Name: Millbrae
Brand: Millbrae Historical Society
SKU: 9780738547909
Price: 24.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Millbrae

9780738547909

$24.99

Millbrae, a comfortable Bay Area suburb located just next to the San Francisco International Airport, is home to some 30,000 people and hundreds of businesses. The city stretches from the marshes by the bay up to the sweeping hills by Interstate 280, near the spot where Spanish explorer Don Gaspar de Portola first surveyed the region in 1769. In the 1830s, after Mexico gained independence from Spain, the area was part of Rancho Buri Buri, granted by the Mexican government to Jose Antonio Sanchez. As the years passed, the land was subdivided and sold to various parties, including banker and town namesake Darius Ogden Mills, who built the fantastic Mills estate here in the 1870s.

Plattekill

9780738557144

$24.99

Situated between the Shawangunk Mountains and the Hudson River, the town of Plattekill has long served as an important crossroads for neighboring communities. Since its settlement, the town's roads, railway, and aqueduct have provided vital links to surrounding counties, allowed access to the Hudson River, and transported resources to and from New York City. The unique character of the town's three main hamlets is evident in the images compiled here, while the smaller hamlets and neighborhoods documented within reflect the ever-changing nature of the town. More than two centuries of history are recalled through vivid photographs, many published for the first time, that evoke the spirit of Plattekill's people and places, the era of resorts, the villas and boardinghouses, the times of war and of expansion, and various milestones in the town's history.

Around Curwensville

9780738555065

$24.99

Curwensville, one of the oldest towns in Clearfield County, began as a lumber town. Some of the area's finest families made their fortunes by harvesting the tall pine trees that were used as ship masts. The Irvin and Patton families were instrumental in the development of the town, as they brought the railroad to the area and contributed to the schools, banks, and a water system. In the 20th century, industries such as brick making, stone quarries, and tanneries became vital to the community. Bringing to life an era when every settlement was a stop on the railroad route, Around Curwensville is an exciting collection of historic photographs from Curwensville and surrounding towns, including Clearfield, Grampian, and DuBois.

Around Haledon

9780738557090

$24.99

By 1908, when Haledon became independent from Manchester Township, thousands of southern and eastern European immigrants settled in the borough and its surrounding area. Immigrants found work in textile mills, machine shops, and other industries located in proximity to the city of Paterson and the Passaic River and its mighty Great Falls. Land promoters spurred home building in Haledon, a streetcar suburb. In 1913, nearly 25,000 workers went on strike, demanding an eight-hour workday. During the six-month strike, Haledon became the workers' haven for free speech and assembly as they demanded safer workplaces, a living wage, and an end to child labor. Archival photographs, documents, and postcards from 1890 to 1930 share the story of workers and immigrants who fought for the workplace benefits widely enjoyed by Americans today.

Lansing

9780738561929

$24.99

Founded by Civil War veteran William Lansing Taylor, Lansing is home to a population quickly approaching 11,000 residents. It is also home to the Lansing Correctional Facility (formerly the Kansas State Penitentiary), the oldest prison in Kansas. Designed by Erasmus Carr, architect of the Kansas State Capitol, the building has stood watch over the area for more than 140 years. As one will find, Lansing and the prison have grown together and mutually benefitted each other. Lansing is also home to Mount Muncie Cemetery, one of the oldest cemeteries in the state. It is the resting place of several famous people, including Fred Harvey. The photographs in this book are glimpses into time of a small village with one-room schools to a bustling community with one of the busiest north-south highways in Kansas.

Trigg County

9780738587257

$24.99

Take a fascinating journey through the history of Trigg County, Kentucky with more than 200 vintage photographs and anecdotes from the locals who experienced it.

In January 1820, the acting governor of Kentucky, Gabriel Slaughter, signed a bill put before him by the state's legislature to create a new county from portions of Christian and Caldwell Counties in Western Kentucky.

Trigg County was named to honor Revolutionary Warsoldier and Native American fighter Col. Stephen Trigg. Organization of the county government commenced on May 15, 1820, at the home of Samuel Orr in the community of Warrenton. Justices of the Peace Boyd, Wadlington, Goode, Orr, Scott, Slaughter, Daniel, Fowler, and Dawson swore one another into office and set about the business of the new county. The village of Cadiz, located along the banks of Little River, was soon established as the county seat.

Author Thomas D. Harper is a native of Trigg County and possesses a passionate interest in the county's history. As a teacher of middle school social studies in Kentucky's public schools, Harper is able to share his love of regional, Kentucky, and American history with hundreds of students. He resides in Trigg County with his wife and two daughters, and it is his desire that the unique history of the area be preserved for future generations through Images of America: Trigg County and the works of other committed historians.

Clark County

9780738598987

$24.99

Clark County, located in central Wisconsin, was organized in 1853. The first settlers, primarily lumbermen, arrived in the 1830s. After seeing the massive forests of standing timber, they built sawmills and lumber camps. Soon, towns and villages sprang up, complete with businesses, hotels, homes, schools, and churches. The railroad arrived by the 1880s, starting a new chapter for Clark County. As the timber was logged and the land was cleared of tree stumps, the fertile farmland attracted new settlers. People in pursuit of the American dream, including immigrants from European countries, arrived to homestead the land. Images of America: Clark County presents the lumber years, agriculture, businesses, communities, and of course the people of Clark County in photographs from the 1850s to the present day. The final chapter, "Unique Clark County," features the people and places that help make the county so special to those fortunate enough to live here.

Mount Hope and Otisville

9780738557021

$24.99

The town of Mount Hope and the village of Otisville are located in a picturesque area of Orange County, nestled in the shadows of the Shawangunk Mountains. In 1846, the arrival of the Erie Railroad in Otisville changed the sleepy town into a center of commerce for the surrounding area. While the railroad sparked a decline in trade within Mount Hope, many citizens in Otisville had railroad-related jobs and relied on the railroad for transportation. In the early 1900s, Otisville became a chief supplier of butter for the New York City market. The vintage images in this book chronicle the changing history of these two communities, from the introduction of the bustling railroad to a simpler time of summer strawberry festivals and winter sleigh rides, when life revolved around the village.

Cover image for Mount Hope and Otisville, isbn: 9780738557021

Columbia County

9780738598703

$24.99

Columbia County, located along the southern border of Arkansas and resting just above Louisiana, was created in 1852 from portions of four surrounding counties. Blessed with abundant natural resources--including timber, petroleum, natural gas, and bromine--and teeming with wildlife, the county's roots of ancestry and industry run deep. The Cotton Belt Railroad once distributed the superior long-staple cotton produced locally, which was used to weave the finest broadcloth west of the Mississippi. Columbia County is also known for the healing mineral waters of Magnesia Springs, which are now part of Logoly State Park. Today, the thriving Southern Arkansas University offers more than 60 degrees in four distinct colleges and is the only school in the world with a Mulerider as a mascot. Columbia County is surrounded by a tremendous expanse of great natural beauty and has produced a cornucopia of characters and storytellers; the authors hope to introduce them in these pages.

Knoxville in the Vietnam Era

9780738553412

$24.99

The Vietnam War era (1961-1975), one of our country's most turbulent periods, was also a time of change and social evolution. Seeded in the aftermath of World War II, the nation enjoyed a remarkable economic boom. Knoxville and East Tennessee stood witness to the transformation of American society and the problems that came with the new success. From the first recognized combat casualty of the Vietnam War to the evacuation of Saigon, Knoxvillians were there, and their stories of sacrifice and service earned little mention or were forgotten in historical texts. At home, urban decay gained a grip on Knoxville's once vibrant downtown, and protests were not an uncommon sight on the evening news, but there was progress too. This volume documents the start of a new beginning for Knoxville as the city tried to hold onto its traditional Appalachian values and move into a new era.

Cherokee County, South Carolina

9780738514314

$24.99

Situated just south of the Carolina border in the scenic foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Cherokee County offers the charm of small-town life and country living with the convenience of nearby metropolitan areas.

In 1897, the year of its founding, the county inherited a rich history that began with the Cherokee Indians. Home to two American Revolutionary War sites, Cowpens National Battlefield and Kings Mountain Military Park, as well as the Overmountain Victory National Trail, it exists as a bevy of historical sites that date before the county was established.Cherokee County pays tribute to this community's decisive history and celebrates the local architecture, business establishments, and residents, both past and present. Historic views, coupled with informative text, highlight the 1914 Carnegie Library, the charming railroad depot, the Limestone Quarry, and construction of the towering smokestack of Gaffney Manufacturing Company. Vintage photographs depict downtown Gaffney, settled almost a century before Cherokee County became a political entity, and historic Blacksburg, known as Black Station before 1888, while bringing to life the evolution of the 1845 Limestone Springs Female High School into the state's popular Limestone College of today.

Beloit's Club Pop House

9780738552095

$24.99

For baby boomers who grew up in and around Beloit, memories of that era would not be complete without the Pop House. To high school students, this teen nightclub was a weekend music mecca. Friday and Saturday nights were reserved for dancing and listening to live music provided by countless bands and solo acts. Owner George Stankewitz, born and raised in Beloit, became friend, father figure, and even boss to hundreds of area teenagers. From swing to pop to rock, notable acts to take the stage at the Pop House between 1946 and 1973 include such jukebox staples as Bobby Vinton, Johnny Tillotson, and Del Shannon, along with a tidal wave of Beatles-inspired local favorites. Summer softball leagues and championship basketball teams are recalled as well as the annual Turkey Bowl that continues to this day. And who can forget the annual chili festival with the crowning of a chili queen or a menu famous for its specialty sandwiches like the Snead and the Smiley?

Fort Lawton

9780738558110

$24.99

Fort Lawton was established to provide protection for the navy yard built at Bremerton in 1891 as well the cities along Puget Sound and the commerce generated by them. The development of Fort Lawton was encouraged by civic leaders in Seattle for economic reasons and to curb lawlessness. Although intended primarily as an infantry post, the first soldiers to arrive on July 26, 1901, were artillerymen. One year later, this artillery installation, the Puget Sound Harbor Defense Command, was moved to Fort Warden and the first infantry soldiers arrived in Fort Lawton. It remained an infantry post throughout most of its years, and Seattle's hopes for a major military installation were not to be realized.

The Oregon State Fair

9780738548777

$24.99

Since the first Oregon State Fair was held on four acres along the Clackamas River in the Gladstone/Oregon City area in 1861, the fair has been the focal point of Oregon culture--a place to see and be seen and to compete against the best in the state. It has been a place of victory and a place of discovery for nearly 150 years. For many generations of Oregonians, the fair was a chance for families and friends to reunite and share the excitement of this grand, uniquely Oregon event. Today the fair's popularity continues and, for 12 days each year, transforms the fairgrounds in Salem into the fifth largest city in the state.

Oswego Township

9780738552088

$24.99

In 1832, John, Walter, and Daniel Pearce, and their brother-in-law, William Smith Wilson, walked west from their homes in Ohio prospecting for land. When they reached the Fox River in the vicinity of modern Oswego, they agreed they had found the place they wanted to settle. The next year, 1833, after selling their Ohio farms, they traveled west by wagon with their families and became the first settlers in Oswego Township. Just two years later, Lewis B. Judson and Levi F. Arnold laid out a new village on land first claimed by Wilson, creating the foundation of today's bustling village of Oswego. A stagecoach route crossroads, the seat of Kendall
County for nearly 20 years, and a market town for the surrounding agricultural area, Oswego grew steadily until the Civil War. After the war, growth slowed until the second half of the 20th century when the area began to boom, both in population and economically. This book offers many of the area's newest residents a chance to look back at Oswego Township's rich heritage.

Readington Township

9780738556796

$24.99

Readington Township was created by royal charter on July 15, 1730, as Readings or Readings Town. The township consists of 48 square miles and is the largest in Hunterdon County. The early settlement patterns of the Dutch, English, and Germans, who came to farm the rich soil of the Raritan Valley during the 18th century, established the foundation of the villages and hamlets of the township. During the 19th century, the development of railroad lines in the region created additional villages and helped to bring the township's produce to larger markets. By the latter part of the 20th century, most of Readington's inhabitants were employed in diverse industries throughout central New Jersey, and the automobile made travel beyond the villages routine. Like the generations of residents before them, today's residents remain closely connected to their village communities, and a significant portion of the township's land continues to be devoted to agriculture.

White Rock Lake Revisited

9781467131179

$24.99

For more than 100 years, White Rock Lake has been the people's playground. The types of lake activities popular here have changed through the decades as Dallas has grown from a small country town to a large metropolitan city. The lake first known for hunting and fishing is now an urban oasis enjoyed by well over two million visitors a year. Images of America: White Rock Lake Revisited focuses on the people and activities of the lake and expands on the previously published Images of America: White Rock Lake.

Wah-Tut-Ca Scout Reservation

9780738549781

$24.99

Wah-Tut-Ca Scout Reservation opened its gates on July 4, 1937, for its first summer season. Drawing the camp's name from a Native American phrase meaning "friends and brothers," the Massachusetts community of Greater Lowell built the camp in Northwood, New Hampshire, with the vision of creating a place where young men could go on a "voyage of discovery" and eagerly search for "what is over there." Thousands of young people have walked down the trails, gazed at the sunsets, and set out on adventures in the camp's 300 acres. Wah-Tut-Ca Scout Reservation tells the story of how this community developed, built, maintained, and expanded its Boy Scout camp through difficult times, including war and rationing. Now the largest camp of the Yankee Clipper Council BSA, Wah-Tut-Ca receives scouts, families, and adult scouters from more than 50 communities.

Lake Quannapowitt

9780738573892

$24.99

Lake Quannapowitt is named for James Quonopohit, a member of the Pawtucket tribe of Nipmuc Indians and signer of the 1686 deed selling land to European colonists. A town called Redding (now Wakefield) developed on the shore of the lake that provided colonists with a bounty of fish, including salmon and alewives, until mills stopped their passage upstream. The town remained rural until the Boston and Maine Railroad arrived in 1845. Overnight, new markets became accessible, and Lake Quannapowitt ice was exported to destinations worldwide. Icehouses dominated the shoreline and stood side-by-side with boathouses and bathhouses. Some in Wakefield remember the last days of ice harvesting, although barely a trace of its existence remains. More residents remember Hill's Boathouse and Dance Hall, where many a romance began. For recent arrivals who walk and jog its idyllic 5-kilometer shore, the lake's industrial and complex past will come as a surprise.

Wetumpka

9781467111249

$24.99

Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, seeking to create a strategic outpost for New France, built Fort Toulouse in Creek territory. This area would eventually become Wetumpka, located on the banks of the Coosa River and standing at the foot of the Appalachian Mountains. The fort became the headquarters for Gen. Andrew Jackson during the War of 1812, and later it was where Creek Indians ceded their lands to the federal government. Wetumpka's presence was also large outside of military endeavors. During the cotton boom, two years after the city's incorporation in 1834, a New York newspaper declared it and Chicago, Illinois, the "two most promising cities in the West." Although fire, floods, and the Civil War hindered growth, infrastructural transformations and cultural additions have helped mold modern Wetumpka into the "City of Natural Beauty" and propel it to occasional roles on the big screen.

Cashiers Valley

9780738552552

$24.99

Cashiers Valley, enveloped in the Blue Ridge Mountains with craggy stone faces, thundering waterfalls, majestic forests, and wilderness areas of unique flora and fauna, has always drawn visitors.
Its moderate climate, slower pace, and friendly people have encouraged visitors to stay and, increasingly, to relocate. The residents have preserved a strong sense of place as they embraced the bonds of kinship and community through the years. This is all connected to a powerful religious base and a strong cultural heritage tradition. Today Cashiers Valley retains the charm of an isolated mountain village that welcomes guests. The photographs in this volume were gathered from many
local scrapbooks, long forgotten and yellowing with age. Community residents are eager to share their photographs and memories of days gone by.

Edison Firefighting

9780738554914

$24.99

During the early part of the 20th century, five separate volunteer fire companies independently organized to protect separate sections of Raritan Township, currently known as Edison. The township was divided by fire districts, each containing elected fire commissioners with political and economic power. In 1926, the first career firefighter was hired, and since then, over 250 career firefighters have taken the oath. Edison Firefighting features images, memorabilia, and photographs from the early days of bucket brigades and horse-drawn carriages to current personnel and apparatus. Significant fires, explosions, and rescues that Edison firefighters confronted throughout the years are revealed within this fascinating book.

Elk Grove Village

9780738561653

$24.99

Prior to 1956, the area now known as Elk Grove Village was a massive cornfield. On July 17, 1956, Elk Grove Village was incorporated as a village, with a population of 116. Since that time, the growth of the village can only be described as phenomenal. Over 50 years, the village has dramatically changed since those early days of cornfields. The name Elk Grove Village was adopted from the great number of elk that roamed through the fenced-in portion of Busse Woods, along Arlington Heights Road, south of the Northwest Tollway. American Indians called the region Wapiti, meaning "elk."

Peabody Firefighting

9780738554747

$24.99

The Peabody Fire Department was established in 1868, when the town changed its name from South Danvers to Peabody after one of its favorite sons: well-known philanthropist George Peabody. However, its long-standing history of being a first-class department
dates farther back to the purchase of the town's first hand engine, the Federal No. 1, in 1800, and even farther back with the formation of bucket brigades and fire clubs. Peabody's long history of being the "leather capital of the world" parallels the fire department's history, because many of the department's members worked in the leather factories or were leather shop owners. These same leather factories were fodder for many general alarm fires. Peabody Firefighting features photographs and narratives that showcase the history and evolution of the Peabody Fire Department, a department that today is as rich in diversity and tradition as ever and continues to answer the call of duty to a multitude of emergencies.

Mexicans in North Central Washington

9780738548791

$24.99

The first Mexicans to the region of North Central Washington were braceros (Mexican nationals) brought to Wenatchee, Okanogan, Moses Lake, and later Quincy to work under contract during World War II. The late 1940s witnessed the arrival to the region of Mexican American families who came from south Texas following migratory routes established in the 1920s to the Pacific Northwest. In the early 1950s, Mexican American families from the Yakima Valley moved north seeking economic opportunities. By the late 1980s, as Mexicans in such places as Wenatchee, Quincy, Brewster, and Moses Lake began to settle down and integrate into the community, they started businesses, bought homes, and many moved into a more diverse economic market.

The Portuguese in San Leandro

9780738558332

$21.99

The Gold Rush drew the Portuguese from the Azores, sweeping them across the Atlantic Ocean and around South America's Cape Horn to the California shore. When gold failed to pan out, many Portuguese moved to the hamlet of San Leandro on the San Francisco Bay where land was reasonable and the ground fertile. Gradually the post-Gold Rush settlers joined with former Portuguese shore whalers to farm the fields of San Leandro. San Leandro became a principal landing place for newly arrived Portuguese immigrants putting down roots on small farms. A steady stream of relatives from the Azores and Hawaii poured into San Leandro's fertile foothills, and by 1911 the Portuguese comprised over two-thirds of the city's population. The early days were rough--Portuguese immigrants banded together in fraternal societies to overcome a lack of resources and to help one another navigate a strange world whose language they did not speak. Today the Portuguese Immigrant monument in Root Park's plaza commemorates the journey of Portuguese settlers who left everything behind to start a new life in the new world.

Sault Ste. Marie

9780738552323

$24.99

Sault Ste. Marie was destined to be a gathering place. Native Americans relied on the rapids of the St. Mary's River, which links two Great Lakes, Superior and Huron, for a year-round supply of fish. Its population swelled in the summer--a tradition that continued as French traders came to turn in their pelts and celebrate the end of another long, hard winter. After the Revolutionary War, the Sault, as it is called, became a community divided on national lines, with the United States holding one shore and Canada the other. Eventually man conquered the rapids, and today the Soo Locks transport millions of tons of freight annually to ports all over the world. Tourists are drawn by the cool breezes off the lake and the sight of steel behemoths passing almost close enough to touch.

The Coast Guard in San Diego

9780738580142

$24.99

Located a few miles north from the border of the United States and Mexico, the U.S. Coast Guard has maintained a continual presence in San Diego since 1935. It was in May of that year that a single air detachment, led by Cdr. Elmer F. Stone, began operating out of a commercial hangar at Lindbergh Field. From those humble beginnings, a base was constructed on 23 acres of tidelands adjacent to the airstrip and eventually formed into Sector San Diego. Through the years, their units and missions have evolved as new technology and changing world events dictated new missions for the Coast Guard. Today Coast Guard Sector San Diego stands as a model of interagency cooperation for the Department of Homeland Security as the Coast Guard works with other federal agencies to protect San Diego's maritime domain.

Sea Bright

9780738557625

$24.99

In the mid-1800s, a quaint fishing village, called Nauvoo at the time, was the largest fishery on the New Jersey seacoast. By the end of the 19th century, this fishing village had grown into the flourishing seaside resort of Sea Bright. Luxurious hotels like the Normandie-by-the-Sea, Sea Bright Inn, and the Octagon House were built, transforming the town into a haven for the wealthy, who built elegant cottages along its coast. The famous Pannaci Hotel and Restaurant became known as the "Delmonico of Sea Bright." Today Sea Bright continues to draw vacationers and residents alike with its glistening water and beautiful sandy beaches.

Shreveport

9780738514161

$24.99

A city's history is made by its people, and for over 165 years the people of Shreveport, Louisiana have been building a rich heritage. From everyday residents to community leaders, from educators and clergy to entertainers and celebrities, Shreveport's citizens have created a lasting legacy. Here, readers are presented with a collective portrait of the city, including images from both its distant and not-so-distant past. Photographs of ordinary as well as extraordinary people, revealing their lives and their culture, preserve significant moments in time. While it is not possible to include them all in a single book, this volume does much to create a picture of the numerous talented, industrious, and spirited citizens who have contributed to the community's development. Their names are found on local streets, parks, buildings, and monuments; yet, their stories are often unknown. In this volume, readers will meet some of these colorful figures, putting faces with the names that present-day Shreveport residents know so well.

Cover image for Shreveport, isbn: 9780738514161

Auburndale

9781467113380

$24.99

Auburndale was carved out of the central Florida wilderness in 1884 when the South Florida Railroad selected the location to build a depot. Surrounded by clear, sand-bottomed lakes, the site was located almost equally between the ocean and gulf and was 14 miles from Bartow, the county seat. The new depot was named after Auburndale, Massachusetts, which was the hometown of one of the owners. When completed, the depot was the only building in sight. Settlers quickly realized the advantage of being close to the railroad, and by 1889 Auburndale had 30 homes and a population of 270. One church, seven stores, a livery stable, two hotels, and a sawmill lined the sandy streets. The young community survived fires that destroyed Main Street twice, a tornado that demolished their schools, and devastating freezes that killed citrus trees.

Buellton

9780738530802

$24.99

The town of Buellton was established in 1920 to provide services for early automobiles traveling up and down the California coast. But before the town was established, a ranch operated by Rufus Thompson Buell was carved out of the vast Rancho de Jonata land grant in the late 1800s. This fascinating collection of images tells the story of the Buell ranch and how a bridge built over the Santa Ynez River in 1917 completed the connection of the coast highway. The book also chronicles the establishment and expansion of Highway 101; the addition of service stations, motor courts, and diners to accommodate the onslaught of post-World War II travelers; and how a small diner, opened in 1924, expanded into a pea soup empire that ultimately outlasted the relocation of a major highway.

Westlake

9780738559117

$24.99

The Westlake section of Daly City is the quintessential postwar suburban-modernist development, and it was the singular vision of Henry Doelger that made it so. Westlake was to the San Francisco Bay Area what Levittown was to New York after World War II, providing affordable housing for thousands of service veterans and war-industry personnel who remained in California after their tours of duty. The area abuts San Francisco's Sunset District, where Doelger built thousands of homes in the shifting sands before battling the dunes in northern San Mateo County in 1948. Doelger was lauded as the Bay Area's bestknown builder of homes, apartments, and shopping centers. Daly City increased in size almost by half when Westlake was annexed in 1948.

Ogden

9780738558790

$24.99

In 1845, Miles Goodyear founded a settlement at Fort Buenaventura, located near the confluence of the Weber and Ogden Rivers. The area was renamed Ogden in 1851 by Mormon Church president Brigham Young after Peter Skene Ogden, a Hudson's Bay Company fur trapper. Ogden prospered as an agricultural town and then thrived with the arrival of the railroads, when the growing community, often referred to as "Junction City," became a major railroad hub. Union Station became a well-known landmark surrounded by rowdy gambling houses and brothels as well as ethnically diverse residential neighborhoods. Since 1889, Ogden has also been an important center of higher education, and it is now home to Weber State University. World War II brought Ogden into the modern era as a transportation and military center with the establishment of Hill Air Field, Defense Depot Ogden, and the Naval Supply Depot.

Springfield

9780738575186

$24.99

Although Springfield was chartered in 1761, residents did not begin taking advantage of the waterpower on the Black River until the 1800s. Once dams were built to harness the water, mills and factories followed. Innovation could not be stopped, and for the next 150 years one invention or improvement after another emerged from this little town. Things like the spring clothespin and sandpaper were invented in Springfield as well as world-famous tool-making machines such as the turret lathe and gear shaping and grinding machines. Improvements were also made to textile-processing machinery. A combination of the right people at the right place and time allowed Springfield, the "little town that did," to transform from an agrarian and mill town to the home of a world-renowned machine tool industry.