La Crosse
Part of the Postcard History series
La Crosse is situated between the Mississippi River and the picturesque bluffs of the Driftless Area. Founded in the 1840s, La Crosse's location at the intersection of three rivers attracted entrepreneurs. Fertile farmlands, scenic coulees, and prosperous industries enticed adventurous East Coasters and immigrants to settle in the area. From the 1850s to early 1900s, a boomtown atmosphere shaped the city's culture and fueled the construction of a distinctive downtown-much of which remains standing today.
Hingham
Part of the Postcard History series
The established neighborhoods of Hingham make up a seashore community that has retained much of its historic charm. The Old Derby Academy, Old Ordinary Tavern, and the Old Ship Meetinghouse church are all local treasures. A trip down Main Street affords extraordinary views of fine Victorian homes and Colonial farmhouses. Hingham was also home to the U.S. armed forces buildup during World Wars I and II. This Colonial settlement truly remains a celebrated all-American town.
Vineland
by Arjorie Moniodis Ingraham
Part of the Postcard History series
In 1861, Charles K. Landis carved the village of Vineland from the western edge of the Pine Barrens. The community quickly attracted a diverse population who farmed and manufactured. A network of railroads enabled the town to ship its produce and products to markets along the East Coast. Vineland was recognized as a cultural mecca as well as a center of civil rights and women's suffrage. Physically the largest "small town" in New Jersey in square miles, Vineland today still attracts newcomers in search of new opportunities, just as Landis hoped for all those years ago.
Lake Ronkonkoma
Part of the Postcard History series
The town of Lake Ronkonkoma began as a small farming community. By the 1870s, the lake's reputation as a vacation destination was spreading among wealthy New York City residents. The completion of the Long Island Motor Parkway in 1911 made the lake accessible to early automobile enthusiasts, and over time, as more could afford automobiles, the rich and poor alike flocked to its sparkling shores for swimming, boating, and fishing. In 1921, local businessman George C. Raynor created Raynor's Beach, the first in the lake's era of grand beach pavilions. By the mid-1920s, beach pavilions were located all around Lake Ronkonkoma's three miles of shoreline. Lake Ronkonkoma provides a view into the rich history of this unique community and its transformation to a bustling summer resort.
Bisbee
Part of the Postcard History series
Visually, the Bisbee of today remains a community frozen in time, with Main Street retaining its character from 1910. The discovery of copper deposits in the Mule Mountains brought forth a wealth that enabled a substantial community. Profitable mining ventures and a need for labor drew thousands of miners from around the world to work in Bisbee. These individuals added a distinct flavor to the area. Like countless other Western mining camps, Bisbee evolved from a rough frontier community surviving disastrous fires and floods into a town with a substantial population and solid foundation. Bisbee's seemingly inexhaustible mineral wealth resulted in the community becoming a center of economic and political power in an emerging territory on its way to statehood. It was Arizona's greatest copper camp.
Key West and the Florida Keys
Part of the Postcard History series
A trip along that magical ribbon of road from the Florida mainland to the "Southernmost City" of Key West makes for an unforgettable journey. Dive the coral reefs at Key Largo's John Pennecamp State Park. Check out the dolphin show at Islamorada. Pack the fishing gear and head out to sea from Marathon. At Pigeon Key, relive the experiences of the workers who built Flagler's Folly, the Overseas Railroad. Climb a historic lighthouse in Key West. Stay at a fancy resort or a mom-and-pop motel. Dine on fresh seafood or just-caught Florida lobster. Awaken to a glorious sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean and end the day with a spectacular sunset over the Gulf of Mexico.
Missouri at War
Part of the Postcard History series
The Show-Me State possesses an enduring military heritage that unfolded several decades before it became a state in 1821 and stretches forth to the present day. Missouri has molded many notable military leaders, such as Gen. John J. Pershing, the commander of the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I. It has been the site of a Spanish fort, built in the area that is now downtown St. Louis, and serves as the home of the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City. These people and memorials continue to generate reminders to its citizens of the sacrifices made by the brave men and women who have fought on behalf of the state and nation.
Honolulu
Part of the Postcard History series
Honolulu's population grew in the first few decades of the 1800s from a few hundred people living in thatched huts to about 3,000 in 1823. Missionaries erected the city's earliest wooden buildings in the 1820s.
Starting in the 1840s, stones were used in construction. With so many foreigners moving to Honolulu during the late 1800s, rapid growth occurred, and the remaining thatched huts and old paths were replaced with permanent structures and patterned streets. By the 1900s, control of the city was dominated by the ever-increasing tide of Caucasians. The early 1900s also marked the beginning of a time when millions of postcards were mailed daily throughout Honolulu and the world.
Sanatoriums and Asylums of Eastern North Carolina
Part of the Postcard History series
From Wilmington, Fayetteville, Greenville, New Bern, Elizabeth City, Wilson, Kinston, Goldsboro, and many points in between, this book offers a brief look at many of the historical asylums and sanatoriums, as well as temporary hospitals of war and disaster, in Eastern North Carolina. It shows what they were and what they became as they transformed into the great hospitals of today. Many of these old buildings have long since been torn down or reused in a variety of ways seldom connected to their past. This book provides a glimpse of these great buildings, several of their artifacts, and images of what health care used to be in Eastern North Carolina and the role medicine has played as the region has grown.
Florida Railroads
Part of the Postcard History series
The history of Florida railroads began as early as 1834, when the Tallahassee-St. Marks Railroad incorporated. On April 14, 1836, the St. Joseph-Lake Wimico line was the first to be put into service, with trains operating between the boomtown of St. Joseph and the Apalachicola River. Although the Florida railroad "boom" began with Henry Flagler and Henry Bradley Plant, the expansion continued into the 1920s when the president of Seaboard Railway, S. Davies Warfield, extended his lines to Miami and Naples. With the passage of time, numerous railroads were bought, merged, or abandoned. Today, 12 full-service railroads are still operating as well as several port railroads.
Tybee Island
Part of the Postcard History series
Tybee Island has fought hard to survive wars, earthquakes, hurricanes, the Great Depression, and even Prohibition, and while Tybee fights hard, Tybee plays hard. Tybee has a unique story as one of the top tourist destinations of the early 20th century. From the early days, when people could only reach Tybee by train, to the upheavals of the 1960s and 1970s, souvenir postcards tell the story of Tybee's unique and diverse history.
Sedona and Oak Creek Canyon
Part of the Postcard History series
Most visitors travel to Sedona to view the towering red rock sandstone formations dotted with juniper pines and to hike and explore Oak Creek Canyon, along with other beautiful canyons that were once showcased by the Westerns filmed in Sedona. After the ancient peoples who farmed departed the area, the Homestead Act of the 1870s advertised free land and lured cattle ranchers and farmers, but by the 1960s, tourism reigned, and Sedona became a destination for outdoor activities, art, fine dining, unique shopping, relaxation, and luxury resorts.
Scioto County
Part of the Postcard History series
When Scioto County was established in March 1803, no one could have imagined the wide-ranging series of events that would encompass its history for the next 200-plus years. Situated in south-central Ohio along the Ohio River, the region experienced incredible prosperity with the Ohio and Erie Canal and later the railroads during the 1800's. In the early 1900's, shoe factories, steel mills, and brick plants produced jobs and merchandise that benefitted millions. Unfortunately, economic hardship followed in the latter half of the 20th century when these factories and many others closed. While some say the best days have come and gone, many would strongly disagree. Every day, men and women work hard to make Scioto County as proud and prosperous as ever before.
Manhattan Churches
Part of the Postcard History series
Manhattan Churches celebrates the wonderful diversity of churches in New York City's oldest borough. The book takes an in-depth look at a wide array of awe-inspiring structures, from Lower Manhattan and Midtown to the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, and Harlem. From Trinity Church and St. Patrick's Cathedral to the Little Church Around the Corner and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, the city's churches are a fascinating part of New York's religious, cultural, and architectural history.
Walker County
Part of the Postcard History series
Founded in 1846, Walker County is a scenic, sprawling territory of 800 square miles located in the southeastern region of Texas. Huntsville, the county seat, serves as home to Sam Houston State University, the Texas State Penitentiary, and Huntsville State Park. New Waverly, Riverside, and other smaller towns dot the landscape, which remains rustic and beautiful, with rolling hills, open prairies, and piney woods. Visitors to the area may find museums, restaurants, shops, and sporting events to attend.
Tennessee State Parks
Part of the Postcard History series
The story of Tennessee's state parks began more than 80 years ago when New Deal agencies worked to rebuild portions of Tennessee's eroded landscape. Along with these conservation measures, the state's early parks were created through the development of recreational areas. The Tennessee Valley Authority built dams that contributed to recreational attractions, and the Division of State Parks was started in 1937. All of these efforts in addition to Tennessee's natural beauty have resulted in 56 state parks. Through their postcard collections, the authors invite readers to discover each park's special place in Tennessee's history and landscape.
Babylon Village
by Village of Babylon Historical and Preservation Society
Part of the Postcard History series
Sharing its name with a notorious ancient city, Babylon village has been the home harbor of Long Island baymen, a post–World War II suburban boomtown, and the birthplace of the nation's first professional black baseball team. The modern village is well known for its picturesque Argyle Park and flourishing downtown, but it was once revered as a vacation resort destination for those near and far. The community has evolved from decades of residents, visitors, and experiences that have contributed to and created the history of Babylon village, one of the oldest established communities on the South Shore of Long Island.
Yorktown
Part of the Postcard History series
In 1750, the deep-water port of Yorktown housed approximately 250–300 businesses, with as many as 2,000 people thriving in the small town. By 1781, the Revolutionary War's final siege had been staged, and the British were caught without resources to win the final battle against the American and Allied forces. Freedom was won for America, but Yorktown would continue to see war. In 1862, the Peninsula Campaign of the Civil War led to a month-long battle near the site of the previous conflict. In 1917, World War I brought the embarkation of the Atlantic Fleet, and within a few decades, World War II would change Yorktown and the nation forever. These historic postcards portray the first family houses, the churches, the courthouses, the military, the battlefields, and the commemorative memorials of the area, showing the town's progression through time, from the 18th century through the present day.
Astoria
Part of the Postcard History series
Fortunate to be located in the northwest corner of Oregon, where the mighty Columbia River flows to the Pacific Ocean, Astoria has always inspired residents and visitors. The town's spectacular natural beauty and accessible everyday life invites documentation. Those lucky enough to experience Astoria sense they are witnessing something special. More than a century ago, it was a place of big fish, big trees, big dreams, and big personalities. Luckily, many professional photographers and everyday shutterbugs made it their business to capture life on the Lower Columbia from the earliest days of photography. Today, there are fewer giant Chinooks and the remaining old growth is protected, but the town, dreams, personalities, and photographs remain.
The Statue Of Liberty
Part of the Postcard History series
The world's most famous sculpture, the Statue of Liberty, Liberty Enlightening the World, rises to a height of 305 feet from the base of her pedestal to the top of the golden flame of her torch. Conceived, designed, and originally built in France, she was unveiled on her new island home in 1886. The postcard trade, still in its infancy, embraced the icon, and Miss Liberty's commanding figure soon appeared on millions of postcards. In this book, one will see the statue from many angles-profiles, long shots, close-ups, aerials, torch views, and more.
Along Wyoming's Historic Highway 20
Part of the Postcard History series
Highway 20 was designated a federal highway in 1926, and until the arrival of the Interstate Highway System in the 1950s it was a primary route across northern Wyoming. From the Great Plains in the east to the mountains in the west, Highway 20 passed though cities and towns that retain their frontier visages and such wonders as Hell's Half Acre, the Wind River Canyon, Natural Hot Springs, Buffalo Bill Scenic Byway, and spectacular Yellowstone National Park. Fortunately, historic Highway 20 remains almost completely intact and can be driven much as travelers did in years past. Postcard History Series: Along Wyoming's Historic Highway 20 celebrates this trip, illustrated by more than 200 vintage postcards showing the personality of the road. Not to be forgotten are the tourist courts, hotels, diners, and gas stations that made automobile travel possible.
Marion County
Part of the Postcard History series
Marion County, located squarely in the heart of Ohio, is home to the city of Marion, the villages of Caledonia, Green Camp, LaRue, Morral, New Bloomington, Prospect, and Waldo, and other communities. While the villages each have their own unique identities and histories, they all share the common trait of simply being good places to call home. Marion County shares memories of the churches, schools, businesses, and people that make these communities special.
Yavapai County
Part of the Postcard History series
In 1864, Arizona was divided into four counties named after the local Indian communities: Yavapai, Yuma, Mohave, and Pima. Believed to have been the largest county ever created in the lower 48 states at the time, Yavapai encompassed over 65,000 square miles until 1891, when the state was divided into additional counties. Yavapai finally settled to 8,125 square miles. While still a US territory in 1900, Yavapai County had a population just under 13,800 people and was quite remote. Within a few years, postcards started appearing in drugstores, such as Brisley, Timerhoff, Owl, Heit, Corbin and Bork, or Eagle Drug in Prescott and Lynn Boyd or Mitchell in Jerome. Many of the original postcards showcase early mines, towns, and buildings that no longer exist today.
Santa Clara County
Part of the Postcard History series
Originally inhabited by the Ohlone, Santa Clara County was one of 27 counties created when California achieved statehood in September 1850. The first settlements began when Fr. Junípero Serra established the Mission Santa Clara de Asís in 1777. For over 100 years, the valley was known for its rich soil and thriving farm region. In the 1940s and 1950s, William Hewlett and David Packard, along with Lockheed, IBM, and hundreds of other companies, altered the scope of Santa Clara County forever. With the influx of tech jobs and ensuing building boom, the county went from "Valley of the Heart's Delight" to "Silicon Valley."
Mystic
Part of the Postcard History series
On the banks of the Mystic River, the Connecticut community of Mystic has a maritime history that stretches back beyond the founding of the nation. Starting as a Native American settlement, the area switched hands-first to the Dutch, then to the English-before finally becoming a part of the United States after the Revolutionary War. Mystic's location made it an ideal port for coastal commerce. As the nation grew, so did Mystic, with the village using its unique location to serve both the coastal fishing industry and the US Navy. The Mystic drawbridge serves as a reminder of the community's maritime heritage. In its current state, Mystic serves as both a cradle to some of Connecticut's oldest families and a tourist attraction for those wanting to sample vintage New England life.
Penn State University
Part of the Postcard History series
Penn State University was founded in 1855. Then known as the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania, the 400-acre campus had only one main building. With almost 100,000 current students (including students at the Commonwealth Campuses) and having the largest dues-paying alumni association in the world, Penn State continues to be a world leader in education. Since its founding, picture postcards have been published to showcase the buildings and highlight the student activities while documenting the school's narrative.
McDowell County Coal and Rail
Part of the Postcard History series
Coal was discovered in McDowell County, located in the Billion Dollar Coalfield of southern West Virginia, in 1748, but it was not explored or mined until the early 1800s. Mill Creek Coal & Coke Company shipped the first railroad car of coal in March 1883 via the Norfolk & Western Railway. By the early 1900s, hundreds of mining companies dotted the county's landscape. The coal from McDowell County fueled the nation's home heating and steelmaking businesses and both world wars. As the coal industry developed, the local population grew; by 1950, the county had grown from a few hundred people to more than 100,000. The postcard images in this book show early coal mining and how it progressed throughout the years.
Central Park
Part of the Postcard History series
Harper's Weekly reported in 1857 that no engineer had yet been able to present a feasible plan for Central Park and that "it may not ever happen." Their pessimism was misplaced, as Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux's Greensward Plan was approved in May 1858. By 1860, visitors were enjoying the magnificent new park's naturalistic splendor. Central Park quickly became one of New York's premier attractions, featuring the menagerie, the mall, Bethesda Fountain, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the music pavilion, the casino, and the original Croton Reservoir. The northern section of the park was more reminiscent of an untamed wilderness than of an urban park. Through historic postcards, Central Park highlights this man-made green oasis at the center of a teeming metropolis.
Buxton
by James D. Libby, Ph. D.
Part of the Postcard History series
Buxton sits along the eastern side of the Saco River in northern York County. The Saco was instrumental in the town's establishment, as early settlers moved up the river from the towns of Biddeford and Saco and settled on the river's bank at Salmon Falls. Buxton's inhabitants powered their mills from the river and other local tributaries, and the town's early villages were located near these mills. Buxton presents vintage postcards of the riverside villages of Salmon Falls, Union Falls, Bar Mills, West Buxton, and Bonny Eagle, along with inland centers, including Groveville, Buxton Center, Lower Corner, Duck Pond, and other hamlets. Postcard images of Buxton from the year 1895 forward provide valuable insight into the life and times of the citizens of this onetime industrial center.
Hot Springs, Arkansas in Vintage Postcards
Part of the Postcard History series
On the corner of Central Avenue and Monroe Street, in the center of downtown Phoenix, is the historic Hotel San Carlos. Local Native Americans once worshipped a god of learning in this same area, and so early white settlers chose the site for the city's first school, the Little Adobe School, in 1873. After the Little Adobe School, the location served as a ballpark, a brick schoolhouse, the Central School, and finally the Hotel San Carlos, which opened in March 1928. The first hotel in Phoenix to boast steam heat, elevators, and air-conditioning, Hotel San Carlos has a remarkable story and has even seen its share of movie stars, including Mae West, Gene Autry, and Marilyn Monroe. Clark Gable always stayed in the same corner room on the fourth floor so he could people-watch. Even the friendly ghost of Leone Jensen, who appears regularly at the foot of the guest beds, has added to the unique legacy and continuing popularity of Hotel San Carlos.
Chicago Skyscrapers in Vintage Postcards
Part of the Postcard History series
The skyscraper has changed the face of urban architecture--and it all started in Chicago. Born out of the ashes of Chicago's Great Fire of 1871, the first skyscraper, the Home Insurance Building located at the northeast corner of LaSalle and Adams Streets, was completed in 1885. Designed by William Le Baron Jenney, the nine-story building had a metal load-carrying structural frame, the development of which led to steel-frame skeletal construction and the taller skyscrapers that would follow. Much has changed in skyscraper construction since 1885. But Chicago's impressive urban landscape has maintained its important place in architectural history and today boasts the tallest skyscraper in North America, at 110 stories.
Pittsfield
by The Berkshire County Historical Society
Part of the Postcard History series
Pittsfield is the center of Berkshire County, Massachusetts. For centuries, visitors have traveled trails, railroads, and highways across the Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts to enjoy the serene beauty of Pontoosuc and Onota Lakes, shop on bustling North Street, or stay at a fine hotel. Many more moved here from across the country and around the world to work at Pittsfield's farms and factories. Since the early 19th century, Pittsfield has been host to woolen mills and General Electric's factories, hotels and motels, hospitals and schools, and much more. Cultural sites, such as Arrowhead, where Herman Melville wrote Moby-Dick, and Park Square, the location of the first agricultural fair ever held in the United States, continue to attract visitors to the city.
Malden
by Malden Historical Society
Part of the Postcard History series
By the turn of the 20th century, Malden had become a fairly large city and was home to wealthy families, immigrants, and workers. Farms disappeared as factories and businesses of all types and sizes grew. Elisha Converse, the city's first mayor and founder of the Boston Rubber Shoe Company, left his mark on Malden by funding a public library and hospital and designating land for development of Pine Banks Park. A vibrant downtown emerged at the intersection of two colonial roads. It became a regional center of shopping and commerce as well as a hub for transportation by train, trolley, or automobile. The early 1900s were marked by the construction of grand residences, business buildings, numerous parks and churches, and many schools. However, by mid-century, many of these institutions had undergone great change, if they had not entirely disappeared.
Harrisburg
Part of the Postcard History series
Harrisburg lies on a broad swath of the great Susquehanna River, punctuated with its distinctive bridges. Founder John Harris ventured beyond the frontier and established a ferry in 1733 that ushered the pioneer migrants as they trickled west. Many stayed on to establish a city that became the legislative seat of America's most industrious state. The unusual vintage postcards in Harrisburg illustrate the history of a city that played an important role in the Civil War and politics of a growing nation. From canals to superhighways, Harrisburg was always one step ahead of others. Birthplace of the steel mill and transportation giant of the North, this city is a story of triumph, tragedy, and rebirth.
Waco, Texas
A Postcard Journey
Part of the Postcard History series
From the 1890s through the 1920s, the postcard was an extraordinarily popular means of communication, and many of the postcards produced during this "golden age" can today be considered works of art. Postcard photographers traveled the length and breadth of the nation snapping photographs of busy street scenes, documenting local landmarks, and assembling crowds of local townspeople only too happy to pose for a picture. These images, printed as postcards and sold in general stores across the country, survive as telling reminders of an important era in America's history.
Hopkinsville
Part of the Postcard History series
Hopkinsville is an enlightening collection designed to inform, entertain, 0and educate history buffs with images of the Pearl of the Pennyroyal." In this volume, authors William T. Turner and Donna K. Stone have teamed up to present more than 200 vintage images from Turner's personal collection to bring to life the people, events, communities, and industries that helped to shape and transform Hopkinsville. Portrayed in this postcard collection is a sampling of the city's past. Showcased are landmarks and people unique to this area, downtown memories, churches, schools and colleges, hotels, the Black Patch Tobacco War, and leisure activities. Personalities include Confederate president Jefferson Davis and world-famous clairvoyant Edgar Cayce, who made postcard views of the area."
Bennington
by Bennington Historical Society
Part of the Postcard History series
Nestled in the southwest corner of Vermont, Bennington is rich in history and natural beauty. On August 16, 1777, the Green Mountain Boys and militia from surrounding states defeated British troops at the Battle of Bennington. Like other small towns in New England, this agricultural community soon found its waterways dominated by large factories. When manufacturing declined in the early 1900s, the town reinvented itself as a tourist destination. Postcards promoting local scenery, quaint covered bridges, bustling downtown streets, modern amenities, and significant historic sites explained the town's importance to travelers and fostered local pride.
Part of the Postcard History series
Featuring more than 200 vintage postcards, Peoria: A Postcard History captures the changing scenes of the river and downtown Peoria from 1900 to 1950. One of the largest cities in Illinois, Peoria is the seat of Peoria County and lies on the Illinois River where it forms Lake Peoria. Located in the state's central-farm country, Peoria is a manufacturing center known as the "Earth-Moving Equipment Capital of the World." Distilling has also been important in Peoria, which was home to the world's largest distillery, Hiram Walker and Sons, in 1933. Peoria: A Postcard History will allow you to visit "the world's most beautiful drive," as proclaimed by President Theodore Roosevelt during his visit to Grand View Drive in an automobile manufactured in Peoria Heights.
Peoria, Illinois Revisted in Vintage Postards
Part of the Postcard History series
This delightful follow-up to the first volume of Peoria: A Postcard History guides the reader through the development of Peoria to the twenty-first century. From the Illinois Riverfront to the streets of downtown, these postcards demonstrate the many changes that have taken place in this city throughout the years. The growth and expansion in Peoria have been phenomenal, and this volume allows us to follow the timeline of the city.
Lubbock
Part of the Postcard History series
The city of Lubbock began as a compromise between two smaller settlements known as Lubbock and Monterey. These settlements agreed to combine on December 19, 1890, and by 1891, the combined settlement was elected the new county seat as farmers, ranchers, and settlers began to arrive. In 1909, Lubbock incorporated as a city, and the Santa Fe Railroad sent its first train south from Plainview. The Texas legislature authorized the establishment of Texas Technological College in 1923, and Lubbock won the regional contest for the new university's location. Today Lubbock is the 10th largest city in Texas with an estimated population of 230,000. The Lubbock economy thrives on agriculture, education, manufacturing, and health industries.
Orange
A Postcard Guide to Its Past
Part of the Postcard History series
From the 1890s through the 1920s, the postcard was an extraordinarily popular means of communication, and many of the postcards produced during this "golden age" can today be considered works of art. Postcard photographers traveled the length and breadth of the nation snapping photographs of busy street scenes, documenting local landmarks, and assembling crowds of local children only too happy to pose for a picture. These images, printed as postcards and sold in general stores across the country, survive as telling reminders of an important era in America's history. This fascinating new history of Orange, New Jersey, showcases more than two hundred of the best vintage postcards available.
Spring City and Royersford
Part of the Postcard History series
In 1824, the completion of the Schuylkill Canal gave birth to Spring City, and the opening of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad in Royersford soon followed. Over the years, the "twin boroughs" grew simultaneously, sharing the community and industrial developments that their respective transportation hubs fostered. Spring City and Royersford, through more than two hundred vintage postcards, shares the history of these sister towns: the stove factories, glassworks, and knitting mills that were found on both sides of the river; the floods, fires, and train wrecks that the towns endured; and the bridges, schools, and celebrations that help unite the two communities.
Cranberry Lake and Wanakena
Part of the Postcard History series
Few New Jersey towns have retained as much nineteenth-century charm as Cranbury. Set in agriculturally rich Middlesex County, Cranbury is known for its shuttered white-clapboard houses, lovely shaded streets, picket fences, and tranquil lake. First settled in 1697, Cranbury came of age more than one hundred years later when it developed into a bustling center with a gristmill, a sawmill, tanneries, blacksmith shops, and other business enterprises typical of small-town America. These images are fascinating: most of them have never before been published, and many of them were donated from family albums and collections. The recollections of many living residents have been included as well, and the stories, anecdotes, and memories breathe life into the images of a by-gone era. The result is a remarkable visual history, both informative and entertaining, that serves to preserve and celebrate Cranbury's proud heritage. Cranbury is a journey into the past that will thrill resident and visitor, young and old alike.
Chicopee
Part of the Postcard History series
The original meaning of "Chicopee" is "place where water rushes." In 1823, Jonathan Dwight purchased the water privilege at Skenungonuck Falls in Chicopee. Five years later, the textile mill had fourteen thousand spindles and nearly five hundred looms, making it the second-largest operation in Massachusetts. By 1831, there were two giant dams, two waterpower canals, and two manufacturing communities on the Chicopee River. During the next one-hundred years, eight Chicopee River companies gained product recognition around the globe: Ames, Belcher, Lamb, Dwight, Stevens, Spalding, Fisk, and Duryea. These vintage postcards illustrate the significant role that manufacturing played in the day-to-day life of this blue-collar community.
New Castle and Mahoningtown
Part of the Postcard History series
Founded in 1798, New Castle was a small borough located at the confluence of the Shenango River and Neshannock Creek. Mahoningtown, a small borough located just south of New Castle, was a thriving community founded in 1836. The two towns boasted flourishing industries, and in 1896, a trolley line was created to run between them. In 1898, Mahoningtown officially became the seventh ward of New Castle. By that time, New Castle was a third-class city, and railroads and steel were the area's major industries. Eventually many important products were manufactured here, including both Castleton and Shenango China, which were used in the White House. New Castle became known first as the tinplate capital of the world and, later, as the fireworks capital of the world. The stunning postcards featured in New Castle and Mahoningtown document the fusion of these two communities. Among the memorable views are the diverse scenery and amusements of Cascade Park and the parade for baseball manager Chuck Tanner, who led the Pittsburgh Pirates to their fifth World Series.
Baraboo
by Sauk County Historical Society
Part of the Postcard History series
Like many small Midwestern cities, Baraboo has had the usual share of postcards printed featuring its buildings and landscapes. However, Baraboo's unique place in Wisconsin history provided for a much richer array of subject matter. As the original winter quarters of the Ringling Brothers Circus, along with its proximity to Devil's Lake and its place as a division headquarters for the Chicago & North Western railroad, Baraboo has always provided an interesting setting for postcard images.
Ridgewood
Part of the Postcard History series
Given that Ridgewood lies within 20 miles of Lower Manhattan, it would be easy to dismiss this little town as another New York suburb. Settled by Johannes Van Emburgh in 1700, this slice of New Jersey was a pivotal safe haven for the founding fathers, such as George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and Aaron Burr. In 1894, the State of New Jersey incorporated the area as a village, and what followed were 100 years of business and leisure with places like Woolworth's, the Erie Railroad Company, and First National Bank dominating the landscape. Today, Ridgewood serves as a home for those who wish to evade the city life of the boroughs. With its distinct mix of history and comfort, Ridgewood is unique in comparison to other towns in New Jersey and a fine place to call home.
Denison
Part of the Postcard History series
Denison was founded in 1872, when the Missouri-Kansas-Texas (MKT) Railroad established a terminus just south of the Red River. The small town quickly grew to hold a prominent place in the 19th-century American West, and it prospered alongside the railroad, becoming the gateway to Texas from the North. Denison has the distinction of being the birthplace of Pres. Dwight Eisenhower, the site of the first free, graded public school in Texas, and home to beautiful Lake Texoma. This book features a diverse collection of postcard images and takes readers on a journey through Denison's colorful past.