It was referred to as the Queen City of the Cumberland Valley. It had three trolley lines, two railroads and played a role in the frontier, Civil War and industrial history. A softcover book entitled "Images of America Chambersburg," by Maurice Leonard Marotte III and Janet Kay Pollard, gives readers an understanding of life in Chambersburg throughout its history.

It was referred to as the Queen City of the Cumberland Valley. It had three trolley lines, two railroads and played a role in the frontier, Civil War and industrial history. A softcover book entitled "Images of America Chambersburg," by Maurice Leonard Marotte III and Janet Kay Pollard, gives readers an understanding of life in Chambersburg throughout its history

RABBIT HASH - The photos were taken 30 years apart, but they show the passage of time only in the sign above the general store and the clothing the children wear. The top photo is of the 1937 Ohio River flood that reached 80 feet and caused millions of dollars in damages; Craig's General Store in Rabbit Hash is awash in debris-clogged waters. Below is the 1997 flood; Craig's has become the Rabbit Hash General Store - probably the most iconic of all Rabbit Hash images - with waters reaching halfway up the entrance.

The Realtor had suggested a more affordable community, Gardena perhaps. But when Bonnie Mae Barnard was ready to purchase a home in 2000, she would settle for nothing less than the area known as Old Torrance. "I just couldn't live someplace else," she said. Barnard, perhaps the biggest cheerleader for that part of the city, will tell you there's just something special about the elegant architecture, the Craftsman homes oozing with character, the unfenced lawns that seem to blend from one to another.

Preserving history using picture-postcards? Redondo Beach wrote the book on it. In an effort to preserve city history and make a little money, the Redondo Beach Historical Commission wrote and is publishing a historical-postcard collection, with proceeds going to the museum.

Preserving history using picture-postcards? Redondo Beach wrote the book on it. In an effort to preserve city history and make a little money, the Redondo Beach Historical Commission wrote and is publishing a historical-postcard collection, with proceeds going to the museum. On top of paying the museum's rent, the city gives the commission a small discretionary fund -- $700 -- but the commission wanted more for framing, collecting and exhibiting historical Redondo Beach letters, memorabilia and antiques.

Many Clayton residents move here for the small town atmosphere. But the population explosion of the last four decades has left few traces of the Old West Clayton. A new picture book from the Clayton Historical Society provides a look back at the town’s rustic past.

Petaluma was a prosperous town at the start of the 20th century, filled with poultry farmers, grain dealers, one of the busiest ports in Northern California -- and not an architect in sight. So it's not surprising that when one finally hung up his shingle, he would get plenty of work. For years Brainerd Jones was the only architect in town. "If you see a nice building in Petaluma," says local architect Shawn Montoya, with some exaggeration, "it's probably Brainerd Jones." Katherine Rinehart, author of the new book "Petaluma: a History in Architecture" (Arcadia Publishing, $19.99), suggests that an incredible 80 percent of the buildings in the city's historic core have been designed by Jones, though many have been lost. "The man who built a city," the Petaluma Argus-Courier once called him.

The photos were taken 30 years apart, but they show the passage of time only in the sign above the general store and the clothing the children wear. The top photo is of the 1937 Ohio River flood that reached 80 feet and caused millions of dollars in damages; Craig's General Store in Rabbit Hash is awash in debris-clogged waters. Below is the 1997 flood; Craig's has become the Rabbit Hash General Store - probably the most iconic of all Rabbit Hash images - with waters reaching halfway up the entrance.

Petaluma was a prosperous town at the start of the 20th century, filled with poultry farmers, grain dealers, one of the busiest ports in Northern California -- and not an architect in sight. So it's not surprising that when one finally hung up his shingle, he would get plenty of work. For years Brainerd Jones was the only architect in town.

There was once a time in Boone County's history when one of the local businesses was Boone County Airlines. There was another time when Price Pike in Florence was a dirt road. Today, one finds none of that in growing, bustling Boone County. But a new book titled "Boone County" by Robert Schrage ($19.99, Arcadia Publishing) showcases some of the county's heritage and how the county has changed.

FLORENCE -- Asked about his plans to celebrate Black History Month, Northern Kentucky University Associate Professor Eric Jackson says he's doesn't celebrate it. "I teach black history all year round," he said, and others should make it a year-long celebration as well. "The biggest thing for me is that black history is American history. They are intertwined." Jackson recently wrote "Black America Series: Northern Kentucky," as part of Arcadia Publishing's series of pictorial history books, available at local bookstores. In 2003 he published an article entitled "Who Speaks: A Documentary History of African-American Peace Leaders in the United States 1898-1960s." He has also been published in several other academic journals for his work on black history.

Talk about historical houses. Old photographs, genealogies, and other records fill much of Trudy Urbani's home - and that's fine with her. Mrs. Urbani, a retired teacher and Bedford Township's historian, has thousands of documents and photographs, all boxed, labeled, and even color coded. The fruits of a decade's worth of labor dominate her basement and workroom, even as copies of her latest book, Bedford Township (Arcadia Publishing, $19.99) compete for space in her living room

There was once a time in Boone County's history when one of the local businesses was Boone County Airlines. There was another time when Price Pike in Florence was a dirt road. And there used to be a dam along the Ohio River in McVille. Today, one finds none of that in growing, bustling Boone County. But a new book titled "Boone County" by Robert Schrage ($19.99, Arcadia Publishing) showcases some of the county's heritage and how the county has changed.

LAMBERTVILLE, Mich. - Talk about historical houses. Old photographs, genealogies, and other records fill much of Trudy Urbani's home - and that's fine with her. Mrs. Urbani, a retired teacher and Bedford Township's historian, has thousands of documents and photographs, all boxed, labeled, and even color coded. The fruits of a decade's worth of labor dominate her basement and workroom, even as copies of her latest book, Bedford Township (Arcadia Publishing, $19.99) compete for space in her living room.

Let's get one thing straight: Jane Eppinga's part-time writing career is not a hobby. It's a small business. During the day, she works at an engineering firm making drawings for the engineers. She has a bachelor's degree in art from the University of Arizona. In her spare time — even during her lunch break — she researches and writes nonfiction historical books about Arizona communities.

When Stephen Nelson took over as curator of the Fort MacArthur Museum in San Pedro eight years ago, he knew there was a rich military history there to be mined. So he and a band of volunteers began to put out the word. "The first thing we needed to do was to start finding people who used to serve here, and interview them," he said. "And then ask them, 'What do you have?' " Plenty, as it turned out.

The history of professional hockey in Charlotte, including the Checkers of the ECHL, has been chronicled by Jim Mancuso with assistance from ECHL Commissioner Emeritus Patrick Kelly in the newly-released "Hockey in Charlotte".

Louisville was a major player in World War II, with nearly a third of its population working in defense plants and on bomber squadrons at Bowman Field. "Louisville was a vital link, a strategic center of critical production, and a crossroads of transportation links on land and water and by air.

Arcadia Publishing has released a history of Watkins as an installment of its popular "Images of America" Series. This edition chronicles Watkins' story in photos, post cards, and advertising art.

Kudos to Arcadia Publishing (www.arcadiapublishing.com) for its extraordinary paperback series that showcases vintage black and white photographs from towns across the country. Local historians write the introduction and captions and each book, though presented in an appealing uniform format, has its own personality and focus.

Stunning vintage images from the past 125 years are captured in Chicago's Grand Hotels, the newest book in the Images of America series from Arcadia Publishing. Don your tuxes and formal gowns as you dine and dance through history in three of Chicago's most beloved grand hotels. Author Robert Allegrini chronicles Chicago's rich grand hotel history through vivid photographs and memorabilia from the archives of The Palmer House Hilton, The Drake, and The Hilton Chicago. It tells the compelling story of the visionary architects and hoteliers who brought these hotels to life and made them structural testaments to the warmth of Midwestern hospitality.

Stunning vintage images from the past 125 years are captured in Chicago's Grand Hotels, the newest book in the Images of America series from Arcadia Publishing. Don your tuxes and formal gowns as you dine and dance through history in three of Chicago's most beloved grand hotels. Author Robert Allegrini chronicles Chicago's rich grand hotel history through vivid photographs and memorabilia from the archives of The Palmer House Hilton, The Drake, and The Hilton Chicago. It tells the compelling story of the visionary architects and hoteliers who brought these hotels to life and made them structural testaments to the warmth of Midwestern hospitality

MOUNT OLIVE TWP. - Cindy LaPenna remembers fondly growing up in a small town; how it felt like home, how the people knew each other, and how the town’s life revolved around its industry. Now, that small town, Bangor Pa., is a different place. Most of the residents are newcomers and the town is no longer the center of a main industry. To remember the historic and rich heritage of her hometown, LaPenna, a librarian at the Mount Olive Public Library, has written “Around Bangor,” a compilation of photographs and postcards detailing the life of what once was one of the nation’s major centers of slate production.

New book looks City’s high times by Mark McDermott Project writer Mary Ann Keating and editor Pat Dreizler with copies of their book, Redondo Beach. Photo by Mark Mcdermott The postcards are not only from a time past but from an altogether-bygone place. Many of the scenes pictured are of a bustling seaside resort town that featured an auditorium and ballroom where big bands and world-famous opera stars frequently performed, an ornate, multi-domed building called “the Plunge” that glowed with thousands of tiny lights at night and was claimed to be the world’s largest indoor saltwater swimming pool, and a casino where high-rollers from Hollywood came to see and be seen.

CHARLESTON — Charleston native Joyce V. Coakley gives readers insight into two of the Carolina Lowcountry’s most unique traditions: sweetgrass basket-making and the Gullah language, lifestyle and culture.