Name: Legendary Locals of Edmond
Brand: David Randall Fisk
SKU: 9781467101233
Price: 24.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Legendary Locals of Edmond

9781467101233

$24.99

Edmond was settled in 1889 when pioneers claimed the land during the first Oklahoma land run. Located in the heart of America, Edmond is an ever-growing city with more than 80,000 residents. It is found just north of Oklahoma City on historic Route 66. Through the first 125 years, a diverse and interesting batch of people have made Edmond their home. From early leaders such as Milton "Kicking Bird" Reynolds, founding editor of the Edmond Sun, and Anton Classen, a civic leader and businessman, to present-day business leaders, celebrities, and sports stars, Edmond has had a wealth of remarkable characters. Doctors, ministers, beauty queens, lawmen, firefighters, a former governor, and many other everyday citizens have made Edmond the town it is today. Former mayor Saundra Naifeh once said, "Edmond has always been held to a high standard by the people and businesses who call it home." Residents are proud of its heritage and small-town character and values.

Chaves County

9780738578507

$24.99

In 1889, Roswell patriarch Capt. Joseph C. Lea, Pat Garrett (the former sheriff who shot Billy the Kid), and land developer Charles B. Eddy ventured to the territorial council and house in Santa Fe to petition for the creation of two new counties from the massive Lincoln County in southeastern New Mexico. The request was granted and Chaves County officially came into being on February 25, 1889. Today, 120 years later, Chaves County still thrives with a population of more than 60,000 people and is the dairy capital of the Southwest, producing around 1.7 billion pounds of milk annually. Explored in this volume is Chaves County's earliest peoples and settlements, including Roswell, Dexter, Hagerman, Lake Arthur, and Elk. It also takes a look at long-forgotten towns such as Acme, Blackdom, Cumberland, Greenfield and even old ranching outfits and farms such as John Chisum's South Spring River headquarters, the Clifton Chisholm alfalfa farm, and many others.

Texas Jailhouse Music

9781626198678

$21.99

Inside the Texas State Prison is a surprising story of ingenuity, optimism and musical creativity. During the mid-twentieth century, inmates at the Huntsville unit and neighboring Goree State Farm for Women captured hearts all over Texas during weekly radio broadcasts and live stage performances. WBAP's Thirty Minutes Behind the Walls took listeners inside the penitentiary to hear not only the prisoners? songs but also the stories of those who sang them. Captivating and charismatic, banjo player Reable Childs received thousands of fan letters with the Goree All-Girl String Band during World War II. Hattie Ellis, a young black inmate with a voice that rivaled Billie Holiday's, was immortalized by notable folklorist John Avery Lomax. Cowboys, songsters and champion fiddlers all played a part in one of the most unique prison histories in the nation. Caroline Gnagy presents the decades-long story of the Texas convict bands, informed by prison records, radio show transcripts and the words and music of the inmates themselves.

Chickasha

9780738591797

$24.99

In 1892, the depot of Chickasha came to life when the Rock Island Railroad halted construction and set up temporary headquarters. Within a short time a tent city developed, and when the railroad moved on Chickasha remained. Chickasha continued as an important transportation stop, first for the railroads and then for the several highways that crisscross Oklahoma. With its access to transportation and open land, Chickasha became a thriving city after 1900, boasting a larger population than Tulsa and having all the modern amenities of a major city. Because of its strategic location, the city was chosen to house the Oklahoma College for Women in 1908, one of only five of its kind nationally. Now called the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO ), it is Oklahoma's only public liberal arts institution. Today, Chickasha is also known for its Christmas celebration, the Festival of Light, which draws more than 250,000 visitors annually.

Lancaster

9780738578767

$24.99

In 1841, the Republic of Texas was on the brink of bankruptcy, and it needed to attract new immigrants in order to survive. With this important goal in mind, in 1844 the Texas congress authorized the republic's president, Sam Houston, to contract with individuals to colonize the state. In September of that same year, one group headed by Capt. Roderick Rawlins from Illinois came to Texas and settled in what would become the town of Lancaster. Farmers grew grains and cotton, and Lancaster became a trade center with a lively town square. A commercial club organized in order to coordinate advertising for local businesses, and it also held trade days that later became town fairs. Local residents worked hard all week and enjoyed horse races, baseball, "forty-two" parties, music performances, and other entertainment on the weekends. By the late 1800s, Lancaster was connected to the rest of the state by the railroads, but the town still retained its independent, small-town Texas character.

Early San Angelo

9780738584768

$24.99

Soon after the Civil War, the city of San Angelo developed around Fort Concho. The mission of this western fort was to protect transportation routes, travelers, and settlers as they moved into territory claimed by Native Americans; and the mission of San Angelo was to make money by providing goods that the military personnel wanted and needed. After Fort Concho created peace in West Texas, it ceased operations. By 1889, however, San Angelo had plenty of dedicated citizens who would create an important western city on the banks of the Concho River. Agriculture was the basis of the economy in early San Angelo, which became a financial and marketing center for a wide region of West Texas. This book presents fascinating photographs that highlight the early history of a frontier town. The story ends in the late 1920s, when the discovery of oil changed the area dramatically.

Sherman

9780738579832

$24.99

Sherman was founded in 1846, but because of a lack of wood and water, the town moved east to its present location in 1848. The county seat of Grayson County, Sherman was named for Gen. Sidney Sherman, a hero of the Texas Revolution. From the beginning, Sherman was known as an educational center and was nicknamed "The Athens of Texas." The home of Kidd-Key Conservatory of Music, Mary Nash College, North Texas Male and Female Academy, Carr-Burdette College, and today the prestigious Austin College, Sherman has long been an educational mecca. Sherman was incorporated in 1858, the same year the Butterfield-Overland Stage arrived. The stage line was the first mail route west of the Mississippi and covered a distance of 2,795 miles from St. Louis to San Francisco. As Sherman progressed, industry became a mainstay of the community, which continues to thrive today through companies such as Texas Instruments, GlobiTech, Sunny Delight, Progress Rail, Tyson Foods, Fisher Controls, Kaiser Aluminum, and CertainTeed Corporation.

Atlanta

9780738584850

$24.99

Atlanta is located in Cass County in East Texas, an agricultural area that focuses on livestock and timber. Cass County was named for Lewis Cass, a Michigan senator who was in favor of Texas annexation. However, during the Civil War, Cass fell out of favor with the locals because he was against Texas secession. In 1872, Atlanta became an official town, and settlers named their new settlement after their hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. In 1954, Texas acquired 1,475 acres of land that would become the Atlanta State Park. Football is also a very popular part of life here, second only to hunting and fishing. The plentiful woods and beautiful lakes in the area draw many visitors and retirees.

Edmond Oklahoma

9780738519753

$24.99

From its humble beginnings in 1886 as a fuel and water pump house at Mile Marker 103 of the Santa Fe Railroad, through the eras of land run, statehood, oil boom, two world wars and beyond, the city of Edmond has always been growing. Today, a "beacon for the rest of Oklahoma," it boasts a vibrant community of over 70,000 residents. Edmond is home to the state's oldest continuously running newspaper, the Edmond Sun. The first church and schoolyard in Oklahoma Territory were located here, as well as the state's first institute for higher learning. Indeed, Central Normal School, now called the University of Central Oklahoma, has been at the heart of Edmond since the 1890s and is featured prominently throughout this book. Edmond is a railroad town, an oil town and a college town, depending on who you ask; but Edmondites both past and present simply know it as the "perfect town." Edmond, Oklahoma: Always Growing tells the story of this proud city through more than two hundred vintage photographs, many dating back to before the turn of the twentieth century.

Legendary Locals of Marana, Oro Valley, and Catalina

9781467100168

$24.99

Running west to east along the northern boundary of Tucson is a corridor of unique and inspiring communities. In Legendary Locals of Marana, Oro Valley, and Catalina, readers will discover the historical riches, courage, and determination of the Western spirit that shaped the state and the country. George Pusch was a member of the Arizona Territorial Legislature that guided Arizona from territory to statehood. Sam Chu, a Chinese immigrant, turned barren land into one of the most productive cotton farms in America. Sheriff John Nelson helped establish Arizona's reputation as cattle country. Under the guidance of Dick Eggerding, the public arts program made Oro Valley one of the best small towns in America. America's talented athletes have called the corridor home, including Hank Leiber, 1930s baseball star; Maren Seidler, Olympic shot-putter; and Sherry Cervi, barrel racing champion. In these communities, charity work, artistic talent, and military courage are found in abundance. If people make history, then the corridor is a treasure trove of the country's past and future.

Legendary Locals of Marana, Oro Valley, and Catalina

Ponca City and Kay County Boom Towns

9780738519708

$24.99

Man's enduring search for quick riches and hidden wealth led directly to the rush for "black gold" in the Indian Territory at the turn of the twentieth century. By 1907, when the Indian Territory and Oklahoma Territory joined to become the state of Oklahoma, the era of the big-money oil industry had been launched. During the first four decades of the twentieth century, Oklahoma produced four-billion barrels of crude valued at over $5 billion-more value than all minerals extracted from California or Colorado.

This massive rush also created a new generation of boom towns, attracting a myriad of honest merchants, gamblers, workers, thieves, millionaires and prostitutes who competed side-by-side for their share of the riches. From this turmoil came both thriving communities and ghost towns. Ponca City and Kay County Boom Towns captures that exciting era in vintage photographs and anecdotes of the brothels and burning oil fields, the lawmen and outlaws, and the businesses and workers who made up these boom towns.

The Observer: Letters from Oklahoma Territory

9780738520155

$24.99

R.H. Wessel was the owner, editor, and publisher of the Frederick Enterprise / Frederick Press, and a leading citizen from the day he first came to Frederick, Oklahoma, in 1902 until his death in 1956. He is best known for his column "The Observer," for which this book is titled. He left behind a considerable legacy of his adventurous life through letters, photographs, documents, and historic files. His experiences in Lawton during the 1901 Land Lottery and the following homestead years in Frederick are covered in this book.

As a newspaperman, with a love for telling a story, his letters are an incredible documentation of life on the Oklahoma frontier, as well as his love story by mail with Margaret Scow, the bride he brought to Oklahoma after "proving up" on his homestead and obtaining his own newspaper.

The Observer: Letters from Oklahoma Territory

Houston Fire Department

9781467132985

$24.99

Houston's firefighting service began in 1838 with the founding of Protection Fire Company No. 1. As the city of Houston grew throughout the early and mid-19th century, volunteer companies formed and grew along with it. By 1895, city leaders decided to form the Houston Fire Department as a city department, culling the volunteer forces for men, stations, apparatus, and horses. The city grew in leaps and bounds, swallowing up neighborhoods, communities, and smaller cities along the way, with the fire department nipping at their heels. This brave force battled devastating fires throughout the years, most notably the Great Fifth Ward Fire in 1912, the 1943 Gulf Hotel Fire, the Woodway Square Apartment Conflagration in 1979 and the Southwest Inn Fire in 2013. What was once a smattering of volunteer fire brigades has grown into an imposing force of over 3,000 firefighters protecting over two million people in the fourth largest city in the United States.

Legendary Locals of Oak Cliff

9781467100779

$24.99

Since its earliest days, Oak Cliff, a rolling, tree-covered section of Dallas, has generated outstanding personalities in all fields of American society and business and continues to do so today. In a high school history class, future US Speaker of the House Jim Wright caught his political vision; two years later, future Olympic champion and LPGA founder Babe Didrikson began her training at Lake Cliff Park. The legendary Stevie Ray Vaughan, along with contemporaries Michael Martin Murphy and Ray Wylie Hubbard, began his music career in Oak Cliff, while sports legends like Jerry Rhome and Harvey Martin paid their dues on local fields of play. Hollywood successes Belita Moreno and Stephen Tobolowsky first trained in their high school drama classes, decades after pioneer Oak Cliff girl Sarah Horton Cockrell became Dallas's first millionaire. Although a presidential assassin once lived in the community, two of America's largest mega-churches now call Oak Cliff home, as did the "Father of the Texas Sesquicentennial."

Historic Eagle Lake

9780738595122

$24.99

Eagle Lake was named for its large natural lake, which attracted the Karankawa Indians and early settlers from Stephen F. Austin's band of 300 colonists. In its location near the lake, the Colorado River, and the coastal plains, Eagle Lake is a productive agricultural, gravel, ranching, waterfowl, wildflower, and shipping center. In the late 1800s, Eagle Lake was a profitable sugarcane area, with one of the largest sugar refineries in the South. It was founded as the third stop on the first operating railroad in Texas, the Buffalo Bayou, Brazos & Colorado. It became home to the Cane Belt Railroad and received several trainloads of weekend visitors from Houston who came to enjoy the lake pavilion and its dances, skating, boating, and fishing. Real estate trains brought potential residents from Midwestern states to buy land and settle the area in the late 1800s. It is home to the National Attwater Prairie Chicken Refuge. Due to its location in the center of the Texas rice-growing area and the migratory waterfowl corridor from Canada to South America, it is known as the "Goose Hunting Capital of the World."

Southlake Carroll Dragon Football

9781467134439

$24.99

High school football has been called Texas's favorite pastime. If you follow the sport, you have heard of the Southlake Carroll Dragons. That is what happens when a district wins eight state football championships and three national high school championships. The Dragon tradition began in 1959 with the formation of the Carroll Independent School District. With the growth of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, families were attracted to Southlake and the school district's high academic standards and competitive football program. Some of the most successful Texas high school football coaches have blown their whistles in Dragon Stadium--Bob Ledbetter, Todd Dodge, Hal Wasson, and others have kept the Dragons in the record books.

African Americans of Galveston

9781467130271

$24.99

In the 19th century, Galveston shores were a gateway for immigrants to Texas and destinations beyond. Slaves, the forced immigrants, were brought to Galveston as property for sale. The largest slave trade operation in Galveston was implemented by Jean Laffite, a pirate. His slave trade business began around 1818. However, for the most part, slaves entering the port of Galveston were destined for other Texas cities and other states. Images of America: African Americans of Galveston presents the community life and accomplishments of Galveston slaves, the descendants of slaves, and descendants of those who migrated to Galveston after the Civil War. The book celebrates Galveston's African American culture from the 1840s to the 1960s.

Golden Hurricane Football at The University of Tulsa

9780738532745

$24.99

Since 1895, The University of Tulsa has consistently produced high quality football teams and players despite being one of Division 1-A's smallest institutions. From the perennial bowl teams of the 1940s to the revolutionary passing game of the 1960s, TU has made its mark throughout the history of college football. That tradition has spawned pro-caliber talent including Jerry Rhome, Howard Twilley, Drew Pearson, Tim Gordon, Dennis Byrd, Gus Frerotte and Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees Jim Finks, Bob St. Clair and Steve Largent. Legendary coaches such as Francis Schmidt, Henry Frnka, Glenn Dobbs and John Cooper have led the Golden Hurricane to 521 victories and 59 winning seasons. This book takes a look at these impressive historical accomplishments and offers a glimpse of TU's future through the eyes of Coach Steve Kragthorpe and the 2003 team.

Golden Hurricane Football at The University of Tulsa

Tioga and Collinsville

9781467131278

$24.99

Two small towns in Texas, Tioga and Collinsville have a rich heritage and a mutual bond. Separated by only six miles, citizens of each have relatives in the other city. The silvery railroad tracks that stretch between the two towns have served as a liaison between Tioga and Collinsville--and the rest of the world--for many years. Both towns had train depots, but unfortunately, the depots went the way of the mineral baths and mineral waters of the past. Today, each town has its own municipal court, school district, post office, mayor, and city council. Although they are independent towns, they will forever be joined by their shared bloodlines and rich history.

Tall Tales & Half Truths of Pat Garrett

9781467135450

$21.99

While many lionize Billy the Kid, the man who killed him, Sheriff Patrick Floyd Garrett, has a rarely told but riveting true story all his own. His adventurous life spawned many a far-fetched, exciting legend. In 1896, Garrett's investigation of the still-unsolved murder of Albert J. Fountain on the White Sands led to nothing but a gunfight and a dead deputy. Some say that Garrett faked the details the night the Kid was brought to ultimate justice, while others swear another wannabe hero did him in. In perfect irony, Garrett's own 1908 death is shrouded in mystery. Some report he died by the hand of Billy the Kid himself. Author John LeMay exposes fabricated tales for what they are and focuses on memories long forgotten about Billy the Kid's personal grave digger, Sheriff Pat Garrett.

Lincoln County

9781467111492

$24.99

To the east of Oklahoma City, Lincoln County lies in east central Oklahoma with Chandler as its county seat. The county was opened by two land runs: the first on September 22, 1891, and again four years later on May 23, 1895. The land is primarily rolling grass hills covered with stands of blackjack oak and post oak and is part of what is called the Crosstimbers. Images of America: Lincoln County celebrates the different tribes that lived in the area: the Sac and Fox, the Iowa, and the Kickapoo. It also features famous lawman Bill Tilghman, Olympic athlete Jim Thorpe, poet Jennie Harris Oliver, and governors J.B.A. Robertson and Roy J. Turner. Oil came early to Lincoln County and continues to play a large role in the economy. At one time, the county was covered in cotton fields. It is also a center of transportation with several railroads, old Route 66, and the Turner Turnpike, which today is the major road connecting Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

San Antonio in Vintage Postcards

9780738508795

$24.99

Postcards are an important element of understanding our history, for they provide future generations with a rare glimpse into the past. Since the late 1800s, photographers have traveled around the nation to places such as San Antonio to capture scenes of everyday life and preserve them in this unique form. San Antonio began as a small mission village, a wild west frontier town, and starting point for huge cattle drives northward, and quickly grew into a bustling economic and cultural center for South Texas, luring residents and tourists with its colonial missions, diverse people, prominent military bases, long-standing traditions, and festive celebrations.

Legendary Locals of Albuquerque

9781467101974

$24.99

Spanish settlers founded Albuquerque in 1706, making it the third of only four villas (towns) in colonial New Mexico. Located in the Rio Abajo along a wide turn on the Rio Grande, the settlement developed from a small farming community into New Mexico's largest, most modern city. Many notable men and women participated in this remarkable growth, lending their talents and sacrificing their time, energy, and sometimes their very lives. Dozens of these legendary figures are portrayed in this unique book, with chapters devoted to those who played important roles in politics and diplomacy; the military; law and order; religion and education; art and literature; culture and entertainment; business and tourism; health, science, technology, and space; and sports. A final chapter describes several of Albuquerque's sung and unsung heroes. The result is a collage of a Western city filled with diversity, tradition, and cultural pride.

Slaton

9781467133517

$24.99

Slaton, Texas, has a very rich and interesting history. The journey began in 1911 with the clickety-clack of the railroad track of the Santa Fe Railroad. Slaton was named after local rancher and banker O.L. Slaton on May 11, 1911. It was nicknamed "Tent City" in the beginning, because the first citizens lived in tents while construction began on small framed houses and buildings. June 15, 1911, was the official opening day of the city as people came by train, wagon, and on foot. Soon, the Harvey House restaurant was established, giving not only delicious cuisine but also meals served by attentive and attractive women who became known as the Harvey girls. Slaton became the center of the largest division in the Santa Fe system, servicing four daily northbound and southbound trains between Amarillo and Sweetwater. Today, you still hear the lonesome sound of the Santa Fe rolling through town, and the Harvey House is still open to the public. Slaton is a small West Texas community of approximately 6,129 citizens and is located 15 miles southeast of Lubbock.

Uvalde

9780738585314

$24.99

In 1853, Reading Black founded Encina on the banks of the Leona River. With the vision of a modern-day entrepreneur, Black opened a store, established two rock quarries, and surveyed the town by 1855. In 1856, Uvalde County was organized, and the town name was changed to Uvalde. In this wild, untamed region, early settlers fought the hardships of frontier life, with frequent Indian uprisings, dangerous wildlife, and floods. In 1892, John Nance Garner moved to Uvalde. A future speaker of the house and vice president, Garner lived, worked, and raised a family in Uvalde, which he called home until his death. Uvalde was also home to other famous Texans, from the Newton Boys to former Gov. Dolph Briscoe. The memories and moments captured here are reminders of both the strength of character shown by these early settlers and their strong sense of purpose--and also to point out that the streets were not always paved.

Oklahoma City

9780738508801

$24.99

Since this wild frontier land was settled at the bang of a gun one April morning, Oklahoma City has grown rapidly, experiencing some of the most drastic changes of all over the past century. Many of the photographs in this new volume show construction and
development as the city began to truly prosper‚--downtown skyscrapers and modern highways, museums such as the Cowboy Hall of Fame and the Kirkpatrick Planetarium, and major plants operated by General
Motors and Dayton Tire & Rubber Company. Recent images highlight celebrations, including high school football games, outings to Bricktown and Myriad Botanical Gardens, and finally, Opening Night 2000.

Rails Around Fort Worth

9781467131681

$24.99

Railways played a central role in the development of the American West. The railroad came to Fort Worth in 1876, and with it came the boom that transformed a city into a metropolis. From the arrival of the Texas & Pacific Railroad to the streamliners of the postwar era, Fort Worth has always seen the railroad as a vital part of its character. From transcontinental locomotives to the construction of elegant architectural landmarks and to small but convenient interurban passenger lines, railroad history is central to Fort Worth's development. This is the story of a city's love affair with technology, transportation, and industry. Through its connection to an emerging country via the railroad, the young frontier town of Fort Worth came to offer as much to the nation's development as it benefited from it.

Baseball in Dallas

9780738532820

$24.99

The city of Dallas has a rich baseball history extending back to the 1870s when the professional game first found roots in Texas. In 1888, the Dallas Hams were a founding member (and first champion) of the professional Texas League. With the major leagues far away to the north, a relationship was established between the city of Dallas and one of America's premier minor league. It lasted on and off until 1971, when the Texas Rangers entered Major League Baseball. During that by-gone era, players like Curley Maloney, Jewel Ens, and Zeke Bonura were the heroes for countless local baseball fans. Hall of Famers Ted Williams (as manager), Fergie Jenkins, and Nolan Ryan all spent time in a Rangers' uniform. In more recent times, Ranger players like Rafael Palmeiro, Juan Gonzalez, and Ivan Rodriguez have become heroes to baseball fans across the nation.

Orzel:

9781626199620

$21.99

In 1967, Scottsdale's longtime Arabian horse breeder Ed Tweed embarked on a mission to race the horses he bred. He imported a chestnut stallion from Poland named Orzel, or "Eagle" in English, that flew past competitors to become the first U.S. National Racing Champion. Among other wins in halter and performance, Orzel was the victor in the debut of the U.S. National Championship Ladies' Sidesaddle category, partnered with Tweed's granddaughter Shelley Groom Trevor. Thousands of fans visited the legendary performer in retirement at Brusally Ranch. Decades after Orzel's death, horses he sired continue his winning legacy. Author Tobi Lopez Taylor chronicles this triumphant story.

Colfax County

9781467133562

$24.99

In 1841, Carlos Beaubien and Guadalupe Miranda received a grant of land from the governor of New Mexico in the northeastern part of the Mexican province. Frontier conditions prevented colonization of the grant until 1848, when Beaubien's son-in-law Lucien Maxwell led settlers from Taos to the Rayado River where it crossed the Santa Fe Trail. Maxwell's friend Kit Carson joined him the following year, and their ranch prospered in spite of frequent attacks by Jicarilla Apaches. Later, Maxwell moved north to the Cimarron River. Gold was discovered on the western part of the grant in 1866, and miners rushed to the diggings, establishing the town of Elizabethtown. It became the first seat of Colfax County in 1869. Maxwell sold the grant to foreign investors who organized the Maxwell Land Grant and Railway Company in 1870 and founded the town of Cimarron. The Santa Fe Railroad entered the county in 1879, which precipitated the creation of the towns of Raton and Springer and also fostered large-scale ranching, mining, and lumbering.

The SMS Ranch

9781467126830

$24.99

Few images captivate the Western imagination more than the Texas cowboy at home on the range, herding, corralling, throwing and branding cattle, bronc busting, dining from chuck wagons, and sleeping under the stars. The SMS Ranch in the early 1900s was exactly such a place. Spanning hundreds of thousands of acres and holding land in 12 Northwest Texas counties, the SMS was formed by early Swedish immigrant to the Republic of Texas Swante Magnus Swenson. Swenson, a good friend of Sam Houston, had a penchant for wise financial decisions and, by the late 1800s, lived in New York with offices on Wall Street. Swenson sent his two sons to manage his vast Texas landholdings. In 1902, they hired legendary cattleman Frank Hastings to manage the SMS Ranch, headquartered in Stamford, Texas, north of Abilene and west of Fort Worth. Hastings's wife, Laura, and daughter Ruth photographed life on the ranch, and many professional photographers visited the SMS as well, leaving a rich visual legacy.

Page and Lake Powell

9781467131582

$24.99

The people who descended on the remote northern Arizona wilderness in the early 1950s to build Glen Canyon Dam and the town of Page were true pioneers. They arrived to find Glen Canyon, a sandy, desolate hilltop with walls over 700 feet deep that had been part of the vast Navajo reservation, and an incredibly challenging way of life. The first blast necessary for site excavation at Glen Canyon Dam was triggered on October 15, 1957, when Pres. Dwight D. Eisenhower pressed a key setting off the explosion from an office in Washington, DC. Almost 10 years later, construction was completed on the nation's second-highest concrete dam, harnessing the waters of the Colorado River and forever changing the history of the local area and the West. Today, over three million annual visitors enjoy the diverse and awe-inspiring landscape surrounding Page and Lake Powell.

African Americans in Corpus Christi

9780738585284

$24.99

From slavery to freedom, to education, to achievement: these words reflect the goals of African Americans who first came as slaves with the Spanish to this part of the Texas coast. Freed by the Civil War on Juneteenth (June 19, 1865), blacks soon established an active and viable community, a significant part of which was defined by the black churches. Prominent leaders emerged, including Solomon Melvin Coles, H. Boyd Hall, Rufus Avery, and Gloria Randle Scott. Using photographs from individual collections, as well as the Corpus Christi Public Library, Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History, and Texas A&M University Corpus Christi, African Americans in Corpus Christi reveals the history and people of Corpus Christi.

The Dallas Music Scene: 1920s-1960s

9781467131513

$24.99

For much of the 20th century, Dallas was home to a wide range of vital popular music. By the 1920s, the streets, dance halls, and vaudeville houses of Deep Ellum rang with blues and jazz. Blind Lemon Jefferson was discovered singing the blues on the streets of Deep Ellum but never recorded in Dallas. Beginning in the 1930s, however, artists from Western swing pioneer Bob Wills to blues legend Robert Johnson recorded in a three-story zigzag moderne building at 508 Park Avenue. And from the late 1940s to the mid-1960s, a wrestling arena called the Sportatorium was home to a Saturday night country and rock-and-roll extravaganza called the Big "D" Jamboree.

Royse City

9780738596785

$24.99

In 1886, Confederate veteran Burgess Griffin Royse platted his namesake townsite on the blackland prairie of North Texas. A savvy businessman, Royse knew that the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railroad line between Dallas and Greenville was being planned, and he was instrumental in making sure its route passed through the newly platted city. Train service was a major economic boom to the area, and the small community grew quickly. By 1890, Royse City had a population of 1,000 and boasted two cotton gins, a gristmill, and 20 businesses. Through the mid-1900s, Royse City thrived on farming, with cotton growing, cotton ginning, and cottonseed oil manufacturing serving as the major industries. Although most Royse City citizens now commute to jobs throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, this small bedroom community celebrates and preserves its history through the Texas Main Street program, a thriving city-owned historical museum, and many festivals and celebrations that highlight its rich heritage.