All Titles

In the 1860s, Broad Street formed the western edge of downtown Philadelphia and was little more than railroad tracks and train depots.

However, with the building of Philadelphia City Hall in the 1870s, Broad Street rapidly developed into one of the city's premier streets. Rows of mansions sprung up south of Spruce Street, and the area north of Spruce became known as ""hotel row."" Four-story brownstones lined both sides of North Broad Street, interspersed with the mansions and gardens of the nouveau riche and punctuated by clubs, theaters, schools, churches, and synagogues. Philadelphia's Broad Street: South and North is the first photographic history devoted exclusively to Broad Street in its ""gilded age."" These vintage images provide a vivid reminder, if one is needed, of how dramatically the street has changed in the last one hundred years.

An interesting history of Chelsea, Massachusetts, from its summer resort roots to its present day community.

A summer resort for wealthy Bostonians, the first home in America for countless immigrants, and the residence of a Colonial Governor, Chelsea, Massachusetts, has a varied and unique history. The town was settled in 1624, six years before Boston, and began as a simple ferry stop on the road to the North Shore and beyond. With the advent of improved transportation in the 19th century, Chelsea's accessibility to the mainland made it the perfect place to relocate, and the community began to thrive.

Timothy Regan's new photographic history of New Brunswick chronicles the city's development and uncovers its role in the development of New Jersey.

New Brunswick, founded in 1681, developed as a major shipping and stagecoach center by the mid-1750s. The cargo carried to and from New Brunswick via steamships and the Camden and Amboy Railroad shaped the development of the city and the state far more than many realize. Vintage images of long-forgotten hotels, taverns, and houses are featured in Mr. Regan's work, many of which were built in response to the growth of the city's shipping industry. New Brunswick is significant historically in the field of education as well; the evolution of Rutgers College--chartered as Queens College in 1766 by King George III of England--is covered in this volume. Also included are images of notable early residents, including poet and renown journalist Joyce Kilmer.

Long before Maine became known as Vacationland in the 1890s, Wells beckoned promoters and guests from the inland cities of New England.

Founded in 1643, Wells is the third-oldest town in Maine, but with the expansion of the railroad in the 1800s, the small beach town's tourist industry has thrived for more than a century. Miles of beach, rock-bound coast, and refreshing seabreezes beckon vacationers to return annually. In turn, Wells' economy, landscape, and development has catered to the needs of both these visitors and the year-round residents. Perhaps the beautiful landscape and pristine beaches aren't the only things keeping tourists returning year after year-- Wells also holds the nickname of "the friendliest town in Maine'?!

Explore the compelling visual history that will earn a lasting place on the shelves of area homes and be treasured by resident and visitor, young and old alike.

Wells has a history as fascinating as it is long. Blessed with tremendous natural resources, this enticing place attracted native people and then European fishermen and traders long before Edmund Littlefield established the first permanent mills on the banks of the Webhannet River in 1640. Wells incorporated in 1653 as Maine's third town, and since then more than thirteen generations of New Englanders have nurtured their families by reaping the waves of the Atlantic or toiling on the furrows of their farms. The early settlers were independent Yankees striving to make a living, but they created small communities grouped around the traditional institutions of the blacksmith shop, the store, the church, and the one-room school.

Long Island's North Fork explores the past of the rustic countryside through photographs by professionals and residents of this historic place.

Boasting a verdant landscape and miles of silky white beaches, Long Island's North Fork remains a natural paradise. Loyal residents have preserved the North Fork's rich heritage and tranquil pace of life. Escaping the urbanization that overspread much of Long Island in the early 1900s, the rural villages survived on farming, fishing, shipbuilding, and maritime trading. Thus, agriculture still thrives and boats continue to cruise the crystal-clear waters.Long Island's North Fork explores the past through the eyes of those who lived in the rustic countryside. It is a treasury of photographs, many taken by professionals, others from selected family albums and collections.

An interesting history of Cleveland Heights, from its hamlet beginnings to its present-day suburbia.

During its more than a century as a Cleveland suburb, Cleveland Heights has been shaped by the natural topography, technology, enterprising developers, elected officials, and its residents of many backgrounds. The result has been a rich mosaic of places and people. In the 1890s, wealthy Clevelanders began to leave the city's smoky factories and congested neighborhoods for the ""heights"" in East Cleveland Township. In 1901, the heights became the hamlet of Cleveland Heights. As its population changed, so did the suburb's homes, shops, schools, parks, and places of worship. Today, Cleveland Heights is as diversified as its citizens, its eclectic architecture and neighborhoods, and its unique history.

First settled nearly a century before the American Revolution by ten Dutch families, this Ramapo Mountain community has a rich heritage that includes the founding of the Ponds Dutch Reformed Church in 1710, George Washington's visit to the Van Allen House in 1777, and the establishment of the borough of Oakland in 1902.

Punta Gorda is a historic waterfront town located in Southwest Florida where the Peace River and Charlotte Harbor meet on the Gulf of Mexico. Punta Gorda has grown since its inception but still maintains its Southern charm.

The area was first occupied by Native Americans and later discovered in the 1500s by Ponce de Leon while searching for the Fountain of Youth. However, it was not until the late 19th century, when cattle ranchers and homesteaders descended upon the area, that things began to develop. Once the South Florida Railroad made Punta Gorda its southernmost stop, down came land developers and wealthy vacationers, including Cornelius Vanderbilt, who invested in the regal Hotel Punta Gorda. Among the town's early pioneers were George Brown, an African American shipbuilder and landowner who was also known as Florida's first equal opportunity employer; Albert Waller Gilchrist, who played a key role in Punta Gorda's early fishing and railroad industry; and Robert Meacham, an African American who was appointed as the town's third postmaster. There were others who were significant, such as Col. Isaac Trabue, who was key to the area's railroad industry.

Around and About Basking Ridge, Liberty Corner, and Lyons documents the history of these communities who played pivotal roles in our nation's beginnings.

Basking Ridge, Liberty Corner, and Lyons form the nucleus of Bernards Township, a region with a history as fascinating as it is long. Originally chartered in 1760 by King George II, the area figured prominently in the American Revolution: Lafayette's troops were quartered here; General Lee was arrested at Widow White's Tavern; and General Washington visited Lord Stirling's estate. After the Civil War tourism and other industries flourished, and the arrival of the railroad in 1872 brought further economic boom to the area. The mid-nineteenth century also brought exciting developments in the art of photography, and the camera has since been used as a tool of both discovery and preservation in the three villages.