply of fish and fertile soils attracted early settlement by the Native American tribe known as the Marsapeags, who lived in the "Place of Many Waters." The first European settler, Thomas Jones, saw opportunity in the land filled with swamps, streams and sandy islands where other early Long Islanders did not. Waves of European immigration in the nineteenth century brought a vibrant German enclave. The founding of Fitzmaurice Flying Field made Massapequa Park a center for early American aviation in 1929. The postwar suburban boom resulted in tens of thousands of new residents by the late 1950s. Historian George Kirchmann takes readers on a historic journey of the Massapequas.
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Old Saybrook
A Main Street History
by Tedd Levy
Part of the Brief History series
Here in this distinctive New England town, Main Street is the place to meet your neighbors, get a coffee, do your shopping, watch a parade, attend a concert, worship, vote or volunteer. And behind the familiar buildings is a colorful history. There's the humorist who organized his neighbors to buy land and build a town hall that later became the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center. The story of how the Monkey Farm got its name. The nighttime parade that draws thousands. And the heartwarming account of the shopkeeper who sent penny candy to students with good grades. Author Tedd Levy reveals the unique buildings, events, people and heritage of this distinctive thoroughfare.
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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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A Brief History of Orillia
Ontario's Sunshine City
by Dennis Rizzo
Part of the Brief History series
Local author Dennis Rizzo tells the fascinating and diverse history of Orillia, Ontario. First populated by the Huron, Iroquois and Chippewa Nations, Orillia is now a well-loved, year-round recreation destination. Its history is deeply tied to its water. Situated in the narrows where Lake Simcoe flows into Lake Couchiching, Orillia was a gathering place for centuries before Europeans used it to bring furs to market. Sir John Simcoe, first governor of Upper Canada, fostered permanent settlement of the area. A gateway to the Muskoka region, it has been home to lumber, manufacturing, and artistic endeavours. Today, summer cottagers and winter athletes alike enjoy the Sunshine City and its more than twenty annual festivals. Local author Dennis Rizzo tells the fascinating and diverse history of Orillia, Ontario.
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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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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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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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Village of North Palm Beach
A History
by Rosa Sophia
Part of the Brief History series
While North Palm Beach itself is relatively young-just about retirement age-the history of this area is as broad as the horizon. Long before this village was founded in 1956, the Jeaga tribe lived and thrived here. In 1883, perhaps with a mind to farm pineapples, two men began purchasing local plots, becoming the area's first landowners. From there, through fits and starts, this idyll of small-town life began to take shape. The population surged in 1956 when Pratt & Whitney built a facility west of town, making the village a destination for professionals and their families. Former village historian Rosa Sophia traces the long and fascinating history of North Palm Beach, touching on the little known and providing broader understanding of the people and events that nurtured the undeniable community atmosphere that exists today.
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A Brief History of Eastvale
by Loren P. Meissner
Part of the Brief History series
The vibrant and beloved community of Eastvale was once an agrarian paradise. Developed initially as ranchlands, this area tucked along the Santa Ana River was transformed by industrious farmers who produced alfalfa and other crops, raised poultry and eventually thrived as dairymen. Eastvale's latest agents of change, however, weren't cattlemen or farmers but real estate agents. Indeed, land developers saw the same potential in Eastvale as the initial ranchers did. Beginning in the 1990s, developers created charming homes and planned neighborhoods for former city dwellers eager to live in Riverside County. Despite the changes, the bucolic ambiance of the bygone era remains. Authors Loren P. Meissner and Kim Jarrell Johnson recount the dynamic changes, important people and exciting events that created Eastvale.
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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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St. Charles, Missouri
A Brief History
by James W. Erwin
Part of the Brief History series
Louis Blanchette came to Les Petites Côtes (the Little Hills) in 1769. The little village, later dubbed San Carlos del Misury by the Spanish and St. Charles by the Americans, played a major role in the early history of Missouri. It launched Lewis and Clark's expedition, as well as countless other westbound settlers. It served as the first capital of the new state. Important politicians, judges, soldiers, businesspersons, educators and even a saint all called St. Charles home. Despite its rapid growth from a sleepy French village into a dynamic city amid one of the fastest-growing regions in the country, St. Charles never forgot its history. Author James Erwin tells the story of its fascinating heritage.
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Naperville
A Brief History
by Bryan J. Ogg
Part of the Brief History series
Since Naperville sprang from the northern Illinois prairie, it has maintained an unmistakably fascinating heritage. The settlers who followed the Napers to the DuPage River had to endure the hardships of felling trees and plowing prairies to make a place to call home. The campuses of the Research and Technology corridor might seem pretty far removed from the travails of those early years, but both are part of the same determined community. That shared tradition holds surprises even for lifelong residents of Naperville, such as the location of the Stenger Brewery or the legacy of Peter Kroehler, furniture tycoon, mayor and philanthropist. Bryan Ogg takes stock of the unique people and memorable events that shaped Naperville from its humble founding through its current thriving state.
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Roan Mountain
History of an Appalachian Treasure
by Jennifer A. Bauer
Part of the Brief History series
Roan Mountain's remarkable ecosystem has enchanted people for centuries, beginning with the first native inhabitants. Then came pioneering settlers, celebrated naturalists like John Muir, hardworking miners and loggers eager to make a living from the land and ambitious businessmen such as John T. Wilder, whose Cloudland Hotel helped make Roan a tourist destination in the late 1870s. Today, conservationists, researchers and nature lovers of all kinds flock here to experience flora and fauna unique to this region of the Appalachians. Preserving Roan's ecological heritage has proven both a challenge and a triumph for the mountain's dedicated supporters. In this newly revised and expanded edition, featuring previously unpublished color photography, former Roan Mountain park interpretive specialist Jennifer A. Bauer recounts the fascinating natural and social history of this marvelous highland landscape.