Girard

9780738537498

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Girard chronicles the history of this borough from its early settlement around 1800 to the mid-1900s. Photographs document Girard's relocation on the Erie Extension Canal, the borough's participation as a station on the Underground Railroad, the years when the circus tycoon and humorist Dan Rice called Girard home, the area's trolley history, and the influence of the Battles family.

The Sunnybrook Ballroom

9780738550305

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As one of the last major ballrooms located in this great nation, the Sunnybrook Ballroom is a historical and intricate part of Pennsylvania's past. Since 1926, the Sunnybrook Ballroom has been an established landmark in its community and is recognized nationwide. Opening its doors in 1931, the grand ballroom was built as an addition to the swim club and dance pavilion. For years, Sunnybrook has served as a viable piece of Americana and has seen many big-name performers upon its stage, including Glenn Miller, Cab Calloway, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Stan Kenton, Lawrence Welk, Frank Sinatra, Tommy Dorsey, Chubby Checker, and even Bill Haley and the Comets. Using vintage photographs, The Sunnybrook Ballroom traces the history of this cherished haven for big band fans, rock and rollers, and music lovers alike.

Sports Memories of Western Pennsylvania

9780738550374

$24.99

Since the late 1800s, sports have played a key role in shaping the very character of western Pennsylvania. The area's largest city, Pittsburgh, boasts well-known professional sports teams in baseball, football, and hockey. In fact, no other city of comparable size has had such success in sports at the professional level, earning bragging rights and the nickname "City of Champions." Sports Memories of Western Pennsylvania is a salute to the athletes, coaches, announcers, and fans, both professional and amateur, who together created a rich sports history for western Pennsylvania.

Conshohocken

9780738536538

$24.99

Conshohocken, a square-mile borough just outside Philadelphia, was incorporated in 1850 with just seven hundred twenty-seven residents. A century later, the population peaked at eleven thousand. This volume explores the changes in the community during more than one hundred fifty years of growth. Highlights include St. Matthew's High School, the borough's centennial and sesquicentennial celebrations, and Alan Wood Steel, one of the area's largest employers. Although the face of the community has changed, Conshohocken's residents have always preserved the sense of family that endures today.

Ellwood City

9780738576299

$24.99

Ellwood City was the concept of 19th-century entrepreneur Henry W. Hartman. In 1889, he formed the Pittsburgh Company to create a town south of the Connoquenessing Creek near the village of Hazel Dell. Local farm properties were purchased, and the town quickly began to take shape. Along with houses, the first major building was the Hotel Oliver. The Ellwood Short Line and later the Beaver and Ellwood Railroads were built to meet the demands of the growing steel industry. In 1891, the Ellwood Shafting and Tube Company was founded, producing the first seamless steel tubing and establishing Ellwood City as the "birthplace of the seamless tube industry." Mills, financial institutions, stores, schools, churches, civic organizations, and building trades thrived as construction in the new town grew.

Fort Washington and Upper Dublin

9780738535203

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Vintage photographs document the fascinating histories of Fort Washington and Upper Dublin.

Upper Dublin and Fort Washington, located to the northwest of Philadelphia, were part of William Penn's original land grant of 1681. The villages of Fitzwatertown, Jarrettown, Three Tuns, and Dreshertown developed to serve early settlers who worked as farmers and lime burners. Through vintage photographs collected by the Historical Society of Fort Washington from local sources, Fort Washington and Upper Dublin illustrates the area's transformation as new roads and railroads brought industry, grand country homes, and vacation retreats. Included are photographs of Dr. Richard Mattison's grand Lindenwold estate, homes built for his employees, and the water-tower house with its five twenty-thousand-gallon tanks perched above four apartments. The collection also includes photographs of several country inns and the now vanished community of Hoopeston.

Colonial Inns and Taverns of Bucks County:

9781596293441

$21.99

Inns and taverns occupied a position of central importance in colonial American society. Rest stop, hotel, provisioning center, drinking saloon, dining establishment, center of news and gossip, quartering for soldiers--these retreats served an astonishing variety of roles. In Colonial Inns and Taverns of Bucks County, author Marie Duess filters the colonial and
early modern history of Bucks County through the area's wide array of stagecoach stops, grog shops and taprooms. These inns created a whole world unto themselves, with a distinct vernacular (did you know the concepts of "backlog" and "minding your Ps and Qs" both originated from inn life?), set of customs and rituals and purpose within the greater societal framework.
Follow author Marie Duess into the past and discover a fascinating facet of life in early Pennsylvania.

Colonial Inns and Taverns of Bucks County:

Altoona and Logan Valley Electric Railway

9780738538976

$24.99

Dating back to 1882, the Altoona and Logan Valley Electric Railway has humble origins, but it quickly became a viable transportation system serving the city of Altoona. Often referred to as the Logan Valley, the railway employed 300 people, transported 11.5 million passengers a year, and traveled 7,220 scheduled route miles a day until economic conditions forced the line to discontinue service on June 2, 1954. Altoona and Logan Valley Electric Railway documents the history of a streetcar network that served the employees of the Pennsylvania Railroad as well as the community. Through 200 images and informed narrative, this book retraces the history of the Altoona and Logan Valley Electric Railway and its successor, the Logan Valley Bus Company.

Upper Darby

9780738576374

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Upper Darby, one of the earliest settlements west of Philadelphia, began with the Lenni Lenape Indians and early Swedish settlers of the 1650s. From the beginning, influential families left their mark.

Mills and farming were fueled by several creeks forming a fall line before dropping off to the Piedmont through Upper Darby. The descendants of Samuel Sellers were inventors whose skills benefited the nation. Dr. George Smith authored the bill for Pennsylvania public education, and famous financiers A.J. Drexel and his son A.J. Drexel Jr. created beautiful estates with landscaped vistas where residents enjoyed leisure activities. By the early 1800s, most farms had turned to dairying and became part of ""the Butter Belt."" The Sixty-Ninth Street Terminal, built in 1907, was the transportation hub for those going farther west and brought rapid development to the community. Upper Darby chronicles the people and the changing demographics of this thriving area.

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

9781467122849

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The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia started thanks to a heroic doctor's inspiration, was the first of its kind and still impacts children's lives today.

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia opened its doors in 1855 amidst a turbulent time in the city. Dr. Francis West Lewis, a prominent Philadelphia physician, was deeply disturbed by the appallingly high mortality rate among infants and children in his city, a result of the poor sanitary conditions in the urban slums that arose in great numbers during the Industrial Revolution. After visiting London for the opening of Great Ormond Street Hospital, Dr. Lewis was inspired to open the first children's hospital in the United States in Philadelphia and advertised in the Public Ledger, "Reception of children suffering from acute diseases and accidents will be received free of charge." The Children's Hospital continued to prosper and lead the advancement of children's health by creating many of the nation's first pediatric training programs and leading in the discovery of vaccines, lifesaving medical equipment, and pioneering treatments. Today, the hospital enjoys international recognition and continues to contribute to the advancement of children's health through a three-part mission of patient care, education, and research.

Parkesburg

9780738565712

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Parkesburg is located in Chester County, one of William Penn's original three counties. The town was first known as the Fountain Inn, after a 1730s tavern, and the tavern later became the town's first post office. Fountain Inn was renamed Parkesburg after prominent politician John G. Parke. A number of important businesses had connections to Parkesburg, including the Philadelphia and Columbia Railroad, which was later a part of the Pennsylvania Railroad. In 1872, Horace Beale moved his ironworks from nearby Hibernia to Parkesburg and named it the Parkesburg Iron Company. The company had a competitive baseball team, and major?leaguers such as Babe Ruth played against the team. The town also was home to one of the first airfields in the county.

Philadelphia Radio

9780738575087

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Philadelphia radio broadcasting began in 1922, when the city's first officially licensed stations went on the air. Within a few years, what had begun as a small, experimental medium became a full-fledged craze as families listened to live news, sports, and entertainment for the first time. In 1932, the first building designed for radio broadcasting opened on Chestnut Street, coinciding with the golden age of radio that featured live orchestras, soap operas, and imaginative dramas. In the 1950s, a few stations began playing rock and roll, and Philadelphia became known as a city that not only produced hit music but also consistently broke new acts. By the 1970s, FM radio began to grab the majority of listeners, and once again Philadelphia stations were responsible for breaking new artists, such as Billy Joel and Bruce Springsteen.

Swedes of the Delaware Valley

9780738573939

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The first Swedish settlers in America embarked from Gothenburg, Sweden, and sailed into Delaware Bay, arriving at what is now Wilmington. The fearless Swedish and Finnish settlers left their mark in the Delaware Valley and on many sites in the area, particularly its churches and famous log cabins. The photographs in Images of America: Swedes of the Delaware Valley depict the depth of Swedish American influence on the area, from early log cabins to John Morton, signer of the Declaration of Independence, to IKEA and the American Swedish Historical Museum. The museum, located in the heart of the Delaware Valley, is dedicated to preserving and promoting Swedish American culture, heritage, and traditions.

Around Lake Ariel

9780738546421

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The modern day village of Lake Ariel is located in Lake Township. The town and the surrounding area have a long and colorful heritage.

The early pioneers settled at the southern end of the Lake Arieland established the area known as Jonestown and Jones Lake. The northern end of the lake was initially called No. 19, for the stationary steam engine on the Pennsylvania Coal Company's Gravity Railroad. While one newspaper account claims that the lake was named for a spirit in Shakespeare's Tempest, another claimed the lake was renamed Lake Ariel from Isaiah 29, the home of David.

Around Lake Arielfeatures historic images of the steam launches and the amusement park that drew hordes of vacationers to the area, as well as the summer homes of many of Scranton's leaders that were built along the lake's shores.

Legendary Locals of Ambler

9781467101950

$24.99

One of the few towns in America named after a woman, Ambler derives its driving spirit of selflessness and community from the heroine of the Great Train Wreck of 1856. Mary Ambler, a humble Quaker mill owner who came to the aid of dozens of disaster victims, may have been the first of countless Ambler personalities who have devoted themselves to the greater good of the thriving little borough located just outside Philadelphia. Legendary Locals of Ambler celebrates the lives of the sung and unsung heroes--political and civil servants, businessmen and builders, restaurateurs and devotees of the arts, and founders of charitable institutions, such as Henry G. Keasbey and Richard V. Mattison, William E. Strasburg, George E. Saurman, "Bud" Wahl, Mattie Dixon, and Peggy Dolan--whose contributions have made a significant difference in the lives of so many.

Jewish Pittsburgh

9781467122955

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By the mid-19th century, Jews from German lands began settling in Pittsburgh, later to be followed by Jews from the Russian and Austro-Hungarian Empires and Romania. They founded businesses and organizations such as Giant Eagle, Kaufmann's Department Store, Montefiore Hospital, the Pittsburgh Playhouse, the Civic Light Opera, and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Sophie Masloff became the first woman and the first Jew to serve as mayor, and civic reformer and lawyer A. Leo Weil, philanthropist Leon Falk Jr., and social justice crusader Florence Reizenstein all had schools named after them. From Allegheny City and "the Hill" to Squirrel Hill and the East End, the Jewish population preserved its distinct core community and contributed to its adopted city in multiple ways. Today, it numbers more than 40,000, and their story is one of grit, determination, risk taking, hard knocks, and no small measure of success.

The Conrad Weiser Area

9781467123471

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In 1729, John Conrad Weiser, the most famous citizen of the area, joined his fellow Germans and built his homestead just east of present-day Womelsdorf. The settlement grew in the 1800s with a turnpike, a canal, a railroad, and more highways. Villages were started, and three became boroughs. Womelsdorf is the oldest borough in the western part of Berks County, while Robesonia and Wernersville were railroad towns laid out in the 1850s. Some remain villages to this day. Stouchsburg grew up around the turnpike and the canal. Charming Forge was the first industry in the area, and the village still looks like it did 200 years ago. The remaining parts of the area are rural, and some of the best growing soil is found in the Conrad Weiser area. In 1954, seven municipalities joined to form the Conrad Weiser Area School District. This book covers photographs from 1900 until the 1960s and includes all municipalities.

Harrisburg Broadcasting

9780738575070

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In 1922, the first radio station in Harrisburg, WBAK, was owned by the Pennsylvania State Police. By 1925, three more stations were added to the local lineup. By 1953, Harrisburg had two television stations within the city limits--WHP-TV and WTPA. WKBO was the city's Top 40 leader in the 1970s. In 1985, album rocker FM104 became WINK 104, skyrocketing almost overnight into one of the highest-rated stations in Harrisburg history. Throughout the decades, names like Dick Redmond, Ed K. Smith, Ron Drake, Mac McCauley, Pete Wambach, Mike Ross, and countless others have emerged as part of Harrisburg's long, unique broadcasting history.

The Bryn Athyn Historic District

9780738574325

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The Bryn Athyn Historic District, a National Historic Landmark, is home to some of the most remarkable architecture in the Philadelphia area.

Bryn Athyn was founded in the late 19th century by members of a Christian denomination known as the New Church, and the buildings in the historic district reflect the religious faith and vision of some of the community's earliest residents. Cairnwood, an 1895 country house in the Beaux-Arts style, was built for industrialist John Pitcairn. Cairncrest was the residence of Harold Pitcairn, one of the foremost pioneers of early American aviation. Glencairn, a magnificent castle-like mansion, was designed by Raymond Pitcairn as a home for his family and art collections and built throughout the Great Depression. Bryn Athyn Cathedral was dedicated in 1919 and dubbed a masterpiece of architectural art.

Skytop Lodge

9781467123464

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Surrounded by the natural beauty of mountain lakes, streams, and cascading waterfalls, the historic Skytop Lodge resort sits on 5,500 pristine acres in the heart of the Poconos. Developers of the estate cultivated this aesthetic when they hired the Olmsted Brothers landscape architecture firm to site the main building and design Skytop's gardens. Planned during the Roaring Twenties, Skytop first opened its doors in June 1928, just one year before the stock market crash that began the Great Depression. Despite that challenge and others, the classic silhouette of the Dutch Colonial Revival lodge has continued to greet guests for almost 90 years. Founder and general manager Samuel H. Packer laid the foundation for Skytop's success through his tireless efforts in organizing talent, such as golf pro Harold Calloway, and arranging endless events to build Skytop's reputation as a premiere destination "High in the Poconos."

The Keswick Theatre

9780738535616

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The Keswick Theatre, located just outside Philadelphia, opened in 1928 in an era when four thousand similar structures were in various stages of design and construction across the country. Vaudeville was in its final days and film was just being born. Designed by acclaimed architect Horace Trumbauer, the theater evolved into the area's premier movie house. When the theater was threatened with demolition in the early 1980s, the Glenside Landmarks Society was formed with the hopes of restoring the building to its former grandeur. Today, operating as a commercial venture, it is one of the most acclaimed concert halls in the Philadelphia area. The Keswick Theatre celebrates this historic landmark through vintage images and recognizes the dedicated community members who have kept its doors open.

Warrington Revisited

9781467122474

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At the time of Warrington Township's founding in 1734, few landowners lived on Bucks County's fertile soil. The history of the township is one of gradual growth and development. From unbroken wilderness grew small clusters of families forming villages. Warrington consisted of four villages: Warrington, Neshaminy, Pleasantville, and Tradesville. In the mid-1800s, the township's landscape was made up of family farms, with agriculture as the main industry. In the late 1920s, the first small housing developments were built. By the early 1960s, larger housing developments and shopping centers had replaced many farms. Once lined with lush fields of crops and trees, the Doylestown-Willow Grove Turnpike/Easton Road/Route 611 has seen the most change throughout time. Historically significant families, including the Barnesses, Coggiolas, Cornells, Craigs, Holberts, Leventhals, Mayers, Pauls, Penroses, Wileys, and Worthingtons, created well-known businesses along this road on which they lived. Today, this thoroughfare has little historic substance to offer its current residents.

Mifflinburg and the West End

9780738592121

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Mifflinburg and the towns of the West End have a story to tell. The hard work of making a life in early America demanded courage and determination of its settlers. There were good times when the towns thrived and tough times when efforts failed. Fires and accidents destroyed dreams, and financial distress halted progress, but the towns survived, and those that did celebrated their successes with fairs, parades, bands, and church dinners. Mifflinburg's buggy factories shipped buggies and sleighs across the young nation. The timber industry of the West End produced thousands of board feet, which built towns and propped up mines. Images of America: Mifflinburg and the West End tells the unfolding stories of Mifflinburg and the West End towns of Swengel, Millmont, Laurel Park, Pardee, Glen Iron, Weikert, Hartleton, and Laurelton. It is a history full of surprises and wonderful spirit.

Along the Wissahickon Creek

9780738535210

$24.99

Originally called Wisauksicken and Wisamickon by the Lenni Lenape tribe of southeastern Pennsylvania, the creek was renamed Wissahickon by European settlers in the late 1600s. The Wissahickon, beginning as a small stream fed by underground springs in central Montgomery County, winds its way down into a breathtaking valley in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park before entering the Schuylkill River. Rich in history and scenic beauty, the creek has played a major part in the development of the area. Early mills were established along its banks, and during the American Revolution, Washington's army set up encampments in the creek valley. Since becoming part of Fairmount Park in 1868, the Wissahickon has continued to be the focus of land preservation and is now part of the Wissahickon Green Ribbon Preserve.

Williamsport

9780738535005

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For more than one hundred years, the Grit was small-town America's favorite family newspaper and a Sunday morning staple. Dietrick Lamade, a German immigrant and self-made man, founded the Grit and ushered it through early adversity and uncertainty, eventually initiating innovations such as direct mail and nationwide newsboy delivery, transforming the paper into a national institution. The Grit was one of the first newspapers in America to feature color photographs and fictional supplements. Williamsport: The Grit Photograph Collection documents momentous events from a turn-of-the-century city on the rise, through the end of the lumber boom, the world wars, and the great Depression, to modern times.

Dietrick Lamade, a German immigrant and self-made man, founded the Grit and ushered it through early adversity and uncertainty, eventually initiating innovations such as direct mail and nationwide newsboy delivery, transforming the paper into a national institution. The Grit was one of the first newspapers in America to feature color photographs and fictional supplements. Williamsport: The Grit Photograph Collection documents momentous events from a turn-of-the-century city on the rise, through the end of the lumber boom, the world wars, and the great Depression, to modern times.

Jews of Scranton

9780738537153

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For one hundred fifty years, the Jewish residents of Scranton have contributed to the vitality of the city. In the nineteenth century, Jews immigrated to Scranton from Germany and eastern Europe, and Russian resettlement families arrived during the twentieth century. As merchants and manufacturers, they sold diamonds and groceries and produced dental supplies and ginger ale. They achieved recognition as doctors, lawyers, publishers, financiers, soldiers, and sailors. Dignitaries and scholars, such as Eleanor Roosevelt and Elie Wiesel, have been their guests, and they have hosted personalities and pop stars, such as Miss America and the Mouseketeers. Most consistently, the Orthodox, Conservative, and Reformed congregations of Scranton have established synagogues and community centers, maintaining a commitment to their faith and families that extends to the present day.

Minersville

9780738538471

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Minersville documents the history of this Pennsylvania coal mining hub.

Minersville, aptly named for those who toiled in the coal fields of east-central Pennsylvania, embodies the very essence of the coal region. This town and surrounding areas, however, are much more than abandoned breakers and row after row of coal company houses. Although coal is no longer king, the people of Minersville still take pride in their heritage. The gridiron battles of the Pottsville Maroons, the much-disputed 1925 NFL champions, and the failed political campaign of Lewis Cass against Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore proved that more than coal could come from this region. Minersville provides a glimpse of the early days of coal, as well as the people of the area and their accomplishments of spirit.

Around Chadds Ford

9780738536453

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Chadds Ford grew along an important early thoroughfare where it crossed the Brandywine Creek. Travelers along this east-west highway between Philadelphia and Baltimore were obliged to ford the creek at property owned by businessman John Chads. At first, farms, mills, and homesteads composed the architectural landscape. As the town grew, so did businesses, such as the Gallagher General Store and the Chadds Ford Hotel. By the end of the nineteenth century, wealthy Philadelphians, attracted by Chadds Ford's pastoral setting, began to build stately summer homes. Around Chadds Ford features photographs from 1870 to 1950, when the town enjoyed the sophistication of these newcomers but still retained its rural flavor.

African Americans of Harrisburg

9780738536682

$24.99

African Americans of Harrisburg documents the history of the African American community in this town.

Harrisburg served as a refuge and passageway for many African Americans fleeing the South via the Underground Railroad and moving north in search of freedom and a better way of life. African Americans of Harrisburg opens the door to this culturally diverse city of the wealthy, middle class, and poor with every possible race, religion, ethnicity, and lifestyle, which makes the fabric of the community so rich.

Meadville's Architectural Heritage

9780738539034

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Meadville, settled by David Mead in 1788, was established 100 miles from Pittsburgh and Buffalo in the French Creek Valley of northwest Pennsylvania. The city's population grew from 500 in 1810 to more than 10,000 at the end of the 20th century. The construction of residential, institutional, commercial, and industrial buildings burgeoned, and the diverse cultural heritage of the residents dictated a wide variety of architecture. Meadville's Architectural Heritage captures how the citizens of Meadville have retained portions of the grand architecture and have continued efforts to find new uses and functions for many historic buildings.

St. Marys

9780738544946

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Located in Elk County atop the Allegheny Mountains, Sancta Marienstadt (St. Marys) was founded in 1842 on the feast day of Mary. Establishing St. Marys as a refuge to preserve their German Catholic roots, the hardy pioneers of the area eventually embraced a multiethnic, progressive cityscape. Early settlers farmed and developed natural resources. When the extractive industries of timber, coal, and clay were exhausted, the town could have withered away. Instead, the industrious people turned to the new
technologies of carbon and powdered metal. St. Marys flourished, becoming a leader in the world in these fields, and was labeled the "Carbon City." St. Marys recounts the success of this experiment through photographs from the St. Marys and Benzinger Township Historical Society, illustrating the many paths taken by the people of St. Marys to realize the faith of their founders.

Cheltenham Township

9780738508634

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Beginning in the 1700s, water from the Tookany Creek powered mills throughout what became Cheltenham Township. Following the coming of the railroad in 1855 and the end of the Civil War, many of the wealthy in Philadelphia moved to the area to establish summer homes and, later, permanent residences. Home to early abolitionist Lucretia Mott and Camp William Penn, the nation's largest training ground for black Union troops, Cheltenham Township today remains a diverse community with a rich history. Cheltenham Township is the first comprehensive photographic history of this Philadelphia suburb. From the early days of mill towns along the Tookany Creek to the vast estates built by the fabulously wealthy at the end of the nineteenth century, Cheltenham Township captures all the towns and villages that comprise the township. The histories of Wyncote, Cheltenham Village, Elkins Park, Glenside, Melrose Park, and LaMott are brought into focus with many rare and unpublished photographs. Pictured are the early homes of Richard Wall and Toby Leech and the later mansions of the Widener, Elkins, Stetson, and Cooke families, as well as the fire companies, businesses, schools, people, and institutions that define the history of Cheltenham Township.

Oxford Circle

9780738536217

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The Jewish community of Northeast Philadelphia was created by the relocation of secondgeneration eastern European Jews from the neighborhoods of Strawberry Mansion and South, North, and West Philadelphia. Serving more than one hundred thousand Jewish residents at its height, Northeast Philadelphia consisted of ten distinctive neighborhoods, including Feltonville, Oxford Circle, Tacony, and Mayfair. During the twentieth century, thousands of Jewish families were attracted to the area by the houses built along Roosevelt Boulevard for soldiers returning home from World War II. Welsh Road catered to younger families, and wealthier families resided along Bustleton Avenue and Fox Chase and Verree Roads. Today, the influx of strictly orthodox Jewish residents has given rise to a third generation of Jewish life in Northeast Philadelphia.

Conneaut Lake

9780738592855

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The picturesque community of Conneaut Lake formed around the lake of the same name, Pennsylvania's largest natural lake.

Founded by Abner Evans in 1793, the town was originally called Evansburg in 1858, but was renamed Conneaut Lake in 1892. As alien as it may seem to us today, ice was not always readily available at a moment's notice, and Conneaut Lake found success harvesting ice from the lake, wrapping the blocks in sawdust, and storing them in mammoth ice houses until it was time to ship the ice to large cities. Today, the large ship structure protruding from Oakland Beach is still a familiar sight to visitors, but the lake is used mainly for recreational purposes, such as skiing, boating, swimming, and fishing. The largest Muskie ever caught in the state of Pennsylvania was from the waters of Conneaut Lake!

Around Cresson and the Alleghenies

9780738590400

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In this book, early views of the famous Horseshoe Curve, the Gallitzin Tunnels, and the Mountain House are intertwined with photographs of homes, churches, and the people who made the area prosper and grow.

The Allegheny Mountains constantly challenged early settlers to use their creativity and skills to conquer what seemed an almost insurmountable barrier. The founding fathers recognized potential in the area both as a resort and as a thriving town that would attract industry. Through hard work and innovation, an all-rail route over the mountains was established, linking the area with important industrial and trade centers. Many people came to Cresson to enjoy the health and recreational benefits of its natural springs, and the area's pike afforded the first stage link between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. When the Pennsylvania Railroad established headquarters here, with a roundhouse, machine shops, and branch lines, the area entered an era of industrial prosperity. In this remarkable volume, over 200 rare images are combined with informative and insightful text. Readers visit Loretto, a town founded by A Prince-Priest, Demetrius A. Gallitzin, Apostle of the Alleghenies and they are transported to Portage and Lilly, areas of woodlands that gave rise to numerous sawmills.