Name: Boulder City
Brand: Paul W. Papa
SKU: 9781467137157
Price: 21.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Boulder City

9781467137157

$21.99

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.

Illinois & Michigan Canal

9780738582979

$24.99

In 1673, Louis Jolliet and Fr. Jacques Marquette were the first Europeans to explore the Mississippi and the Illinois River Valleys. Their explorations took them through what is now northern Illinois. These early explorers of the region recognized the importance of a connection between Lake Michigan and the Illinois waterways. Constructed between 1836 and 1848, the Illinois and Michigan (I&M) Canal began the final link in a national plan to connect different regions of the North American continent via natural and man-made waterways. Once completed in 1848, the nearly 100-mile-long canal created a new transportation corridor that linked the Eastern United States, the Great Lakes, the Mississippi River, and the Gulf of Mexico. During the 19th century, the I&M Canal helped launch Chicago on its path to urban greatness and fostered the growth of a dozen towns along its banks that would soon industrialize the region. This book will open the reader to the unique flavor of the region and the towns and communities along its route, as well as the nature of commerce and water transportation of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Claremont

9781467131919

$24.99

Situated along the eastern border of Los Angeles County and at the foot of the majestic San Gabriel Mountains is the community of Claremont. The city, founded in 1887 and incorporated in 1907, quickly became one of Southern California's most unique communities. Known as the "City of Trees and PhDs," Claremont has become famous for its lush oak-and-sycamore-lined boulevards, beautifully crafted architecture, and as the home of the highly praised liberal arts schools of the Claremont Colleges. First settled by the Serrano peoples on Indian Hill Mesa and once part of the vast Rancho San Jose, Claremont has gone through several important periods, including expanding from a frontier town to a Congregationalist hub and transitioning from a citrus powerhouse to an artist colony. Equal parts suburban community and college town, Claremont has attracted many for its picturesque setting and charming small-town feel.

Freeport

9780738560137

$24.99

A bold and daring folk flocked into the Freeport region about 175 years ago, itching to establish themselves. A mixed ethnicity hauled in with it a diversity of skills and burning ambition. The broad influence of the settlers' European ethics--hard work, frugality, and faith--has persisted through Freeport's maturity. The vast number of innovative industries, coupled with a passion for education and the finer things of life--not to mention a zest for plain old fun--all testify to the city's colorful past. Freeport industries have infiltrated world markets with name brands in windmills, engines, automobiles, tires, batteries, switches, beers, toys, patent medicines, household furnishings, and animal feeds, to name a few. Something is always going on in Freeport. Fueling this are a community college, vibrant public and parochial school systems, churches, service organizations, and a network for artistic tastes with museums, community theater, and concert series.

Gering, Scottsbluff, and Terrytown

9780738560748

$24.99

The twin cities of Gering and Scottsbluff are located in the west Nebraska panhandle, just a stone's throw from the Wyoming border and separated by the North Platte River. Gering was established three miles south of the river in 1887 and became a thriving center of commerce. Gering founders gambled that the Union Pacific Railroad would build its track through town, but it was the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad that arrived first and laid track on the north side of the river in 1900, prompting rapid growth in Scottsbluff. Some Gering residents moved their homes and businesses to the newer community, but others remained steadfast in their belief that the Union Pacific would soon arrive. The Union Pacific track did not reach Gering until 1911, giving Scottsbluff the advantage of years of railroad-spurred growth. Fast-forward to 1948, when latecomer Terrytown was incorporated on the south bank of the river, sandwiched between the two older, larger cities. United by a bridge and undistinguishable municipal boundaries, the three cities retain their separate identities.

Guilderland, New York

9780738501123

$24.99

From an early Dutch and Palatine-settled farming
community to a sprawling suburb adjacent to a
metropolitan city, Guilderland, New York explores the
town's early crossroads, hamlets, and villages from
1880 to 1960. Through more than 200 images from the Guilderland Historical Society, this photographic
tribute to the community's rich and diverse legacy
reflects the many changes the town has experienced
through the years. Discover French's Hollow, one of the nation's first industrial parks, which began in Guilderland in the 1790s. View the natural hills and vales of Tawasentha, legendary for its Native American heritage, and the Great Western Turnpike, one of the first pioneer roads leading to the west. Many families who have had a profound influence on the community are also featured in this collection. The industry of Guilderland's early families and the town's key location have resulted in the main transportation routes, turnpikes, railroads, the New York State Thruway, corporate businesses, and the State University campus that exist today.

Governors Island

9780738538952

$24.99

Purchased from the Manhattan tribe of the Wappinger Confederacy by the Dutch, Governors Island has long been the secret island in New York's harbor.

Although this pristine island has appeared on maps since the 1600s, little regarding it has been known by the populace. It has been the site of horse races, inventions, college classes, hangings, military musters, and unidentified bones. All of these are part of the unique history explored within the pages of Governors Island.

Dunmore

9780738592282

$24.99

From its days as a small village named Bucktown to its 150th anniversary in 2012, the borough of Dunmore is more than just a suburb of Scranton.

Boasting an ethnically diverse population and several of the best schools in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Dunmore has come a long way since changing its name from Bucktown in the hope of receiving financial assistance that never came. Fortunately for Dunmore, the town's fate was secured when the Pennsylvania Coal Company arrived in the mid-1800s, turning it into a diverse and thriving community center. Using vintage photographs, Images of America: Dunmoreaims to celebrate not just the town's history, but also its people. The photographs depict lives of earlier generations who share one thing in common with their modern counterparts: their pride in their hometown.

Mt. Lebanon

9780738575735

$24.99

Mt. Lebanon depicts the interesting and engaging history of this community.

From the mid-1700s to the early 1900s, farming was the principal occupation in the area that would become Mt. Lebanon. When the federal government placed an excise tax on whiskey in 1794, area farmers protested in what became known as the Whiskey Rebellion. The 1901 arrival of the streetcar began transforming the area from a rural countryside to a modern suburban community. Within a few months of the streetcar's arrival, the first real estate subdivision, the Mt. Lebanon Plan, was laid out, and by 1905, no less than 11 subdivisions had been approved. When the Liberty Tunnels opened in 1924, Mt. Lebanon's population exploded, and the community became a premier example of the modern automobile suburb.

Forest Park

9780738554327

$24.99

Forest Park, originally named Quick Station, was founded in 1846 as a refueling stop for the Macon and Western Railroad. It would later be known as Stump Town because of the stumps left behind when trees were cut to provide fuel for the passenger and freight trains traveling to and from Atlanta. This book provides glimpses of the individuals who created the foundation for Forest Park, what their contributions were to the city, when they resided in the city, and where they lived, worked, and played. It also explores the history of Forest Park's churches, schools, businesses, and transportation, in order to provide a more thorough understanding of how the city came to be. From humble beginnings as a railroad town, Forest Park was built by individuals who stood strong in the face of adversity and became the pillars of the community for the past 100 years.

Crown Heights and Weeksville

9780738565989

$24.99

Vintage images document the historical transformations of Crown Heights and Weeksville.

The communities of Crown Heights and Weeksville are historically significant Brooklyn neighborhoods with foundations that trace back to New York's early founding. Revolutionary War skirmishes took place there, and following the emancipation of slaves in 1827, Weeksville became the site of one of New York's earliest independent African American townships. The hills of Brooklyn's Green Mountains hindered early settlement, and as a result a plethora of community institutions instead abounded in this far-flung outpost, including a penitentiary, hospitals, almshouses, old-age homes, convents, and monasteries. Traces of some of these early structures still remain. Using vintage images, Crown Heights and Weeksville chronicles the dynamic evolution of this area from rural township to the desirable center of culture, urban convenience, and architectural beauty.

Maple Sugaring in New Hampshire

9780738536866

$24.99

Maple Sugaring in New Hampshire is a photographic history depicting the process, equipment, structures, and social aspects of maple sugaring from the 1700s to the present day. Maple products are made almost exclusively in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada, where sugar maples thrive and the climate is conducive to good sap runs. Native Americans used sap, or "sweet water," for drinking and cooking, and they used maple sugar for bartering. Early settlers consumed large quantities of the sugar when other food was scarce and traded their surplus as a means of economic survival.

Cover image for Maple Sugaring in New Hampshire, isbn: 9780738536866

People of Middlesex Borough

9780738563374

$24.99

In 1913, a strong spirit of independence, strength of family, and desire for growth prompted a group of central New Jersey settlers to break away from the large town of Piscataway and form the borough of Middlesex. This spirit was perpetuated throughout the 20th century, accelerating the growth of a true American small-town community. People of Middlesex Borough: 1950-2008 celebrates the growth of this very special town in the second half of the 20th century. During this time period, there were major developments: schools were built and expanded and new housing developments and apartment complexes spurred the growth of the population. Parks and sports fields were established, and community services grew while local groups nurtured an already strong sense of communal awareness and responsibility. Family values, patriotism, and neighborliness have long been a part of Middlesex Borough's history, a tradition that continues today.

Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca

9780738569253

$24.99

After more than 50 years, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca near Monterey is regarded as one of the most famous racetracks in the world. Mazda Raceway offers competitors challenges unlike any other with its mix of corners, which includes the Corkscrew, where drivers encounter the largest elevation change in the shortest distance of any track worldwide. The raceway also offers spectators sweeping open vistas of the track, and all within view of the Pacific Ocean.

Door Peninsula Shipwrecks

9780738540146

$24.99

Door County is the home to numerous shipwrecks of pleasure craft and steamers, on a photographic journey of the treacherous waters and those they have claimed.

Door County is the final resting place of many shipwrecks, from the first Euro American ship to sail the western Great Lakes, LaSalle's fabled Griffin that left Washington Island in 1679 never to be heard of again, to modern-day pleasure crafts that find the shallow inlets and bays hard to navigate. Door Peninsula Shipwrecks takes the reader on a photographic journey around the peninsula and back to a time of wooden ships and iron men. From Sturgeon Bay to the east coast of the peninsula to the northern islands and Green Bay, the journey encompasses early wooden sail craft to steel steamers, the brave sailors who sailed the treacherous waters, and the heroic lifesavers who rescued them.

Cotati

9780738528731

$24.99

The town of Cotati, once the Coast Miwok village of Kot'ati, was by 1850 a 17,000-acre diamond-shaped ranch set in the center of Sonoma County's golden fields. Dr. Thomas Stokes Page and his heirs ran that ranch until the 1890s, when they laid out a town and a distinctive hexagonal plaza with streets named after Dr. Page's sons. That wheel-like plaza earned centrally located Cotati the title, "Hub of Sonoma County." For many years Cotati was the gathering place for hundreds of hardworking chicken ranchers, who bought up small farms in the surrounding countryside, but it was transformed in the 1970s into a hippie haven fed by nearby Sonoma State University. Old chicken houses then became student housing and the Plaza hub that was the setting for traditional community festivals became a vibrating stage for dancing and demonstrations. Cotati's famous downtown nightclub, the Inn of the Beginning, was the proving ground for many now-famous musicians, including John Lee Hooker, Huey Lewis, Vince Guaraldi, Roseanne Cash, and Kate Wolf.

Catskill Village

9780738557946

$24.99

Catskill Village has deep roots in the long human history of the Hudson River Valley, from its native population who greeted Henry Hudson on his voyage upriver in 1609 to its early settlers. Today's village is located on the commercially advantageous landing on the Hudson River. In 1802, the Susquehanna Turnpike opened the village to the expanding western frontier, and Catskill Village became one of the most prominent commercial ports on the Hudson River. Local trades such as shipbuilding, tanning, farming, brickmaking, fishing, and tourism flourished. By the mid-20th century, the long era of prosperity had faded, only to rise phoenixlike in the past decade with an infusion of young professionals, artists, craftsmen, merchants, and those determined to save and restore the village's exceptionally rich architectural heritage.

Hartford

9780738563664

$24.99

Of the five Upper Connecticut River valley towns chartered by the royal governor of New Hampshire on July 4, 1761, the town of Hartford became the most diverse and pivotal within the region. Located at the intersection of the Connecticut and White River valleys, by the early 19th century Hartford played an important role in the development of river travel, as well as the turnpikes and stage lines crossing northern New England. By mid-century, White River Junction, one of Hartford's many diverse villages, was the region's most important railroad center. Within other areas of Hartford, abundant waterpower allowed for substantial development of manufacturing at Quechee, Dewey's Mills, Hartford Village, and Wilder. Like other towns in the Connecticut River valley, agriculture flourished in the town's rural areas. By the mid-20th century, two of the Northeast's most important new interstate highways crossed within Hartford's borders.

San Francisco Portola

9780738547152

$24.99

The Portola has a long and unique history dating back to the late 1800s. Too often misidentified with neighboring districts, it has its own story to reveal. Originally settled by Jewish immigrants, the area evolved into a community populated by nurserymen and their families who grew much of the city's flowers. "The Road," as San Bruno Avenue was affectionately referred to by the locals, hosted businesses that included bakeries, grocery stores, pharmacies, and a theatre. In recent years, the Portola has undergone changes as community leaders have enacted programs to beautify the neighborhood and attract new businesses and families to this locale.

Cahokia

9780738589978

$24.99

From Holy Family Log Church to Jarrot Mansion, the over 300 year history of the close knit Cahokia community is detailed in this photographic history.

In 1999, Cahokia will celebrate 300 years as the historic, close knit community located directly across the great Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri. The village's proximity to St. Louis allows residents to enjoy all the cultural opportunities of a large city, while keeping its small-town atmosphere. Cahokia has a distinctive French heritage and is today still inhabited by many of the same families whose ancestors came to the community in the 18th and 19th centuries. Among the many fascinating pieces of Cahokia's history featured in this book is the Holy Family Parish, founded by missionary priests from Quebec. The first Mass was said there on December 8, 1698, establishing Holy Family as the oldest continuous parish in the United States. Today, the treasured Holy Family Log Church, dating from 1799, occupies this site. Other images among the 200 shown here include the historic sites of the Cahokia Courthouse and Jarrot Mansion, as well as scenes of daily life around town.

Hayden

9780738580210

$24.99

The Hayden area's first settlers, who arrived around 1875, were certain that their hamlet would become the hub of Northwest Colorado. The first regional trading post, Routt County Courthouse, and U.S. post office were established here on the banks of the Yampa River. Nestled in the Yampa's wide, verdant, high-country valley at 6,300 vertical feet, the energetic little town's future was peopled by an assortment of penniless yet hopeful dreamers as well as enterprising ranchers and other businessmen. Ezekiel Shelton brought his family and a myriad of skills. Jim Norvell drifted in on foot and with a few dollars established a mercantile and saloon and later, after "finding religion," a church. While the towns of Craig to the west and Steamboat Springs to the east grew, Hayden retained its familial descendants--"stayers"--enamored of their corner of the beautiful Rocky Mountains and sheltered from most severe weather in the Yampa Valley.

Henrietta

9780738549378

$24.99

Henrietta depicts the simpler times of a sleepy farming town in western New York State, known for its wonderful produce and staples. People knew each other by their first name and, in true neighborly spirit, pitched in to help with the plowing, harvesting, and barn raising. Henrietta stayed much the same until after World War II, when veterans returned looking for new housing, transportation improved, services expanded, business and commercial establishments opened, and suddenly it was a boomtown. The dust has not settled yet, but the community, although changed, still retains its small-town flavor.

Cover image for Henrietta, isbn: 9780738549378

Frankenmuth

9780738561752

$24.99

Frankenmuth is a truly unique community. With a population of less than 5,000, it annually attracts almost 3.5 million visitors. Some come to sample the world-renowned cuisine, some shop for Christmas decorations, and some visitors simply wish to absorb the gemütlichkeit, the friendly ambience that permeates the town. Early community outreach, around 1845, had a different focus. Frankenmuth, which means "courage of the Franconians," was the name taken by the mission colony dedicated to sharing the Christian gospel with local Chippewas. While it is easy to see the contrasts over time, it is important to recognize the bonds that connect the past and present. The Franconian standard of responsibility, individual and social, is evident today, and the desire of those first settlers to touch a larger community is reflected in the hospitality enjoyed by all who pass through this colorful hamlet. The settlers were firmly committed to maintaining their German Lutheran culture and heritage, and the transition, over many generations, from an agrarian village to a major tourist destination is a fascinating journey.

Port Royal

9780738543536

$24.99

Port Royal was chartered in 1874 when the Port Royal Railroad was completed. The town built a port that attracted the largest ships from all over the world, mainly because of the natural depth of the harbor. A coaling station and dry dock built at the Port Royal Navy Yard boosted port activity, but by the end of the 1920s, the town was economically devastated. The shrimping and crabbing industries as well as the Marine Corps Recruit Depot at nearby Parris Island were the town's salvation, and in 1958, the State Ports Authority built a terminal that reactivated the port. The town experienced a redevelopment boom in the mid-1990s and is poised for another transformation. Gov. Mark Sanford signed legislation in 2004 to sell the port to developers, as agreed upon by the state and the town. After years of an idle economy, Port Royal's fiscal fate looks promising.

Cover image for Port Royal, isbn: 9780738543536

Bonner Springs

9781467110433

$24.99

From the fabled visit of the Spanish explorer Francisco Coronado to the present-day city situated on the banks of the Kansas (Kaw) River, the history of the growth of Bonner Springs is an interesting story. Indians, fur trappers, ferry operators, merchants, and resort promoters have contributed to make Bonner Springs the city that it is today. Images of America: Bonner Springs aims to present some of this history through the photographs of Urbin Rudell and others, exhibiting the community spirit and pride the town's forward-thinking citizens have shown since its founding.

Williams

9780738558851

$24.99

Nestled under the pine-covered slopes of Bill Williams Mountain, the city of Williams is a beloved hamlet that attracts fans of history, Route 66 cars, and vintage steam engines, as well as Grand Canyon visitors and rodeo enthusiasts. Since its beginning in the late 1800s, the city has since played host to cowboys, ranchers, sawmill and rail workers--along with their families--and even an outlaw or two. Mountain men embraced the history of trapping and the city's namesake when they formed the Bill Williams Mountain Men in the 1950s. Longtime residents and then-Arizona governor Barry Goldwater continued that tradition with the creation of Monument Park in 1980, at which time they unveiled a 1,100-pound statue of Bill Williams and kicked off the first annual Rendezvous Days celebration, an event that continues to this day. Williams is a town that showcases the varied history and culture of the Southwest in a unique small-town setting that charms both visitors and residents to this day.

Chimney Rock Park and Hickory Nut Gorge

9780738553177

$24.99

From the opening of Chimney Rock Park by Jerome Freeman in 1890 to Dr. Lucius Morse's dreams for Lake Lure in the 1920s, the development of tourism in the Hickory Nut Gorge area is one of the untold stories of the region's history. For much of the 19th century, the area was remote and known to few; Freeman was perhaps the first to truly appreciate Chimney Rock's potential, but it took the invention of the automobile and the completion of the Charlotte to Asheville Highway in 1915 for that potential to be fully realized. By the 1920s, Chimney Rock Park and the gorge's hotels and summer camps were known to thousands. In 2007, the State of North Carolina purchased Chimney Rock Park from the Morse family, and a new chapter began.

Highland County

9780738553313

$24.99

Named for its high altitude and boasting one of the smallest populations east of the Mississippi River, Highland County is nicknamed "Virginia's Little Switzerland." Although settlers began arriving in the area as early as 1745, Highland County was not officially formed until 1847. Portions were carved from neighboring Bath and Pendleton Counties to create the new county of Highland. The isolation of the area required great perseverance and commitment from the early German and Scotch Irish settlers, but in many ways, it gave the area its identity and character. Highland County has a rich tradition of both strong individualism and community spirit. With photographs from the 19th and 20th centuries and into the new millennium, this volume tells the rich, fascinating story, both rural and modern, of the county and its people.

Gibraltar

9781467110617

$24.99

From its early beginnings in 1750 as the head village of the Wyandot (or Huron) Native Americans to the present, Gibraltar has been influenced by its location along the banks of the Detroit River. For this wetland area, water is and always has been a part of life. With many canals, the city is known as the "Venice of Michigan." Early shipbuilding and lumber mills, rum-running, summer cottages, marinas, and a steel mill have all found their way to Gibraltar's shores. Hunting, fishing, and trapping along the water have served as mainstays. Gibraltar was incorporated as a village in 1954 and as a city in 1961, making it the second smallest city in Michigan at that time. Hy Dahlka was the first village president and a pioneer in wildlife conservation, founding the Michigan United Conservation Club (MUCC), the Waterfowl Festival at the Pointe Mouillee State Game Area, and the Monroe Rod and Gun Club.

St. Petersburg

9780738567679

$24.99

St. Petersburg Then & Now retells the history of the area in images comparing its beginnings to present day.

As the ""Sunshine City"" of St. Petersburg forges onward with new and exciting developments, a legacy of landmarks still remains. The founding fathers envisioned St. Petersburg as a city with great potential for progress and growth. Over the past century, St. Petersburg has far exceeded these vast expectations.

Jordan Lake

9780738585949

$24.99

In 1945, Hurricane 9 rocked the Carolinas, severely flooding and incapacitating the New Hope Valley area. As a result, Congress directed the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to study water resource needs in the area. Originally named the New Hope Project, it received funding in 1963, and construction began in 1967. In 1974, after lake supporter Sen. B. Everett Jordan passed away, the lake and dam were renamed in his honor. The senator never saw the lake finished, as it was not filled until 1982. Jordan Lake encompasses 46,768 acres of which 13,900 acres are flooded to form a reservoir at 216 feet above mean sea level. The lake provides recreation, wildlife conservation, and water supply to surrounding cities. Jordan Lake also attracts one of the largest concentrations of bald eagles in the southeast. With photographs from the flood of 1945 to a group baptism in 2007, these stories and more will make you want to spend an afternoon at Jordan Lake.

The Great Dayton Flood of 1913

9780738551791

$24.99

Beginning on Easter Sunday, March 23, 1913, torrential rains across the Midwest dropped a record three months of rainfall in four days.

Floodwaters funneled down Ohio's Miami Valley into the heart of the vibrant industrial city of Dayton. Levees burst, houses were swept away, and downtown was gutted by fires blazing from broken gas mains. At the end of Easter week, nearly 100 Daytonians had perished, and tens of thousands more were left homeless and destitute--a tragedy that made banner headlines in newspapers nationwide. Out of Dayton's ashes and mud rose fierce public resolve never again to suffer such destruction. The Great Dayton Flood of 1913 reproduces some 200 astounding photographs from the collections of the Dayton Metro Library and the Miami Conservancy District and the archives of the National Cash Register Company at Dayton History. They portray the terrifying flood, monumental destruction, heroic rescues, and compassionate leadership that occurred during the disaster and its immediate aftermath, as well as the pioneering flood-control engineering that has kept Dayton safe ever since.

Rockaway Township

9780738573014

$24.99

Rockaway Township has been blessed with two significant natural resources: a rich deposit of magnetite iron ore and an abundance of water. Both played a major role in the history of the township. In the early 1700s, iron ore was discovered at Mount Hope and Hibernia. The area's mines provided iron ore from Colonial times to the 20th century, and products made from it contributed to the success of the Continental army during the Revolutionary War. Farms in Marcella, Lyonsville, Beach Glen, and Meriden provided agricultural products for the mining villages. In Rockaway Township, photographs tell the story of the township's rich mining history and its history as a vacation area. Vacation communities flourished into the 1950s and attracted an influx of people from various ethnic backgrounds, adding to the township's diversity. In the 1970s, the last segment of Route 80 was completed, beginning Rockaway's transformation into a flourishing suburban community.

The Adirondacks

9780738563473

$24.99

In 1892, the Adirondack Park, located in the northeast corner of New York, was declared "forever wild," and from then on, public land could not be further developed. Early on, tourists were drawn to the clear blue lakes, winding rivers and streams, and awe-inspiring mountain peaks of the region. The stunning scenery of the Adirondacks suited the postcard perfectly, making the medium the primary method park visitors used to correspond with family and friends, whether on a trip for healing from tuberculosis and other breathing disorders or vacationing from New York City and the surrounding area. Today the park remains an unspoiled wilderness that continues to draw visitors eager to enjoy its natural beauty.

Jacksonville

9780738580555

$24.99

It was the winter of 1851-1852 when the word "gold" echoed throughout the valley. Soon hundreds of gold miners flocked to Table Rock City, later renamed Jacksonville. In short order, families arrived and took out donation land claims and began farming, raising stock, and opening businesses. Many had already emmigrated from Europe, Canada, Ireland, and England. Jacksonville had its own Chinatown that was home to the many Chinese who had traveled far seeking their fortune through gold mining. When the railroad bypassed Jacksonville in 1883 in favor of the new town of Middleford, later renamed Medford, Jacksonville's fortunes reversed. During the ensuing decades, the town's buildings fell into disrepair. The threat of bulldozers leveling the downtown core in the late 1960s brought out a renewed interest in preservation. Today Jacksonville is a National Historic Landmark District and looks much as it did 150 years ago.