New Book Releases

Name: Firefighting in Willimantic
Brand: Michael E. Tirone
SKU: 9780738592930
Price: 24.99 USD
Availability: InStock

We’re always on the hunt for the next great American history book. When we find it, you’ll see about it here, with our new book releases. We release new history books each month in a variety of subjects and series. Browse through all of our newest titles below, and discover your next favorite history book at Arcadia Publishing! [View all New Book Releases]

14 products

Sort

Firefighting in Willimantic

$24.99

Stonington

$24.99

Middletown's High Street and Wesleyan University

US Coast Guard Academy

$24.99

Wallingford's Historic Legacy

Connecticut Hurricanes Drum & Bugle Corps

$23.99

Cromwell

$24.99

Historic Houses of the Connecticut River Valley

$23.99

Westport

$24.99

Firefighting in Willimantic

9780738592930

$24.99

In 1830, the state legislature called on town leaders to "form a Fire Company to work a fire engine for the protection of buildings" in Willimantic. By 1832, the Willimantic Fire Engine Company had purchased an engine known as the "Deluge" and began a rich tradition of service to the people of Willimantic. Over the years, various fire companies were formed. From hand-drawn to horse-drawn to motorized equipment, and from loosely organized volunteers to highly professional career firefighters, the Willimantic Fire Department has provided citizens with skilled, trained, and compassionate service. Through photographs, memorabilia, and stories--the majority of which were collected by the firefighters themselves--Firefighting in Willimantic recognizes the traditions and accomplishments of this outstanding department.

Stonington

9781467105279

$24.99

When Stonington's four founding fathers first laid eyes on the bucolic shoreline inhabited by the Pequot tribe, it was impossible for them to predict that the future state of Connecticut would produce nearly four centuries of American history. What became their sleepy coastal borough flourished from a "stony town" into what is now known as Stonington. Fishermen, whalers, and sealers would lead a boom in the 1800s, shaping a lifestyle that still persists as a testament to the area's heritage. Stonington survived major wars, an economic depression, and catastrophic hurricanes to thrive as an intimate yet welcoming community that harbored major motion pictures such as Mystic Pizza, Amistad, and Hope Springs. The town became a haven for Pulitzer Prize poet James Merrill and sustained a 1990s tourism revitalization that transformed it into one of New England's most precious hidden gems. Today, delectable seafood restaurants, charming shops, an abundantly rich historical heritage, and a picturesque seaside ambience put Stonington and its history at the quintessential forefront of every excursion to southeastern Connecticut.

Middletown's High Street and Wesleyan University

9781467105460

$24.99

High Street and Wesleyan University (founded in 1831) share a fascinating, intertwined history. From this major inland port on the Connecticut River, Middletown's sea captains and merchants made fortunes in the 18th and early 19th centuries trading with the West Indies, South America, and China. Others enjoyed wealth amassed from the local manufacture of swords, firearms, and marine hardware. These prominent families built fashionable villas of the latest architectural designs on High Street. Many of their homes remain, and two have been designated national historic landmarks. With spectacular views of the river valley below, its avenue of arching elms, and the addition of Wesleyan's formidable "Brownstone Row," the street has attracted many to the hill. Dignitaries, including George Washington, the Marquis de Lafayette, William Howard Taft, and Martin Luther King Jr., came to High Street.

Stafford

9781467103695

$24.99

Stafford, nestled in the hills of Northeastern Connecticut, was settled in 1719. Originally an agrarian community, the town has a diverse history. The discovery of iron ore led to a thriving iron industry that produced various items, including cannons and shot for the Continental Army during the American Revolution. The mineral springs, long known to the Native Americans, became a destination location, attracting visitors such as John Adams, future president of the United States. Stafford hosted one of the earliest agricultural fairs in the state, which ran until 1969. The biggest influence on the town was the introduction of the textile industry in the early 19th century. As immigrants of many ethnicities came to town to work, Stafford experienced unprecedented growth and the population diversified. Stafford's mills became major contributors to the country's textile industry, particularly wool manufacturing.

Colchester

9781467105873

$24.99

Colchester, Connecticut, incorporated in 1698, was a successful farming community. When wealthy farmer Pierpoint Bacon died in 1800, he left his estate to the town to build a school. Bacon Academy opened in 1803 and not only provided primary education but also included secondary and college preparation branches, making it, in effect, the first high school in the state. In industry, Colchester was the home of the Hayward Rubber Company factory, built in 1847 by Nathaniel Hayward. This factory operated successfully for decades, promoting prosperity and growth in Colchester until it closed without warning at the end of 1893. This resulted in the biggest population and economic crash in the history of Colchester. The inexpensive property still available in town in the early 1900s led to an influx of new people and new businesses, resulting in Colchester's revitalization. To most people in Connecticut today, Colchester is best known for Harry's Place, a popular drive-in restaurant that has been in operation since 1920.

New Haven

9780738544755

$24.99

Home to Yale University and once inhabited by Native Americans and settlers, New Haven has a long and fascinating history.

Originally inhabited by the native Quinnipiac, the Puritans traded blankets and wares in 1638 to acquire land destined to be a prosperous mercantile port. New Haven became a manufacturing center and was the carriage and corset capital of the world, while also being a leader in clocks, firearms, hardware, and oyster harvesting. Charles Goodyear and George W. Bush once called this city home, and Yale has attracted famous people such as Eli Whitney and Bill and Hillary Clinton. Within New Haven, antique and modern views are juxtaposed and vividly display the effects of mass redevelopment and industrial decline in the Elm City, while showing the development of community and economic prosperity in the 21st century.

US Coast Guard Academy

9781467105477

$24.99

The predecessor of the US Coast Guard (USCG) was the Revenue Marine, formed to enforce the customs laws. The officers for the service were drawn from the Merchant Marines, and occasionally the US Navy, and political connections were often more important than competency. To ensure consistent training, the original Revenue Cutter School of Instruction became the US Coast Guard Academy, moving to its present location in New London, Connecticut, in 1932. Prior to that, instruction had been afloat on four different vessels, known as cutters, and ashore in New Bedford, Massachusetts; Curtis Bay, Maryland; and Fort Trumbull in New London. The training has grown from a two-year program, providing primarily practical seamanship, to one of the highest ranked small engineering undergraduate schools in the nation, offering nine majors and graduating male and female officers with a liking for the sea and its lore.

Wallingford's Historic Legacy

9781467104944

$24.99

In 1669, thirty-eight freemen of the New Haven Colony signed a covenant to form a new plantation amongst the rolling hills and valleys east of the Quinnipiac River. With the official incorporation established the following year, Wallingford grew from a 17th-century colonial farming village into a thriving and diverse community. It was witness to the Revolutionary War and a pioneer in the Industrial Revolution, and it produced leaders in religion, arts, and politics. Robert Wallace and Samuel Simpson, who introduced silver manufacturing, and Moses Y. Beach, founder of the Associated Press, called Wallingford home. Their philanthropy helped expand schools, churches, and public services. Although the original footprint of the colonists has changed over the centuries, a stroll through the town reveals its richly preserved history. Impressive architectural styles line the streets, from 17th-century saltbox homes to Beaux-Arts mansions and Gothic Revival churches. Center Street Cemetery holds the final resting place of Wallingford's early settlers, and many of their names have left an indelible legacy.

Wallingford

9780738500751

$24.99

Wallingford depicts the interesting history of this Connecticut community.

Wallingford lies nestled among the hills along the valley of the Quinnipiac River in Connecticut. Its first settlers were 38 planters and their families, who arrived in 1670. The land proved to be productive for farming and orchards. Many years after its founding, Wallingford flourished as a center for the making of silver holloware and flatware. With names such as Wallace, Simpson, Rogers, Elton, Hall, Miller, International Silver, the Community (a commune, which later joined the Oneida, New York community), and later Boardman, Wallingford became known throughout the country. Unique areas of Wallingford such as Yalesville, Tracy, Pond Hill, North Farms, and Cook Hill sprang up, taking on the names of the people who started businesses and farms there. Today, although most of the farms and the silver industry have disappeared, Wallingford still has a thriving industry and rural expanses. Revering its heritage, the community has worked hard to achieve this balance as it has gone forward to meet the challenges of the present and future.

Connecticut Hurricanes Drum & Bugle Corps

9781467103886

$23.99

The Connecticut Hurricanes Drum & Bugle Corps was founded in Derby, Connecticut, in 1932 as the John H. Collins Post Fife, Drum, and Bugle Corps. Since its transformation to a competitive drum and bugle corps in 1955, the group has garnered notoriety throughout the region as well as national acclaim for its competitive success. Over the course of their 87-year history, the Hurricanes have become a highly regarded institution of the Lower Naugatuck Valley. They were first sponsored by the John H. Collins American Legion Post 24 and subsequently by the Sutter-Terlizzi American Legion Post 16 of Shelton, Connecticut. They are currently sponsored by the Emil Senger American Legion Post 10 of Seymour, Connecticut, and have continued to maintain strong community ties across the Naugatuck Valley region for nearly nine decades.

Cromwell

9781467102704

$24.99

Once known worldwide as "Rosetown," Cromwell has enjoyed multiple identities in its nearly 370-year existence. Initially called Upper Houses, the village was a tiny religious and agricultural outpost of the larger Middletown colonial settlement on the Connecticut River. Gradually, substantial maritime activities developed to define the community. However, by the mid-19th century, Cromwell had become an independent rural town with small farms and businesses, its river port no longer of consequence. Later, the famed greenhouses and floral industry provided international recognition. Small manufacturers and quarries also contributed to the economy. By the late 20th century, the village had become a suburban community, its cohesion impacted by the construction of major highways as well as significant commercial and residential development. At each incarnation, the town has pushed out toward its defining geographic boundaries, and the conflict between the old and the new has created changing patterns of social, economic, and political organization.

Historic Houses of the Connecticut River Valley

9781467108331

$23.99

New England's Connecticut River meanders 410 miles south from the Canadian border to Long Island Sound. After thousands of years of peaceful habitation by Indigenous people came 400 years of development around European settlements, farmsteads, shipping ports, and manufacturing mills. Farmers, boatbuilders, quarrymen, and industrialists benefitted from the river valley's fertile plains, geological resources, and waterpower. Ready access to markets at Boston, New York, the West Indies, and Europe fueled the growth of the valley's towns and major cities such as Hartford and Springfield. The valley has been home to consequential social reformers, authors, and intellectuals. Its bucolic settings attracted artists who came to the renowned colonies at Cornish and Lyme, steamboat tourists, and urban transplants with modern lifestyles. The most important houses they built, many of which are designated national historic landmarks and open to the public, and some newly discovered properties are highlighted here for their architectural significance and rich historical associations.

Westport

9781467104920

$24.99

Westport, Connecticut, started as a 17th-century colonial English settlement. Nestled on the shores of Long Island Sound and at the mouth of the Saugatuck River, the area was ideally placed for farming, fishing, and commerce. Westport was formally incorporated as a distinct municipality in 1835 and would evolve into a factory town, a bucolic retreat for both the wealthy and the common man, an enclave for artists and performers, and finally, a bedroom community for New York City. Notable townsfolk have included E.T. Bedford, a Standard Oil executive and philanthropist; inventor Benjamin Toquet; and William Phelps Eno, the "father of traffic safety." F. Scott Fitzgerald penned The Great Gatsby while summering in Westport in 1920. Silent film star W.S. Hart called the town home, as did Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, Bette Davis, and many more. Artists George Hand Wright, Robert Lamdin, Tracy Sugarman, and others were part of a vibrant art community that spanned nearly 100 years. The town retains its cultural flair with several institutions, such as the Westport Country Playhouse and Museum of Contemporary Art.