New Book Releases

The modern city of Alamo, where “Winter Texans” come to enjoy the “Land of Two Summers,” is far different from what Peter Ebenezer Blalock and George T. Hawkins from Mississippi envisioned as a great cattle ranch when they purchased 32,000 acres of Spanish land grants on the north side of the Rio Grande. In 1909, the land was sold to John T. Beamer and his backers, who envisioned a sugarcane empire; they formed the Alamo Land and Sugar Company. The sugar market collapse led to colonization, bringing trainloads of prospective buyers to Alamo who would mainly farm and open businesses. The Alamo townsite was incorporated in 1924 and celebrates its 100-year anniversary in 2024. In that time of development, the community witnessed steady economic growth. Its history includes raids by Mexican bandits, a taxi driver helping catch a bank robber, a mayor and a former police chief duking it out, the tragedy of a train/truck crash killing 34 farmworkers, damage from Hurricane Beulah, and gaining one of the largest flea markets in Texas.

History buff authors are Alejandro Oyoque, director/curator of the City of Alamo Museum, and Herb Moering, a 20-year Alamo resident and a journalist originally from Wisconsin. Both are Friends of the Alamo Museum members.

Ever since Rev. Abraham Pierson of Bradford, Connecticut, brought his collection of 400 books to Newark in 1666, the city has had libraries. First attached to churches and schools, these private libraries catered to audiences for specific purposes; they were not open to all. In 1887, the citizens of Newark voted to establish a free public library, the Newark Public Library, which became the seventh in the state of New Jersey. Since then, trustees, directors, and staff members have contributed to the overall success of the library through their dedication to its services and collections. They have done so at the main library on Washington Street, built in 1901, and at the various branches constructed across the city in the 1920s. A legacy, consisting of dedicated librarians and clerks who provide excellent services and inspiring programs based on unique collections, has been maintained with community support for over a century.

William A. Peniston was the librarian and archivist at the Newark Museum of Art for 25 years (from 1995 to 2021). He was also the archival consultant for the Librariana Collection (the institutional archives) at the Newark Public Library from 2013 to 2014. He is the author of Images of America: Newark Museum of Art (2023).

Situated on a prehistoric ridge, Blue Island is among the earliest established communities in northeastern Illinois, first settled in 1835, later becoming a village in 1872 and a city in 1901. This hardworking town was connected to the American economy through its rivers, canals, and railroads, including the Rock Island Railroad shops. Its brickyards led the nation in production and supplied the very blocks of Chicago’s rebirth after the Great Fire. The architecture of immigrant merchants and significant institutions has largely been preserved, along with many homes of working-class and prominent residents. Renowned architects, including George Washington Maher, Bertrand Goldberg, and Blue Island’s own Robert Seyfarth, designed local landmarks. Blue Island is a community of immense pride that is as aware of its uniqueness as it is eager to share it.

Jason Berry lives in Blue Island and is a life member of the Blue Island Historical Society. Kevin Barron is a special education teacher and creator of the free historic resources organization SouthCookExplore. The images for this book were selected from the Blue Island Historical Society archives and museum. For more than 50 years, the society and its vibrant programming have kept Blue Island’s history a vital part of its continued discovery.

Marking the ridgelines and hearts of the Appalachians during the Great Depression, packhorse librarians delivered hope, one book at a time.

When the Great Depression started, folks stumbled on hard times. Many lost their jobs and homes, and they struggled to support their families. But people craved hope for the future, and hope arrived with the packhorse librarians through Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal in 1933. Each week, children, families, and schoolhouses celebrated when their packhorse librarian arrived at their doors with books. After being handled by many cherished hands, reading materials needed to be taken out of circulation. The librarians constructed scrapbooks and filled them with beloved items—recipes, quilt patterns, pictures, and stories. Challenges awaited the librarians at every pass. From muddy creeks to snowy hillsides, the packhorse librarians delivered books and hope to their patrons. Although the program ended in 1943, the lasting effects on literacy and the communities these packhorse librarians visited can still be seen today.

Author Nicki Jacobsmeyer lives in rural Missouri, where she writes fiction and nonfiction for adults and children. She inspires others to discover and dream through reading and believes books are windows to the world. 

An idea born in the aftermath of World War II, Grenville Baker Boys Club exemplified the newfound optimism of the time, capturing what was best in the North Shore community of Locust Valley, New York. 

In 1946, teens playing football by the train tracks inspired local citizenry to create a safe place for boys after school. With a combined effort across the economic and social spectrum, the project gained momentum. By 1950, Edith Kane Baker, widow of George F. Baker, bestowed the funds to build a clubhouse in memory of her son Grenville, establishing the first nationally affiliated boys club on Long Island. She was soon joined by her neighbors, the Pratts, Doubledays, Smithers, and others, along with a cadre of committed professionals and volunteers. Over the decades, the club has grown, welcoming girls in 1981 and securing the Grenville Baker Boys and Girls Club’s mission for generations to come.

Archivist, historian, and museum director Amy Dzija Driscoll is coauthor of Locust Valley. Attorney Carol McKey Harrington is a lifelong resident of Locust Valley and a writer for Grenville Baker Boys and Girls Club. Together, they worked with staff, alumni, and friends to curate a selection of images and memories to tell their story. The club’s longtime executive director, Ramon Reyes, contributed the introduction.

The town of Vassalborough, Maine, was incorporated in 1771. The town clerk modified the spelling of the town to Vassalboro’ in 1851 and then to Vassalboro in 1861. The town is nearly 48 square miles in size and is comprised of six distinct areas. With a connection to the Kennebec River and its lakes and ponds, Native Americans had a presence here for over 8,000 years, establishing seasonal villages and using the waterways for fishing. Shipbuilders rolled their completed ships to the Kennebec River, and many mills used waterpower provided by the streams. The American Woolen Mill in North Vassalboro won a gold medal for its cassimere fabric at the world’s fair in London in 1851. Wonderful historic buildings still line the streets, including the Vassalboro Historical Society’s Taylor’s House and Blacksmith Shop and Lampson’s Harness Shop as well as the town’s first firehouse. The Revere House in East Vassalboro once provided lodging to guests who were often ferried to the nearby Bradley’s Island in China Lake for bowling, dancing, and dining. Oak Grove School brought to Vassalboro students from all over the world. While Vassalboro has changed from the mill town it was in the 1800s, it remains a family-focused community, providing a sense of warmth, history, and continuity.

The Vassalboro Historical Society is proud to share the photographs and information from its vast collection. 

Nestled between a bluff and the Mississippi River, Fort Madison is a quaint town that has thrived over the last two centuries. Known for its castle-like penitentiary, former Sheaffer Pen Company, and the largest double-deck swing-span bridge in the world, Fort Madison, Iowa, has a long and varied history from its beginnings as a military fort and trading post that grew into a turn-of-the-century town. Its rail system played a part in the westward expansion of the United States. Dana Bushong Jewelers, Faeth’s Cigar Store, and Dodd Printing and Stationery are still in operation today as century-old family businesses. Fort Madison has continued to develop in the 21st century with the reinstated Historic Santa Fe Train Depot and revitalization of the Fort Madison Marina on the Mississippi River shoreline. This book offers insight into the courageous men and women who formed the town as well as their homes, places of business, and their forms of entertainment. A quintessential small town, Fort Madison promises a beautiful view and unique perspective. 

Author Krys Plate and amateur photographer Kathy Burkhardt, both residents of Fort Madison, are members of the North Lee County Historical Society and are avid volunteers in the community. Most of the images in this book come from the collections of the North Lee County Historical Society.

When visiting a church such as Holy Cross in Back of the Yards or Nativity Blessed Virgin Mary in Marquette Park, it is easy to stand in awe of what generations of Lithuanians in Chicago have accomplished. 

The community’s many churches, sprawling cultural institutions, schools, and countless organizations stand as a testament to its pride and work ethic. For nearly 150 years and across three waves of immigration, Lithuanians came to Chicago seeking freedom and opportunity not afforded them at home. The first people to come at the turn of the 20th century worked and lived mostly in and around the stockyards and centered their community on the parish church. Those who came after World War II, fleeing the Soviet occupation of Lithuania, were foremost committed to advocating for their homeland and keeping their heritage alive. The numerous organizations and cultural centers they established reflect this. The most recent wave revitalized an aging community, injecting new energy into existing organizations and opening new businesses, schools, and other organizations.

Justin G. Riskus is a history teacher and writer who has many fond memories of growing up in the Lithuanian communities of Chicago, Lemont, and Gary, Indiana. He is also the author of Arcadia’s Lithuanian Chicago, published in 2013. The majority of images in this book come from the archives of the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture as well as other organizations and community members. 

New York City was the center of business, commerce, manufacturing, culture, and war spirit in the North during the Civil War. Abraham Lincoln gained an important national audience at the Cooper Institute in February 1860.

Tens of thousands of young men enlisted in the city and marched off to fight. Factories churned out materiel for the soldiers. Black leaders such as Frederick Douglass mobilized African American support for the Union. Foreign dignitaries were the subject of grand celebrations on Broadway. Immigrants raised celebrated ethnic regiments, and nationally renowned newspapers debated the pressing issues of the day. In short, the city was a vital engine that powered Union efforts. Yet New York was also a divided metropolis where political differences were hashed out—sometimes violently. The deadliest urban racial violence in American history took place in Manhattan in July 1863. In this book, New Yorkers regain their place at the center of the Union war effort on both the battlefield and the home front.

Acclaimed historians Jonathan W. White and Timothy J. Orr bring New York City’s Civil War story to life through photographs and illustrations drawn from libraries, archives, and private collections around the United States. Foreword author Harold Holzer is the Jonathan F. Fanton Director of the Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College and a leading historian of Lincoln and the Civil War in New York City.

What began as a small farming community has grown into one of the fastest developing cities in the Pacific Northwest. Kent, Washington is a part of the White River Valley, about 7.5 miles south of Seattle and 18 miles northeast of Tacoma.

Situated between the two ports, Kent is in an advantageous position for trade and development. It was named after the county in England for its shared history of growing hops. Due to frequent flooding, the rich soil was good for growing a variety of crops. The hills on either side of the valley were abundant in red cedar; the logging and farming opportunities made the land a popular spot for white pioneers to set out to make their fortunes. Within the last 50 years, both Boeing and Amazon have built facilities in the city.

Rachel E. Friedland has lived in Kent for over 20 years. She has a bachelors degree in history from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, and a certificate in museum studies from Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. She has been an educator for five years and a volunteer at the Greater Kent Historical Society. Compiled from images from the Greater Kent Historical Society, the Museum of History and Industry, and the White River Valley Historical Museum, this book is a visual journey through the rich history of Kent.

Using rarely seen images to illustrate the most interesting features of the city, this book showcases the events that molded Petersburg's history. Petersburg Virginia has the largest amount of 18th, 19th and 20th-century structures in the state of Virginia. Most of these buildings, homes and streets have been in constant use. There are thirteen neighborhoods on the national register of historic places.

More than 14,000 people of Japanese descent—two-thirds of them US citizens—were exiled from August 1942 to November 1945 to the Heart Mountain Incarceration Site on the high desert prairie of Wyoming’s Big Horn Basin.

The site was the temporary home for Japanese Americans forced from their homes in California, Oregon, and Washington. Believed to be saboteurs or spies or both, the prisoners were viewed with fear, hatred, and sometimes acceptance by their neighbors in nearby Cody and Powell. During their time at Heart Mountain, the incarcerated people lived like the residents of any American city. Under the eye of the federal War Relocation Authority, they taught school, worked at the fire and police departments, ran stores and barbershops, and spent much of their time wondering what had happened to their former lives. Today, the site is part of the Heart Mountain Interpretive Center and Mineta-Simpson Institute.

Ray Locker is the director of communications and strategy for the Heart Mountain Wyoming Foundation. The foundation’s staff consists of experts on Japanese American history, the intersections between Wyoming’s Indigenous community and World War II’s incarcerated people, and museum professionals dedicated to telling the story of this sad chapter of American history. They used donations from those incarcerated and their families, collections in the foundation archives, the National Archives, the Library of Congress, and museums from around the country.

On November 19, 1906, the School of the Ozarks was chartered by the State of Missouri.

The poverty-stricken Ozarks had limited educational opportunities, but when the first students enrolled, the school did not depend on tuition dollars. Instead, each student worked at the school in exchange for an education. Today, the College of the Ozarks is a liberal arts college where students still work for their degrees. The institution is recognized for its emphasis on academics, faith, patriotism, and vocation, and it continues its commitment to the mission “to provide the advantages of a Christian education for youth of both sexes, especially those found worthy, but who are without sufficient means to procure such training.” Located near Branson, Missouri, the campus hosts thousands of visitors each year who enjoy Williams Memorial Chapel; Edwards Mill; and the Keeter Center, modeled after a historic building on the Point Lookout campus. Visitors discover a unique college where generations of students have gained a life-changing education.

Gwen Simmons is the director of Lyons Memorial Library at the College of the Ozarks and an alumna of the institution. Most of the images featured in this book are a part of the college’s archival collections at the library, alumni center, and museum.

For over a century, the Olympia harbor tugboat Sand Man has worked on Puget Sound waters.

Built in Tacoma in 1910, Sand Man towed such commodities as sand, gravel, oysters, logs, and more to and from Budd Inlet. The tugboat was owned by three commercial companies and one private owner. In 1997, the Sand Man Foundation formed, took ownership, and placed Sand Man on multiple historic registries. Through fundraising efforts, the deteriorating Sand Man was miraculously saved and rebuilt after three sinkings. Over the years, the vessel participated in many Olympia Harbor Days activities and vintage tugboat races and was the festival’s first logo boat in 1983. Sand Man, a workhorse and survivor, is known as “Olympia’s Tugboat.” This is the story of Sand Man, the little tug that could and did. 

Lisa Nickel grew up boating on Puget Sound in her family’s own tugboat. She holds a master’s degree in creative arts and learning. After retiring from a 30-year teaching career, she is now the author of multiple magazine articles. She received the 2022 Algona Great Blue Heron Award for her dedication to her teaching career, partnership in science education, and charter lead educator of the Algona Blue Heron Community Gardens. Maritime historian Chuck Fowler’s previous publications include Arcadia Publishing’s Tall Ships on Puget Sound, Tugboats on Puget Sound, and Patrol and Rescue Boats on Puget Sound, as well as Exploring Maritime Washington, published by The History Press.

Brunswick, Georgia, was laid out from a plan by Gen. James Oglethorpe in 1771. Growing quickly after the Civil War, Brunswick became a thriving Gilded Age port for naval industries and shipping as well as a stop off for the wealthiest northern industrialists escaping to the Golden Isles.

Today’s vibrant Old Town Historic District still boasts eye-catching examples of days gone by. Suzanne Hurley is coauthor of The Great Houses of Brunswick and a former communications manager at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Joshua Dukes is a digital photograph restoration artist and Brunswick historian.

The historic houses of worship in Portland date back to 1850 with the creation of the city’s first church, First Methodist.

The Portland community embraced not just faith and values but also their aesthetic priorities as a society. Working in diverse styles such as Gothic Revival, Italianate, Romanesque Revival, and Modernism, architects Warren Williams, A.E. Doyle, Pietro Belluschi, and a host of others helped forge Portland’s architectural identity. While Portland’s earliest houses of worship are gone, a nearly complete photographic record of their existence remains. Portland’s religious communities have a long history of diversity, and the inclusion of as many faiths as possible has been a priority in the creation of this book.

John Doyle has been a lifelong student of history, architecture, and art history. After earning his master’s of art in art history from Tufts University, Doyle lectured at the Met Cloisters and then lived and traveled overseas for several years. He has lived in Portland since 1997 and has been a docent for the Architectural Heritage Center and a private tour guide since 2010. Doyle has devoted hundreds of hours to the study of Portland and Oregon history at the Oregon Historical Society, from whose collection most of the photographs in the book were obtained. 

Discover the history San Mateo County's gas stations through this collection of historic photographs.

The years following the 1906 earthquake saw a migration from the city to the suburbs, farms, and orchards of the San Francisco Peninsula’s San Mateo County. Mobility on the peninsula came in the form of streetcars, trains, and buses but was soon dominated by the automobile. Beginning in the late 1920s through the 1990s, the peninsula was inundated with automobile service stations, or gas stations, where smartly dressed station attendants practically ran to one’s car to fill the tank, check oil and tire pressure levels, and clean the windshield. At the peak, the small city of San Carlos had 23 stations. Today, it has only five. 

Bruce C. Cumming enjoyed a 42-year-long career in California law enforcement, serving as police chief of Menlo Park and Morgan Hill. Cumming has had an interest in all things automotive and currently owns several vintage autos and collects petroleum memorabilia. Nicholas A. Veronico is the author or coauthor of more than 45 books on art history, aviation, military, and transportation subjects. Together, they have sourced many rare, never-before-seen photographs from various county archives and private collections to document how car culture on the peninsula has changed over the years.

Long known for its Dutch heritage associated with windmills, tulip festivals, and distinct surnames, there is more to share about the town of Clymer. Traveling country roads through the rolling hills of southern Chautauqua County, a fertile valley with a village at the center that features a lone flashing red traffic light can be found. Established in 1821, Clymer has a rich history and a proud tradition of both individual and community accomplishment. Self-reliance and an entrepreneurial spirit led to the creation of public utilities, flourishing businesses, and schools that educated future professionals and farmers alike. Its small-town charm remains today, with an amazing one-stop general store, an all-you-could-need hardware store, and a widely known and popular restaurant with delicious sweet rolls.

As a retired teacher who grew up in Clymer, Rod Beckerink shares photographs and stories that act like individual pieces of a puzzle that, when put together, give a better understanding of what shaped the Clymer of today. With images primarily collected from the Clymer Area Historical Society, readers can take a trip down the nostalgic memory lane of Clymer’s past to catch a glimpse of the people, places, and events of the area’s interesting history.

In the mid-1830s, German pioneers found an area 30 miles north of Houston thriving with pure water, an abundance of timber, and rich agricultural resources.

In 1838, the Republic of Texas granted to serviceman William Hurd 320 acres. In the early 1900s, the nucleus of the landscape caught the eye of the Trinity & Brazos Railroad as a favorable stop to the Port of Houston. For 25 years, the town prospered as a major rail stop for commodities from all around the area. In May 1933, oil was struck, which catapulted the small town into one of the largest producing oil fields in the South. The oil boom created a community that has thrived on small-town culture with a melting pot of heritages. Former and current residents alike share a deep-rooted sense of community and are proud to call Tomball their “Hometown with a Heart.” 

Descendants of early pioneers and Lone Star College–Tomball Community Library staff have collected community photographs to share these historic hometown images. 

The origin of the name Southfield is not conclusively known, but it is surmised that the area gained its name because it was located in the “fields” south of Bloomfield Township. For much of its settled history, Southfield was a rural, agricultural community; however, that changed when Detroit experienced phenomenal growth in the early 20th century.

As Detroit’s borders strained to contain the influx of people and spurred by the development of the massive Northland Mall, Southfield rapidly developed in the mid-century. With its central location and connection to other major cities via the newly built John C. Lodge and Southfield Freeways, Southfield was also appealing to businesses. Fueled by the people and wealth flowing into the community, Southfield became an epicenter of the burgeoning Mid-Century Modern movement in architecture. Later, Southfield developed a reputation as a welcoming and tolerant place, and today, residents take pride in the highly diverse community.

Utilizing photographs from the Historical Society of Temple City, Donna Georgino explores the history of Temple City.  

When Walter P. Temple’s oldest son, nine-year-old Thomas, discovered oil on the family’s property in the Montebello Hills, Temple used his newfound wealth to purchase 285 acres of the Rancho San Francisquito. Temple, along with his associates Milton Kauffman, George Woodruff, and Sylvester Dupuy, established the Temple Townsite Company in 1923 and began selling plots of land designed to form a new community for the middle class. With a park, a church, a central business district, and an extension of the Pacific Electric Red Car line, the town of Temple soon became a thriving community. In 1928, the town of Temple changed its name to Temple City to avoid confusion at the post office. In 1944, the Woman’s Club initiated the Camellia Festival, an event that is still celebrated today.

Author Donna Georgino grew up in Temple City, attended Temple City schools, and currently serves as the president of the Historical Society of Temple City. The historical society was formed in 1987 by longtime residents interested in preserving Temple City’s history. In 2006, the Woman’s Club gifted/deeded its building on the corner of Kauffman and Woodruff Avenues to the society as a permanent home for the museum. 

The Hawaiian island chain has long been a crossroads of cultures. Oahu’s name is sometimes translated as “the gathering place,” and its appeal is undeniable. Even before the arrival of Western powers, Hawaiian chiefs struggled for control of the island. As far back as the 1700s, many would-be colonizers had their eyes on Pearl Harbor—the United States, the British, the Russians, and the Japanese. For decades, only one thing was certain. The Hawaiian monarchy would not be left alone to rule their own people. More than a hundred years before “the day of infamy,” December 7, 1941, the story of the United States’ military occupation of Hawaii begins with the Western world’s discovery of what was at the time called Wai Momi, the beautiful and, unfortunately, strategically located “waters of pearl.”

Sarah Bellian is a historian and curator of the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum at Pearl Harbor. She previously worked in museums and public history in Texas and Idaho. During the pandemic, she began a deep dive into Hawaii’s often difficult relationship with the US military. In addition to telling stories, she enjoys craft beers, historical swordsmanship, and playing roller derby.

The city of River Oaks, Texas, has always been defined by its people. With only 1.9 square miles of land, built up to over 90 percent, the city has little room for geographical expansion. Yet the city has thrived because of the resilient, pioneer spirit of the citizens who call River Oaks home.

From the early pioneer settlers who first farmed and settled the wild prairie to the modern-day citizens who work, play, and raise their families in the city, the people who call River Oaks home have exemplified a blue-collar, industrious, rebellious spirit that rebukes the more humdrum “bedroom community” label hung upon it by others. Many of the original families still have descendants living in the city whose streets bear their name. River Oaks boasts an International Motor Sports Hall of Fame member, several Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame members, an International Hot Rod Association Hall of Fame member, and an Olympian.

Darren Houk, an entrepreneur, has served as mayor and on the city council of River Oaks. Mark A. Nobles is a writer of fiction and nonfiction. The two have endeavored to tell the history of River Oaks through photographs from archives and personal collections as well as interviews with longtime residents and historians. This book is more than the story of a city, it is the story of the people who built and continue to give a thriving heartbeat to the city of River Oaks.

Holbrook was established in 1881 when the railroad came through Northern Arizona. Surviving a catastrophic fire, it was the playground for the Hashknife cowboys, giving it an unparalleled Wild West history.

It also endured floods caused by the Little Colorado River, and although it was once a major stop along Route 66, it was bypassed by Interstate 40 in the 1980s. Nevertheless, Holbrook is still a vibrant community today.

Residents for more than two decades, authors William Gibson Parker and Linda Louise Parker document this rich history.

Founded in 1905, Richmond, California, boasts 32 miles of shoreline and is centrally located within the San Francisco Bay Area. From a nationally registered historic district to its critical role in World War II, Richmond fits the quintessential historic bill—both on land and at sea.

Enjoy this glimpse into a past that is still very present courtesy of two native Richmond daughters, Desiree Heveroh and Victoria Stuhr, with images from Richmond Museum of History & Culture, Point Richmond History Association, and the Richmond Public Library.

Dr. Bobbie Chew Bigby (Cherokee) and Randy Palmer (Kiowa/Choctaw) have collected colorful photographs showcasing one of the earliest, longest-running, and most cherished American Indian cultural attractions in the country, Indian City USA.

Located in Anadarko, Oklahoma, Indian City USA was open from the mid-1950s through the end of the 2000s. Drawing on vibrant postcard images, family photographs, and maps, together with the oral histories of those who worked and lived there, this book provides a unique view into Indian City USA and what made it so special for so many people.

Dr. Leo Mallette is an adjunct faculty at Pepperdine University’s doctoral program. He has collected postcards depicting Rancho Mirage starting with the dude ranches in the 1940s and accelerating with the country clubs in the 1950s.

The city of Rancho Mirage is a low-density resort town with a population that was about 17,000 during the 2020 census. It is in the Coachella Valley, near Palm Springs, and about 110 miles east of Los Angeles. Rancho Mirage encompasses an approximately three-mile-wide swath that includes most of the area south of Interstate 10, extending south past the Whitewater River, Highway 111, and into the Santa Rosa Mountains. It was incorporated in 1973 and is home to many world-class golf courses.

Founded by the Atlantic & Pacific Railroad in 1880, Winslow evolved from a company boomtown into a small city whose historic character is defined primarily by its location along US Route 66 since the highway’s designation in 1926. Now Historic Route 66, it runs the length of Winslow on Second and Third Streets, which are lined with renovated early- to mid-20th-century buildings.

As director of the Winslow Historical Society’s Old Trails Museum, author Ann-Mary J. Lutzick researches and writes about how Winslow’s rich history is reflected in its buildings and sites along Route 66 and beyond, many of which are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Journalist and Ark City native Foss Farrar has written extensively about the history of his hometown. He shares a photo collection to illustrate its history.

Arkansas City grew quickly from a dusty frontier town in 1870 into a thriving commercial center in south-central Kansas. Nestled between two rivers, the town's location on the border with Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) provided trade advantages that brought in railroads, merchants, and seekers of free land at the time of the Oklahoma land rushes.

Utilizing historic photographs, Sandy Mitchell Pavick shows how faith is integral to the history of Ashtabula County. 

Among the first to form churches were Congregationalists, Methodists, and Presbyterians, followed closely by Episcopalians, Baptists, and Roman Catholics. The intrepid, itinerant preacher Joseph Badger was one of the area’s first clergymen and made the two-and-a-half-month trek in 1801 from Connecticut to Ashtabula County, which was then part of the Connecticut Western Reserve. The history of Ashtabula’s churches is an interesting and varied one. Churches here were a part of several efforts to effect social change, including the abolitionist movement, the Underground Railroad, and the suffragette movement. They are also the home of beautiful stained-glass windows, some by Tiffany Studios; hand-hewn wooden pews; and original artwork by talented clergy and parishioners. The many congregations that survive continue to make a difference in their communities.

Sandy Mitchell Pavick has lived in northeast Ohio for more than 25 years and is active in the Ashtabula County church community. She is a full-time writer and has penned two previous titles for Arcadia Publishing. For this book, Pavick has amassed images, many of which have never been published, from dozens of church archives as well as from private collections and Ashtabula County libraries, museums, and historical societies.

Home to the United States Naval Academy since 1845, Annapolis and its busy harbor attract visitors from around the world.

Since its founding in the 1600s, Annapolis has played an important role in American history. The area became Maryland’s capital in 1694, and its capitol building is the longest in continuous use in the United States. John L. Conley is an Annapolis area writer. The historic images in this book are from his personal collection.

Medford has a rich history, beginning with the original Quaker settlers in the late 1600s. In 1847, state legislators divided Evesham Township, creating Medford. At the time of its incorporation, Medford Township included the communities of Fostertown, Crossroads, Medford Village, Cross Keys, Chairville, Flyat, and Taunton. These small farming communities nucleated around gristmills, sawmills, cranberry bogs, churches, taverns, and isolated country schools. Such settlements laid the foundation for the Medford of the 21st century. William B. Cooper, a photographer during the early 20th century, captured many of the images featured in Medford through the Lens. Using photographs from Cooper and others, we glimpse Medford Township’s visual past within the context of county, state, and national issues, offering new insight into how the municipality developed and how its history can better inform the present.

Dennis McDonald is a Medford Township resident and is the author/coauthor of three previous books for Arcadia Publishing’s Images of America series: Medford, Smithville, and Whitesbog. Zachary Baer is a history teacher at Shawnee High School in Medford. He is the author of numerous articles related to South Jersey history and is a member of the West Jersey History Roundtable.

This book vividly traces the captivating evolution of Concord, California, from its humble beginnings to its vibrant present. Delve into the city’s rich history through a blend of archival and contemporary photographs and narratives. 

Local history author and longtime Concord resident Joel A. Harris captures the essence of Concord’s resilience, showcasing how it has grown into a dynamic hub while preserving the echoes of its remembered past through images provided by the Concord Historical Society, the City of Concord, and local citizens.

Southern California front-engine top fuel dragsters were the kings of the quarter mile. Fathers and sons, friends, and next-door neighbors joined together to build and race these cars. From 1963 to 1971, considered the toughest years to complete, the top fuel dragster became faster and quicker with new innovations in the chassis design and engine building.

Southern California quickly became the place to prove top fuel racing skills as racers from all over the United States ventured to see how they matched up against those killer cars. For any top fuel racer or team to win in that era, it was truly a lifetime achievement. Many tried and failed to make their mark in Southern California.

Photographer Steve Reyes made the five-hour drive from his home in Northern California on many a weekend to capture Southern California’s top fuel teams in action at Riverside, Irwindale, Lions, and Orange County raceways. His images of these nitro warriors capture the action and feel of those bygone days of top fuel dragster racing as well as the memories of great racers and great racing in Southern California.

The historic Central Railroad of New Jersey (CRRNJ) Terminal operated for nearly 80 years from 1869 until 1967. It served as the main passenger terminal for the CRRNJ and its tenant Class I railroads serving the New York City metropolitan area. For approximately two-thirds of the 12–17 million new citizens that successfully passed through the Ellis Island Immigration Station between 1892 and 1954, the CRRNJ Terminal became their gateway to America. In addition, the terminal became the New York City origination/destination point for the CRRNJ and its tenant Class I railroads and their famous named trains. These trains were, and are still today, widely renowned in the annals of American railroading. 

Anthony Puzzilla is a retired federal government employee after 43 years of service. He is now a full-time writer, as well as a railfan and model train lover. He is a member of the Jersey Central Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society, the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Historical Society, and the Reading Company Technical and Historical Society. This book contains memorable images, many from the author’s own private photograph collection, showing the remarkable history of this notable railroad terminal.