American History Books

Knox County had its beginnings at the confluence of the waters of Center Run with the Kokosing River. This pictorial history of the spanning of area waterways is mostly a story of disasters. Many of the photographs are of the wreckage of failed bridges and what is left of the vehicles that brought them down. They depict a county highway department that was only reactive. The practice was to send the crews out to pick up the pieces and then figure out how to repair or replace the bridge. Changes began to occur with the Silver Bridge disaster in 1967 over the Ohio River, as the federal government instituted inspection of all public bridges at two-year intervals. With the information afforded through inspections and additional funding mechanisms, counties by the mid-1980s had the tools to be proactive toward bridge maintenance. A scheduled plan to inspect structures for repairs or replacement prior to failure began to occur. During this period, construction materials other than timber--stronger and longer-lasting materials--became the norm, thus saving lives.

This book is about the people of Sharonville-the folks we read about in the "neighbors" column of a local paper, our grandparents, great-grandparents, and great-great grandparents, the human beings inside the uniforms. Sharonville: And Its People shows how different we are from those that lived here 50, 100, or 150 years ago; and yet, how much we are the same. Since its founding in 1788, the town of Sharonville (originally Sharon) has been called home to generations of people who have built homes and businesses, churches and schools, and a vibrant community that will be called home by the generations to come. The story of these people is told here through over 200 photographs from the collection at the Society for Historic Sharonville. These images show that a town isn't just its buildings and politicians, but a place built by everyday people who all have rich stories to tell.

Fostoria, Ohio, was formed in 1854 with the merger of Risdon to the north and Rome to the south. It was named after Charles W. Foster, a local businessman who served as the town's first mayor. A town of 15,000 in northwestern Ohio, it is known around the world for its many railroads and, at one time, many glass factories including the well-known Fostoria glassware. "As the great City of Fostoria celebrates its 'Sesquicentennial' we all look forward to our next 150 years, but at the same time look back on where we have been. Paul Krupp's first book on Fostoria gave a great historical and yet personable account of Fostoria. Volume 2 continues with more wonderful insights of the rich heritage of our great city."-Mayor John Davoli, City of Fostoria, Ohio.