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For many, the sea is a temperamental and dangerous mistress, and Marion's affair with her is no different, for this town has experienced both great gain in wealth and horrific loss of life and property by her hands over the centuries. In Maritime Marion, Massachusetts, readers take a remarkable journey across four centuries of struggle and prosperity as a simple coastal hamlet evolves into a celebrated nautical center for shipbuilding, fishing, and racing. This unique volume, containing over 100 black-and-white illustrations, chronicles the many aspects of maritime life, from trade to recreation, including the once-prominent whaling industry, the various local saltworks, the traditions of Tabor Academy, the influence of the Marconi Wireless Telegraph Company, and the prestige of the Beverly Yacht Club. However, one of the greatest pleasures and customs of any seacoast community is its storytelling, and Maritime Marion recounts several of the town's most interesting and puzzling tales, such as the mystery of the Mary Celeste's lost crew, the tragedies of numerous hurricanes, the fate of the British warship HMS Nimrod, and the experiences of the first lighthouse keepers on Bird Island.

Regardless of how the name came to be, many agree that Jamaica Plain is one of the loveliest areas of New England.

Stories abound as to how Jamaica Plain derived its name; some trace it to the flow of rum shipments to the port of Boston following Oliver Cromwell's seizure of Jamaica in 1660, but whatever the true origin of the name, the area has a rich and colorful history that flows from its rural, pastoral beginnings in the 17th century and into the 21st. Jamaica Plain today is one of Boston's great suburban neighborhoods, but it has not always been connected to the city. Jamaica Plain first became a part of Roxbury, and later West Roxbury, and served as a summer playground for influential Bostonians before becoming part of Boston in 1874. The neighborhood's beauty has been protected by such visionaries as Benjamin Bussey, who bequeathed his estate to Harvard College for what is now the Arnold Arboretum, and Henry A.S. Dearborn, the former mayor of Roxbury who established the Forest Hills Cemetery. Today, the neighborhood is a bustling suburban spot that has preserved its natural beauty and resources.

Norwood: A History recounts stories of the visionaries produced here, such as Captain Aaron Guild, who "left plough in furrow and oxen standing" to join the April 19, 1775, battle at Lexington. The formation and success of the Civic Association and the hospital were due to the perseverance of the public-spirited population, guided by the charismatic and driven George Willett. Readers will discover how athletics helped put Norwood on the map, from the polo fields of W. Cameron Forbes to the reign of Roll-Land as one of the country's premiere roller-skating arenas. As tales of years gone by give way to progress, Norwood: A History also looks ahead to new enterprises, which have followed in the footsteps of companies such as Winslow Brothers and Smith and the Norwood Press.

If you know where to look, you'll find the greatness of the golden age of neon in New England. If you don't, here's your chance!

The golden age of neon in New England lasted more than 30 years, from the dark days of the Great Depression through the go-go years of the 1960s, but its spectacular legacy remains. With dozens of original color photographs and informative text, New England Neontakes armchair travelers--and nostalgia lovers--up and down the main streets and back roads of the region, from the shores of Lake Champlain to the tip of Cape Cod.

Photographed and written by Susan Mara Bregman, the volume celebrates the style and exuberance of these one-of-a-kind creations in Boston and Brattleboro, Kittery and Cranston, New Haven and Weirs Beach. Evoking an era when New England glowed at night, the book might make you want to go candlepin bowling or grab a hot wiener and a coffee milk.

A fascinating history of Lowell, Massachusetts, from its powerful place in the Industrial Revolution to the everyday routines of its citizens.

When we think of Lowell, Massachusetts, and the historic part the city played in the American Industrial Revolution we often conjure up powerful images of mills and machinery. But what about the daily lives of the citizens and workers, their festivals, and their simpler recreations like park ball games and family events? The waters of the Merrimac run deep and have always been a source of vitality and strength for the people of Lowell. This sequel to the highly acclaimed Lowell continues our journey--this time into the more recent past of this amazing city. Older members of the community will appreciate this new pictorial history as a nostalgic window to a time when drugstore soda shops and drive-in movies were in their heyday. Younger generations will find the over 200 images presented here a unique and intriguing resource for connecting with their roots.

In Lowell, Massachusetts reminders of the Industrial Revolution can still be seen and felt but few reminders are more powerful than the photographs contained in this dynamic visual history.

In 1604, Sieur De Monts wrote, "The Indians speak of a beautiful river far to the South, which they call Merrimac." The common thread that runs through the history of Lowell is the Merrimac River. The river attracted European explorers and colonists in the seventeenth century, as it had attracted various Native American tribes before them. The fertile land around the river made agriculture profitable for many years, but it was the Merrimac's potential for water power and transportation that opened the area up to industry in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Reminders of the Industrial Revolution can still be seen and felt in Lowell today, but few reminders are more powerful than the photographs contained in this dynamic visual history. Photographers captured Lowell on film firsthand as it developed into one of the most powerful centers of industry in the world. They also photographed the people that made Lowell what it was and is; the images of their faces, homes, workplaces, and daily lives say more about the city's history than words ever can.

Drawing upon the John Fogelberg collection, the Burlington Historical Commission collection, and the Crawford collection of photographs, this book presents a vision of Burlington that few will recognize.

Known as Shawshin by the Native Americans who originally inhabited the region, the town of Burlington has a rich history dating to Colonial and Revolutionary War days. In Burlington, you will see the people, places, and events that are known today only as legends or place-names. Meet Marshall Simonds, whose generous gift in 1905 gave the town a beautiful park and Burlington Common, as well as its first high school. Experience how townspeople used to celebrate the Fourth of July with a large bonfire on the hill at Simonds Park. Learn of mysteries and disasters, such as the collapse of the parsonage building on the town common after a move in 1956. Explore the historic homes and the buildings and early businesses, which feature scenes from the Reed Ham Works to aerial views of the emerging Burlington Industrial Park. See the images of the Walker, Crawford, and Skelton farms, which showcase the town's fast-disappearing agricultural history.

From whaling hub to summer paradise, join author Bonnie Stacy on a facinating journey of Martha's Vineyard in over 200 vintage images.

The name Martha's Vineyard first appears in a book describing the English explorer Bartholomew Gosnold's 1602 voyage from England. Long before that, the Wampanoag called this island Noepe. English colonists--missionaries, farmers, and seafarers--began to settle on the Vineyard in the 1640s. During the 19th century, seafaring industries dominated the economy, with busy harbors hosting thousands of ships as they put in for refitting, supplies, and crew members. Vineyarders from all classes and diverse ethnicities traveled the world in search of trade and whales, returning home after their long voyages to fishing, farms, and the families who stayed behind. Even as the whaling boom diminished, religious revivalism and then tourism brought more and more summer visitors. By the 20th century, the now familiar yearly cycle of quiet winters alternating with enormous bursts of activity and population in the summers was well established.

Many of the older images in Then & Now: Concord have been given to the authors especially for this publication. Many are part of the Concord Free Public Library's Special Collection. Most of the modern photographs have been made by photographers Claiborne Dawes and Alice Moulton. Their images show such compelling comparisons as fathers and sons, old houses renovated or replaced with other structures, and the famous old authors with recent famous new ones. Then & Now: Concord will bring murmurs of reminiscence to residents and expressions of interest and curiosity to visitors seeking depth to their understanding of this important New England town.