Brief History
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Ebook
(1)
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.
Ebook
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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.
Ebook
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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.
Ebook
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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.
Ebook
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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.
Ebook
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Glastenbury
The History of a Vermont Ghost Town
by Tyler Resch
Part of the Brief History series
Founded by a famously scheming New Hampshire governor, Glastenbury struggled for over a century to break triple digits in population. A small charcoal-making industry briefly flourished after the Civil War, yet by 1920 Glastenbury counted fewer than twenty inhabitants. The end came officially in 1937, when the state, following a spirited debate, formally dis-incorporated the town. Yet Glastenbury's legacy lives on in Tyler Resch's lively and amusing history. Follow Resch as he chronicles the community's compelling, if always precarious, existence. From mysterious murders and curious development schemes to the township's eventual annexation by the U.S. Forest Service, Glastenbury narrates the ultimately redemptive tale of a community that lost its political status, only to gain a national forest.
Ebook
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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.
Ebook
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Coppell, Texas
A History
by Jean Murph
Part of the Brief History series
Coppell history is rooted in peace and community. In 1843, Sam Houston met with ten native tribes along Grapevine Springs Creek to negotiate an accord to end fighting and allow trade and settlement in the area. When Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport opened in 1974, Coppell transformed from a farming hamlet into a thriving town with expanding economic opportunity. Through firsthand accounts with longtime residents and meticulous research, authors Jean Murph and Lou Duggan unfold the contemplative story of a complex and historic community.
Ebook
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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.
Ebook
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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.
Ebook
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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.
Ebook
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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.
Ebook
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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.
Ebook
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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.
Ebook
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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.
Ebook
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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.
Ebook
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A Brief History of Biddeford
by Emma R. Bouthillette
Part of the Brief History series
Captain Richard Vines founded Winter Harbor in 1616. The small coastal village, now known as Biddeford, is the largest city in York County, with more than twenty-one thousand residents. During the nineteenth century, the city experienced a boom from the textile industry when textile magnate Samuel Batchelder established Pepperell Manufacturing Company, which rapidly became an international brand. The city suffered when textile manufacturing moved south in the mid-twentieth century, abandoning its expansive infrastructure along the Saco River. In 2004, Mayor Wallace Nutting organized local residents in a revitalization effort for the downtown area, and developers renovated historic mill buildings into residential and commercial space. Join author and lifelong Biddeford resident Emma Bouthillette as she revisits the city's early history and explores its recent rebirth.
Ebook
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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.
Ebook
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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.
Ebook
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A History of Benezette
Heart Of The Pennsylvania Wilds
by Kathy Myers
Part of the Brief History series
Founding the Pennsylvania Wilds and Preserving Elk Country
The village of Benezette is ground zero for the famous elk herd of the Pennsylvania Wilds. Before becoming a popular ecotourism destination, the community was a quiet village with a hardworking ethos. The region's first settlers arrived in the 1780s, looking for new frontiers and economic opportunities. Reuben Winslow purchased more than three hundred acres of land along the Bennett's Branch of Sinnemahoning Creek and, by 1844, had laid down the town's lots as the founder of Benezette. The arrival of the Pennsylvania Railroad in the late 1800s fueled the rise of local industry such as timber and coal. Nearby villages such as Weedville, Caledonia, Medix Run, Summerson and others looked to Benezette as the center of the of the region while developing their own communities. Author Kathy Myers presents the history of Benezette and its influence in the heart of the Pennsylvania Wilds.
Ebook
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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.
Ebook
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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.
Ebook
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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.
Ebook
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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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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.
Ebook
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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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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.
Ebook
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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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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.
Ebook
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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.
Ebook
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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.
Ebook
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New Salem
A History of Lincoln's Alma Mater
by Joseph M. Di Cola
Part of the Brief History series
In 1829, eleven years after Illinois became the twenty-first state, New Salem was founded on a bluff above the Sangamon River. The village provided an essential sanctuary for a friendless, penniless boy named Abraham Lincoln, whose six years there shaped his education and nurtured his ambition. Eclipsed by the neighboring settlement of Petersburg, New Salem had dwindled into a ghost town by 1840. However, it reemerged in the early part of the twentieth century as one of the most successful preservation efforts in American history. Author Joseph Di Cola relates the full story of New Salem's fascinating heritage.
Ebook
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Boulder City
The Town that Built the Hoover Dam
by Paul W. Papa
Part of the Brief History series
In the depths of the Great Depression, the United States undertook a task so monumental it demanded nearly five thousand people to complete. The Hoover Dam stands as a modern marvel, a testament to America's ingenuity. However, few know the story of the town that built the dam. To house the workers, Secretary of Interior Ray L. Wilbur envisioned a model of city planning, giving birth to Boulder City. Wilbur intended for the city to be temporary, to disappear once the dam was complete, but it didn't work out that way. Local author Paul W. Papa offers a unique look at a town that may have been forged by a dam but took on a life of its own.
Ebook
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Northern Liberties
The Story of a Philadelphia River Ward
by Harry Kyriakodis
Part of the Brief History series
Since the time of William Penn, the Philadelphia neighborhood of Northern Liberties has had a tradition of hard work and innovation. This former Leni-Lenape territory became one of the industrial River Wards of North Philadelphia after being annexed by the city in 1854. The district's mills and factories were powered not just by the Delaware River and its tributaries but also by immigrants from across Europe and the city's largest community of free African Americans. The Liberties' diverse narrative, however, was marred by political and social problems, such as the anti-Irish Nativist Riots of 1844. Local historian Harry Kyriakodis traces over three hundred years of the district's evolution, from its rise as a premier manufacturing precinct to the destruction of much of the original cityscape in the 1960s and its subsequent rebirth as an eclectic and vibrant urban neighborhood. In this first history of Northern Liberties, Kyriakodis unearths the story of this remarkable riverside community.
Ebook
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Campustown
A Brief History of the First West Ames
by Anthony Capps
Part of the Brief History series
For more than one hundred years, Campustown has served the students and community of Iowa State University. The originally residential neighborhood west of Ames was born in the early 1900s, when the school compelled students to seek residence off campus. However, local government overlooked the neighborhood, and it fell behind the achievements of Big Ames. After the boom of the previous decade, community leaders organized a secession movement in 1916. It took nearly a quarter century, but the neighborhood finally connected to the grid of public utilities. Author Anthony Capps takes readers on a journey from Campustown's roots, through its vibrant years in the 1960s to current projects breathing new life into the district.
Ebook
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A Brief History of South Denver & University Park
by Steve Fisher
Part of the Brief History series
University Park was founded in the 1880s when the University of Denver (Colorado Seminary) moved from downtown Denver to land donated by potato farmer Rufus Clark. The University, founded by Methodists, wanted to escape the urban blight of the city and build an oasis for education. Liquor production or consumption was not allowed, and though today the area has many pubs a number of home mortgages to this day contain old covenants forbidding the making or selling of spirits. Around University Park grew the town of South Denver, which was annexed to the city of Denver in the early twentieth century. For many years in the late 1800s the primary employer was the University of Denver, but over time others moved into the area for its attractive homes and well respected schools. The area has traditionally been upper middle class and has enjoyed one of the lowest crime rates in the city. At the geographic center of University Park is Observatory Park, named for the famous Chamberlain Observatory, built in the 1890s and still fully operational with popular public viewing nights. In the early part of the century Colorado Governor Henry Buchtel lived in the park, as did a number of famed early DU faculty such as Ammi Hyde, who beat the freshman boys in an annual foot race well into his 90's. The area boomed after World War II as many from other parts of the country who were stationed in Colorado chose to remain and make it their home. The area has remained prosperous and continues to grow, sharing in the overall success that the Denver metro area has experienced.
Ebook
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Georgia A Brief History of Smyrna
by William P. Marchione
Part of the Brief History series
The dynamic city of Smyrna, Georgia, situated a scant fifteen miles northwest of Atlanta, has a fascinating history. In July 1864, two significant battles were fought within the confines of present-day Smyrna as General Sherman's Federal juggernaut converged on the "Gateway City" of Atlanta. The town was incorporated in 1872 with a population of fewer than three hundred residents and high expectations that rapid suburban development would ensue. It was the coming to the area of the aeronautics industry in the post-World War II period that finally generated sustained growth. Then, in the 1990s, the city reinvented itself through an aggressive urban renewal program spearheaded by its dynamic mayor, Max Bacon, and a progressive-minded city council. Join author William P. Marchione, PhD, as he recounts the fascinating history that created Smyrna.