New Book Releases

Along the Indiana border in Southwest Michigan lies Cass County, a place rich in historical significance.

Nearly one thousand freedom seekers traveled through the area on their way to Canada. The first rendition of “The Old Rugged Cross” was sung in a local church before it became one of the best-loved gospel hymns in America. The first stop on the Orphan Train, which moved street orphans from New York City to homes across the Midwest, was in Dowagiac, and the invention of Kitty Litter by local Edward Lowe allowed cat lovers the world over to finally bring their furry friends in from the cold.

Author Rose Mary Wood commemorates the events and individuals who left their mark on Cass County and the world.

The rich history of St. Clair County has been shaped by the colorful people of its past.

From the Kerley Lot to the City Flats Hotel, the corner of Military and Water Street in Port Huron is forever etched with the spirit of diverse and passionate citizens like Daniel B. Harrington and James W. Sanborn. The bankruptcy of John Johnston & Co. shaped the fortunes of a local family. Local lumbermen influenced the lumber industry not just in the county but across Michigan. The Radical Republicans contributed to the rise and fall of Congressman Omar D. Conger, and the controversial John P. Sanborn played an outsized role in local politics. Author Brenda L. Williams leads a historical journey into the captivating lives of early local luminaries.

Mention Madison County and many people think of the iconic covered bridges that have graced the landscape for more than 140 years. While Hollywood made the bridges famous, there are many more stories to share, thanks to Madison County's rich history and vibrant culture. These stories include unforgettable people who shaped America--the men and women of the Underground Railroad in Madison County; renowned scientist George Washington Carver; and social reformer Susan B. Anthony, who advocated for women's voting rights from the county courthouse in 1875. Madison County natives have also made their mark on the world. Marion Morrison, who became the movie star John Wayne, was born in Winterset in 1907. During World War II, Winterset native George Stout protected priceless works of art from being looted and destroyed by the Nazis. A visionary, steadfast spirit continues to thrive in Madison County, where time-honored values of faith, family, and friendship endure. Growing from its strong agricultural heritage, Madison County embodies modern Iowa, where charming small towns, family farms, thriving businesses, and innovative people reflect the best of the Midwest.

A cast of characters tumbles out of the pages of this book, beginning with the courageous settlers who tamed the wilderness. By the 1890s, dynamic denizens of St. Joseph and Benton Harbor harvested fruit, established factories, and opened tourist attractions. Drake and Wallace's Silver Beach Amusement Park, with its roller coaster, fun house, and Lake Michigan beach, attracted visitors from Chicago. So did the curative mineral waters. Al Capone took "the baths," despite their stinking like rotten eggs. The Israelite House of David, a Christian sect founded by Benjamin and Mary Purnell, welcomed summer visitors to their amusement park. Despite an infamous scandal and trial involving Benjamin, the House of David thrived for decades. The cities spawned inventors like Augustus Herring, who flew an airplane five years before the Wright brothers; Emory Upton, who developed an electric-powered washing machine manufactured by a company now known as Whirlpool; and Walter Miller, inventor of a record-changing machine manufactured by V-M. By the 1980s, manufacturing in the area had declined, and the cities suffered. Present-day entrepreneurs, artists, and community activists have jump-started their return to vitality.

Early Carmel settlers Silas Moffitt and William Kinzer found the area to be abundant for hunting and the soil rich for farming. Quaker in origin, the town's quest for importance in education was forefront and remains so today.

With other dedicated leaders through a time of rapid growth in the mid-20th century, Robert Hartman and Dale Graham set the standard to make Carmel High School a respected rival in academic, sports, and extracurricular competitions. Beautiful art galleries, anchored by the Evan Lurie Building, dot the rejuvenated downtown Arts & Design District where Colonel Trester's blacksmith shop and O.W. Nutt's hardware store once stood. A far cry from tented summer church revivals, world-class musicians and performers now take the stage of the Palladium, an acoustically perfect and visually magnificent performing arts center. Visionary mayor James Brainard seeks a sixth term and hopes to continue on the same path of growth and renewal. The city has been voted one of America's best places to live, and Carmel's varied and colorful residents have been proving this since the 1830s.

Touch down at Dead Cow International Airport and sample the state's bumper crop of bizarre history. The most commonplace sights contain unlikely stories, from the bulldozer's Morrowsville origins to the sunflower's journey from outlawed weed to state symbol. Some of this heritage lies submerged or buried, like the world's only saltwater spring, which now sits at the bottom of a man-made lake. Rumored caches of the Fleagle Gang's loot still draw treasure hunters in spades. From mariachi legends to rodeo roundups, Roger Ringer gathers in a vast and varied harvest of Kansas lore.

The Underground Railroad remains one of America's most ennobling true stories, and the people of Ohio played their part in this heroic endeavor. Suffering a crisis of conscience, Presbyterian minister James Gilliland left his South Carolina home for Red Oak, where he became one of the state's earliest and strongest abolitionists. Peru Township's Richard Dillingham died helping the enslaved escape bondage. In Alum Creek, three generations of the Benedict family risked life and limb doing the same. Quakers Jane and Valentine Nicholson of Clinton County carted many a fugitive to freedom, as did Wilmington Quaker Abraham Allen with his trusty Liberator wagon. Drawing on decades of research, author Tom Calarco uncovers the real tales of our nation's quest for freedom and equality for all.

Nadine McIlwain and Geraldine Radcliffe reveal the celebrated legends, unsung heroes and historic firsts of African Americans residing in the Canton community.

From Canton's earliest days, the black population has contributed to the city's, and even the nation's, prominence and prosperity. During World War II, nineteen-year-old Harold White joined the famed Tuskegee Airmen of the Ninety-Ninth Fighter Squadron. Only a few years later, Dorothy White persevered through prejudice to become Canton's first black teacher, paving the way for a long line of dedicated teachers stretching to the present day. Renowned R&B group the O'Jays formed in Canton, and professional golfer Renee Powell is just one of many local athletes to reach the heights of her profession.

Founded in 1788 along the Ohio River, Cincinnati was the major city  in the Northwest Territory for several decades. As it has developed into  its third century, Cincinnati's innovations, service, manufacturing, arts,  and athletics mark it as a place with a vibrant and varied heritage. The  contributions of interesting and unique personalities add to the city's  dynamism: William Holmes McGuffey and his creation of a nation's  textbooks; civil rights activists Ted Berry, Fred Shuttlesworth, and Marian  Berry; iconic personalities like baseball star Pete Rose and silent film actress  Theda Bara; grocery entrepreneur Barney Kroger; cooperative education  creator Herman Schneider; polio vaccine pioneer Albert Sabin; Joseph  Strauss, the design engineer of the Golden Gate Bridge; Paul Brown, one of  the NFL's greatest coaches; Henry Heimlich, whose Heimlich maneuver has  saved countless lives; and Benadryl inventor George Rieveschl. But it is also  the philanthropists and business leaders; the cultural and political figures;  the teachers and community workers; and even the intriguing characters  and everyday citizens who make Cincinnati an interesting place on the map.  This book tells their stories.

Recovering the past of Furniture City More than two centuries of overlooked history flow through Grand Rapids like the river for which it is named. The first city surveyor dabbled in seances while platting out neighborhoods and streets. When a river dredging project left a mountain of stone tormenting residents, the ordeal pitted them against city leaders. Humane society agents uncovered horrendous conditions at the city pound and successfully brought about reform and much better conditions for the animals. Grand Rapids native and city archivist Matthew A. Ellis delves into the layout of streets, the manufacture of materials used to build the city, local food trends, and more.

"I've seen a fly make a bull switch his tail" is a homespun quip attributed to Emerson Carey, the powerful salt magnate of Hutchinson, Kansas. True or not, the quote epitomizes the fearless and tenacious character of the legend who became Reno County's benefactor. Young, awestruck Carey arrived in boomtown 1880s Hutchinson and went on to create an immense empire. Coal, ice, salt, strawboard, egg cases, bags, soda ash and streetcars--he presided over it all. From Carey's sleeping in a coal yard with a quarter in his pocket to the founding of the exclusive Willowbrook community and attaining a net worth of more than $15 million, authors Lynn Ledeboer and Myron Marcotte relate the epic story.