Name: Belchertown Bits of History:
Brand: Cliff McCarthy
SKU: 9781596292642
Price: 21.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Belchertown Bits of History:

9781596292642

$21.99

The fifty stories in this charming collection--part history, part reminiscence--recall Belchertown's days as "the Detroit of the carriage industry" and as a genteel summer haven from urban life, while acknowledging the changes brought by the coming of the Belchertown State School and by the dislocation of four nearby communities for the Quabbin Reservoir. Snug in the heart of the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts, Belchertown has a rich past, and old-timers and newcomers alike will enjoy the warmth and wit of this patchwork quilt of local history.

This is Belchertown from the front porch. Doris and Harvey Dickinson have chronicled their little town's history with the humanity and humor that comes from a half-century of paying attention.

The Polish Community of Worcester

9780738513386

$24.99

Near the beginning of the twentieth century, thousands of Polish immigrants embarked upon the American Dream in Worcester as the city's lowest-paid mill workers. Slowly, they carved out their own "Polonia," with Millbury Street as the center. By the 1920s, Worcester's Polish community had built a parish with the largest parochial school in the county, established several civic associations, and become an influential group in the city's economy and ethnic composition. The Polish Community of Worcester celebrates the resilient and patriotic spirit of Worcester's Polonia from 1870 through 1970, with rare photographs from private collections and family albums.

Rockland

9780738537559

$24.99

A century ago, the words "Rockland" and "shoes" were synonymous. On any side road off Union Street, the town's main thoroughfare, were some of the most important shoe-manufacturing facilities in America, among them Emerson Shoe, Wright Shoe, and the Hurley Brothers Shoe Company. As the industrial revolution reigned, Rockland peaked, but Rockland had another side to it. Postals sent from Rockland exported the innate beauty of Reed's Pond, Cushing's Pond, and Whiting's Woods. These images proved to those folks who had never been to the town that
even among the brick-and-mortar giants of the shoe industry, Rockland's natural side thrived.

Four Seas Ice Cream:

9781609495282

$21.99

For over 75 years, Four Seas Ice Cream, located in Centerville, Massachusetts, has not only been Cape Cod's favorite ice cream shop, it has also been a destination for people from across the nation and the world. The proposed History Press publication will include the history of Four Seas as well as tidbits about what makes it special from its famous fans to its local high-school employees who come back year after year to work at the tiny, seven-table shop that attracts tens of thousands of customers each summer. The book will also explain why they never, ever put sprinkles onto their ice cream; why a frappe is NOT a milkshake; why their medium-size ice cream cone is shaped like a triangle; and why vanilla is still their most popular flavor.

Beacon Hill, Back Bay and the Building of Boston's Golden Age

9781596291614

$21.99

Venture back to the Boston of the 1800s, when Back Bay was just a wide expanse of water to the west of the Shawmut Peninsula and merchants peddled their wares to sailors along the docks. Witness the beginning of the American Industrial Revolution; learn how a series of cultural movements made Boston the focal point of abolitionism in America, with leaders like William Lloyd Garrison; and see the golden age of the arts ushered in with notables Longfellow, Holmes, Copley, Sargent and Isabella Stewart Gardner. Travel with local historian Ted Clarke down the cobbled streets of Boston to discover its history in the golden age.

Beacon Hill, Back Bay and the Building of Boston's Golden Age

Bellamy's Bride

9781596292543

$21.99

Venture back to 1715, when a fifteen-year-old Cape Cod girl named Maria Hallett was seduced by a twenty-six-year-old Englishman named Samuel Bellamy.

Bellamy soon left her to become one of the most infamous pirates of his day--Black Sam Bellamy. Maria remained on the Cape but was forced to live in solitude after giving birth to Bellamy's child. Two years later, Bellamy returned to his love, and Maria watched from the dunes as his flagship, the Whydah, sank in the worst nor'easter in the history of the Cape. The legend of Maria Hallett has been passed down for over two hundred years, and Cape Cod writer Kathleen Brunelle brings a fresh breath of sea air to this epic tale in her search for Bellamy's bride.

Framingham's Civil War Hero:

9781609493783

$21.99

George Henry Gordon, who moved to Framingham, Massachusetts, at the age of five, attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where his attitudes toward the country were shaped alongside classmates George McClellan, Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson and Ulysses S. Grant. Gordon went on to hold political and military offices in the North, and as a general in the Union army, he led his troops against Jackson in the Valley Campaign, at Antietam and at the Siege of Charleston. Join historian Frederic A. Wallace as he recounts the largely untold story of General George H. Gordon, Framingham's favorite son, with personal diary entries and letters that reveal a man of integrity and honor whose actions displayed an outright love for his country.

Hope Cemetery

9781467128575

$24.99

During the garden cemetery movement that swept the United States in the mid-19th century, the City of Worcester realized the need for a larger place to lay its dead. Worcester, which had become a city several years earlier, enjoyed a booming population caused by an influx of immigrants looking for work in its vast industrial sector. The city fathers took on the task of finding suitable grounds, and Hope Cemetery was founded in 1854 in a rural area of rolling hills and languid brooks. The space would hold the remains of a cross section of Worcester's residents, from the large mausoleums of prominent citizens to the small stones of young children. Hope Cemetery is a final resting place open to all citizens of the city--the rich, the poor, the notorious, and everyone in between. Today, Hope Cemetery is an active, "living" cemetery for the second-largest city in New England, as well as a place for loved ones and others to find solace and a place to stroll.

Burlington Firefighting

9780738557489

$24.99

Burlington, settled in 1642 and incorporated in 1799, began as a quiet farming community. For the first 100 years after the town's founding, no fire department existed, and by 1900, many important buildings had tragically been lost to fires. The loss of these historic landmarks prompted the beginning of a group of volunteer firefighters that protected the town until the first full-time fire department's establishment in 1951. Over the years, the department expanded to meet the demands of the town's rapid growth. Today the fire department consists of professionals constantly striving to improve the department and committed to serving the people of Burlington.

Framingham Legends & Lore

9781596295650

$21.99

Just hours after the "shot heard 'round the world" marked the start of the American Revolution, the news from Lexington set alarm bells ringing in Framingham. Minutemen from the town rushed along the road to Concord to help cut off the retreat of British troops. In Salem, where dozens of women were accused of witchcraft, Framingham's founder, Thomas Danforth, helped to end the hysteria and afterward provided sanctuary in Framingham for the families of the wrongfully accused. Staring down the barrels of British guns in Boston, Framingham native Crispus Attucks was one of the first to die for American independence. Though rarely in the foreground of history, Framingham pops up again and again as a backdrop to our nation's great historic episodes. With tales of pirate gold, hypnotized evangelists, blundering spies and bravery in battle, this captivating collection of historical episodes sets Framingham squarely in the spotlight.

Milford Chronicles

9781626192096

$21.99

Milford, Massachusetts, incorporated in 1780, rests on the cusp of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor. Granite and manufacturing jobs drew immigrants to this small town during the Industrial Revolution to form a richly textured community. In this collection of the best of his columns, local historian Paul E. Curran chronicles the lives and achievements of many who left indelible imprints on Milford. Some contributed distinctive architecture, such as the stately Town Hall and the only Irish round tower in the country. Others offered gifts for the mind--major contributions to the national library system and the original version of the children's classic The Little Engine that Could. There were extraordinary athletes, intrepid travelers and those who marked the social conscience through personal sacrifice. Milford Chronicles celebrates the spirit of all who contributed to the community's rich and enduring history.

Turbulent Years in Chelsea

9781467144636

$21.99

Just one short mile but a world away from affluent, neighboring Boston, Chelsea's historically Irish and eastern European Jewish populations had always made the city unique. A more recent wave of immigration from Puerto Rico and Central America brought about more diversity during a period of economic decline. Ethnically charged political competition and unprecedented levels of corruption eventually brought the small city to the brink of collapse. This gripping narrative focuses on Chelsea's most turbulent years, from the late 1970s to the early 1990s. Join photographer Arnie Jarmak and writer Joshua Resnek as they unveil the hardscrabble city they encountered and lived in during their early careers.

Whaling on Martha's Vineyard

9781625859037

$21.99

Martha's Vineyard became an integral part of the whaling industry at the beginning of the eighteenth century and inspired a lasting romantic enthusiasm for life on the open ocean. From shorewhaling to daring voyages into the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic Oceans, the insular whaling community offered a tempting path for many young Vineyarders to rise from cabin boy to captain. Local businesses were enticed by the potential profit from whaling voyages, and many reaped generous rewards from successful whale oil harvests. Through memoirs, music and memorabilia, author Thomas Dresser recounts this dramatic history of the bygone era of whaling on Martha's Vineyard.

Forgotten Tales of Massachusetts

9781596296213

$14.99

W hen the first Pilgrims arrived on the shores of Massachusetts, they set foot in a world full of promise and new beginnings. Colonists witnessed the births of new children, governments and traditions, but even the Puritans could not wholly escape the Old World's basest human instincts. In Plymouth, John Billington committed the nation's first murder, and in Boston, the Mass Bay Madam Alice Thomas opened the first brothel. A Charlestown midwife and healer was hanged for witchcraft. Yet Massachusetts also produced William Phips, America's first undersea treasure hunter; Peter Salem, the first black war hero; Ann Bradstreet, pioneer poetess; and William Ives, printer of the first board game. In these dramatic and vividly imaginative tales, Peter Stevens narrates fascinating episodes from Massachusetts history, piecing together forgotten yet essential aspects of American identity.

Cover image for Forgotten Tales of Massachusetts, isbn: 9781596296213

Milford

9781596299245

$21.99

Local journalist and historian Frank Juliano takes us through the incredible stories of his town, including a series of vignettes about famous Milford residents.

Purchased for six coats, twelve iron axes, ten blankets, twelve hatchets, twelve hoes, two dozen knives, six mirrors and a kettle, the town of Milford has blossomed into one of Connecticut's most treasured places. . From the American Revolution, when seventy-three men from Milford marched to Boston to fight in the famous Battle of Lexington and Concord, to the backyard pit of a local farmhouse that was surely a stop on the Underground Railroad, Milford has its roots firmly grounded in the bedrock of American history.

Gay Head Lighthouse:

9781626194069

$21.99

Standing tall on the colorful clay cliffs of Martha's Vineyard, Gay Head Lighthouse has provided safe passage to seafarers since 1799. The steadfast tower marks a dangerous and heavily traveled passage between the island and mainland known as Devil's Bridge. Being the first lighthouse on the Vineyard, Gay Head Light has a rich and varied history filled with stories of inspirational lighthouse keepers, disastrous shipwrecks and even mysterious deaths. Today, Gay Head Light serves as an iconic symbol of the island's maritime history and attracts visitors from around the world. Join author William Waterway as he charts the history of the lighthouse from the original wooden tower lit with oil lamps to the rebuilt brick structure that houses the famous Fresnel lens.

Ghosts of Cambridge:

9781609499471

$14.99

As one of the nation's oldest cities, Cambridge, Massachusetts, has a tumultuous history filled with Revolutionary War beginnings, religious persecution and centuries of debate among Ivy League intelligentsia. It should come as no surprise that the city is also home to spirits that are entangled with the past and now inhabit the dormitories, local watering holes and even military structures of the present. Discover the apparitions that frighten freshmen in Harvard's Weld Hall, the Revolutionary War ghosts that haunt the estates of Tory Row and the flapper who is said to roam the seats of Somerville Theatre. Using careful research and firsthand accounts, author Sam Baltrusis delves into ghastly tales of murder, crime and the bizarre happenings in the early days of Cambridge to uncover the truth behind some of the city's most historic haunts.

Frame Up!

9781596290198

$21.99

White-Tipped Orange Masts

9781596292253

$23.99

Netting shrimp in the icy waters off Cape Ann, hauling up lobster two hundred miles offshore, in the 1970s Gloucester's eastern-rig side trawlers were at the top of a dying and dangerous industry.

In the tough competition for the daily catch, Gloucester's dragger fleets were the best. They went out farther, stayed out longer, and risked all as the fishing grounds grew lean. Author Peter Prybot captures the glory days of the draggers through recollections and his own firsthand observations as a lifelong Gloucester fisherman. Terrible weather, good fishing, bad fishing, great days and greater danger-- these are true stories from the decks of the celebrated trawler fleet that is no more.

Jamaica Plain

9780738512464

$24.99

Jamaica Plain: Then & Now is a fascinating photographic history of a Boston neighborhood once referred to as the "Eden of America." At one time a part of Roxbury and later West Roxbury, Jamaica Plain was annexed to the city of Boston in 1874. During the next five decades, the neighborhood expanded due to the railroad and streetcars and became known as one of the "streetcar suburbs." In this lavishly illustrated book, vintage images placed alongside contemporary photographs show well-known buildings and streetscapes as they once were and as they appear today. Included are Jamaica Pond, with its icehouses, and the area of Forest Hills, with the elevated line and streetcars, as well as schools, places of worship, and homes.

Chicopee in the 1940s

9780738555140

$24.99

In 1935, Chicopee was a small city struggling to emerge from a crippling depression and economic collapse. In 1936, the Connecticut River flooded, turning Chicopee's Willimansett section into a giant lake, and on September 21, 1938, a storm roared up the Connecticut Valley with winds of over 100 miles per hour. Rain flooded the already devastated streets and wiped out the Chicopee Falls Bridge. Between these disasters, the U.S. Congress passed the Wilcox Act, and in 1939, Secretary of War Harry W. Woodring announced that the tobacco plains of Chicopee had been selected as the site for the Northeast's Army Air Corps base. The super base, named Westover Field, was the largest air base in the country by 1942. During World War II, Chicopee would be one of four cities in Massachusetts to produce over a billion dollars worth of war materials, and following the war, the city grew and prospered at a record pace.

Westwood

9780738510361

$24.99

Westwood began as West Dedham, a small collection of farms owned by Dedham residents. At the time of incorporation in 1897, the population was only twelve hundred people. Westwood grew rapidly in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, as Bostonians from Beacon Hill built large houses and developers purchased tracts of land to build homes on small lots. Before the highways and railroads, stagecoaches and trolleys traveled the town's two post roads-High and Washington Streets. At one time, Westwood even had an airport. Today, the community has more than thirteen thousand citizens.

In Westwood, rare photographs from the Westwood Historical Society, the Westwood Public Library, and private collections offer glimpses into the town's past. The images include sawmills, icehouses, metal foundries, and many small businesses. Within these pages are photographs of Fellowship Farm, a socialist experiment under Rev. George E. Littlefield; the Fisher School, now home of the Westwood Historical Society; Betsey Baker's bonnet-making industry; Buckmaster Pond; the Willow Farm and Windsor Road neighborhoods; schools and churches; and landmarks lost to demolition and fire. Westwood illustrates the transformation of the town from a farming community to a modern suburb of Boston.

South Boston

9780738555287

$24.99

Through vintage postcards, South Boston shows one of Boston's most beautiful neighborhoods with miles of sandy beaches, shaded thoroughfares, and well-kept brick and wood frame homes.

During the early part of the 20th century, technological advances in the printing industry spawned a new fad: postcard collecting. Publishers dispatched photographers to communities throughout the country and produced iconic images that formed a portrait of the nation. Travelers used postcards to communicate with friends and family and to maintain a visual record of their itineraries. Although the fad was short lived, thousands of postcards and, in some cases, entire collections survive to this day. South Boston is an Irish American enclave that has probably undergone fewer physical and social changes than any other section of the city.

Weymouth:

9781596298453

$21.99

Since its incorporation under Thomas Weston, a merchant-adventurer by trade, Weymouth has been defined by its lively residents, like celebrated first lady Abigail Adams and Thomas Watson, Alexander Graham Bell's trusty assistant who also ran the world's largest shipyard on the Fore River. Many entrepreneurs stand among the ranks of this town's personalities, from the pioneer of shoe manufacturing, James Tirrell, to E.S. Hunt, successful producer of items like Dragon Wheel fireworks and fashionable ladies' fans. Local historian Ted Clarke delivers Weymouth's most unusual stories, with tales of the town's famous cobblers, veritable walking gossip mills sought out for their skills, as well as their scoops, and the Wide Awakes, a nineteenth-century youth antislavery group demarcated by its white accessories. Weymouth provides the most unforgettable and unexpected vignettes from this South Shore town's legacy.

Marion in the Golden Age

9781596296343

$21.99

In The Late Nineteenth Century, America's new railroads flooded Marion with extravagant cargo: the rich and famous. For the likes of Mark Twain, Henry James and President Grover Cleveland, whose home here was known as the "summer White House," Marion became a treasured sanctuary from city life. Teeming with prosperity and the blossoming arts, this hamlet offered a setting so breathtaking that it inspired some of the world's foremost creative minds. Encouraged by The Century Magazine editor Richard Watson Gilder, prominent artists, architects, writers and celebrities flocked to Marion. Also frequented by Academy Award-winning actress Ethel Barrymore, it was here that Charles Dana Gibson sketched his iconic "Gibson Girl." Whether following First Lady Frances Cleveland's trendsetting fashion or the well-publicized wedding of Cecil Clark and Richard Harding Davis, the eyes of America were firmly planted on Marion's sparkling shores and glittering guests.

The Irish in Haverhill, Massachusetts

9780738564289

$24.99

James Maroney from Clare. "Capt." Nicholas Costello from Kilkenny. The Lucey and Hodnett sisters from Cork. The many Linnehans from Limerick. Bridget McGovern from Cavan. These were some of Haverhill's Irish. Some came by sailing ship during the years of the Great Famine. Others came by steamship at the end of the century. The immigrants hailed from every part of Ireland, but especially from the province of Munster. They were drawn to Haverhill, Massachusetts, to work in its shoe shops, to cook and clean in its "big houses," and to be laborers for the city. The Irish immigrants settled in every part of Haverhill and put their imprint on the old Yankee town. They built their own churches and schools, joined together in fraternal and religious organizations, elected their fellow Irish to the city government, opened stores, and saw their children become lawyers, doctors, priests, and nuns, as well as professional baseball players. They were a visible presence, and we can view them through this wonderful collection of photographs lovingly preserved by their descendants.

Florence

9780738598413

$24.99

In 1852, the community that began as Broughton's Meadow officially became the Village of Florence. This small, New England community prospered with the rise of the silk industry and its businesses, such as the Northampton Silk Company, the Nonotuck Silk Company, and Corticelli Silk Mills. Local mills and factories manufactured goods that were shipped around the world while local shops and storefronts continued to grow and change the face of the village. The population expanded due to the success of companies like the Florence Casket Company and Florence Savings, which created more jobs. By the turn of the 20th century, Florence was well established with over 3,500 residents. The community had several churches, a modern schoolhouse, the Lilly Library, a thriving business center, and its own trolley line, which ran to and from Northampton. Florence provides a look at the residents, businesses, and organizations that came to shape the life of this community.

Marblehead in World War I:

9781609491499

$21.99

The small seacoast town of Marblehead, in eastern Massachusetts, was the first to answer the call to arms during both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. Throughout World War I, Marblehead was affected, and the town influenced the outcome. Boasting of the fifth and final naval militia in history, the Tenth Deck Division, Marblehead's men stood on the front line as the first shots rang out, aimed at the Germans in 1917. It was a town that pulled together, rallied behind their own family and friends while they fought in the trenches of war and stood shoulder to shoulder in their diligent commitment. Historian Margery A. Armstrong delves into the past through articles and letters from those overseas that were first published in the Marblehead Messenger.

Martha's Vineyard in World War II

9781626193727

$21.99

The small, tightknit island community of Martha's Vineyard was irrevocably transformed by World War II. From rationing and blackouts to a military presence in Chilmark, the war was brought home to the residents of the island. In the air, pilots flew training missions from the Martha's Vineyard Naval Auxiliary Air Facility. At sea, ferryboats served as hospital ships in the D-Day invasion, while enemy submarines lurked offshore. Mock invasions were undertaken by military forces from across Vineyard Sound, and remote sites were used for training missions and bombing practice. Residents participated in the war effort by buying war bonds, supporting USO activities and conducting air raid drills. Remnants and reminiscences of this illustrious past can still be found today. Join authors Thomas Dresser, Herb Foster and Jay Schofield as they revive the story of this resilient island during World War II.

Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras

9780738555256

$24.99

In 1958, under the direction of Prof. Marvin Rabin, the Boston University College of Fine Arts established a youth orchestra for junior and senior high school students from the Greater Boston area. The Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras (BYSO), formerly known as the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras, has flourished over the past 50 years, expanding beyond the original single orchestra and launching many new artistic initiatives. BYSO members have experienced countless unforgettable moments, including performances at the White House, Carnegie Hall, and renowned concert venues across the world. Today, under the musical leadership of Federico Cortese, the BYSO serves over 400 young musicians from 126 communities throughout New England. The BYSO is one of Boston's most prestigious arts organizations, with a programmatic scope that includes three full symphonic orchestras, a string orchestra, a preparatory wind ensemble, four chamber orchestras, 50 chamber music ensembles, and a nationally recognized string training program for underrepresented youth from inner-city communities. The BYSO has selected images from its extensive archives to exhibit the rich history of this organization.

Lucky to Live in Massachusetts

9780738527956

$16.99

What do you get when you cross a read-aloud storybook with a write-in memory book? Magic moments between kids and adults! The Lucky to Live in Massachusetts book is the perfect tool to jump-start meaningful conversations between generations. Read-aloud rhymes set up interesting topics. Then write-in prompts invite children to record their own views to create a personal Bay State keepsake. The real gift lies in the interactive nature of the book as it offers the perfect opportunity for adults to share their own stories and wisdom about such issues as friendship, community, team spirit, and other topics that help develop a child's social and emotional skills. Customized Massachusetts content—from favorite local cuisine (cranberries) to interesting attractions (The Freedom Trail)—provides an even more personalized experience.

Paxton

9780738557373

$24.99

Paxton, Massachusetts, originally part of the towns of Leicester and Rutland, began in 1765 as a small agricultural community and has since undergone numerous changes in its nearly 250 years. Although a small town, roughly only 15 square miles in size, Paxton boasts a diverse and rich history.