Grafton

9781467105514

$24.99

In 1838, Timothy Wooden purchased land on the banks of the Milwaukee River and began the settlement that would become Grafton, Wisconsin. Grafton soon became an agricultural and industrial community as the rich "yellow" earth attracted settlers from Germany, Ireland, and England to raise wheat, grazing grasses, and garden crops. Those early settlers discovered vast limestone deposits throughout the region, and by 1890, there were nine kilns operated by the Milwaukee Falls Lime Company. Industries were also created along the banks of the river, and in 1902, William Roebken opened the Badger Worsted Mills, the only worsted wool mill west of Philadelphia. By the early 20th century, Grafton became a music industry center when New York Recording Studios moved into the previous Wisconsin Chair Factory building on the Milwaukee River. Blues greats from all over the country made the trip to Grafton to record their music. Today's Grafton carries on the traditions of its founders by preserving historic buildings and creating new residential and recreational spaces for its residents. With a revitalized downtown, Grafton has become a commercial center for Ozaukee County.

Melrose Park

9780738560939

$24.99

Originally founded by German immigrants, followed by successive waves of Lithuanians, Italians, and Hispanics, Melrose Park has undergone a series of transformations since its incorporation in 1882. Close proximity to Chicago and the coming of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad ensured that Melrose Park became a center for manufacturing and heavy industry. Major companies including Benjamin Moore, International Harvester, and the National Malleable Castings Company built plants here, and the town was also known as the headquarters for Polk Brothers. Entertainment and leisure activities have been an important part of life in Melrose Park too. Kiddieland Amusement Park was built in 1929, quickly becoming a popular destination for Chicago area families, and the town was also home to classic movie theaters, the North Avenue Rollerway, and the Come Back Inn, a popular local restaurant. The Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is a cherished Melrose Park event that has been celebrated annually since 1894.

Shreveport Chronicles

9781596297616

$21.99

Here are heroes and scoundrels, businessmen and religious leaders, artists and soldiers, pioneers and planters…as well as a number of stories that are ironic, bizarre or simply curious. In this newest collection of his popular columns, Eric J. Brock portrays Shreveport's historical pageant through the lives of a cross section of truly fascinating characters. From the enigmatic mayor Robert Nathaniel Wood to forgotten beauty queen Janet Currie, Brock sketches the men and women—both ordinary and extraordinary—who shaped the course of Shreveport history. These biographical vignettes, originally printed in the Shreveport Times and the Forum News Magazine, are a must-read for any native or resident of northwest Louisiana.

Cover image for Shreveport Chronicles, isbn: 9781596297616

Northfield

9780738536576

$24.99

Northfield is a vibrant South Jersey community with farm, seaport, and shipbuilding beginnings. First settled in the late 1700s, it is a place of beautiful homes built by ship captains during the 1700s and 1800s. Northfield portrays the history of the community with stunning photographs and a wealth of fascinating detail. At one time, Northfield grew food for Atlantic City hotels; its office for marriage license applications was in the insane asylum; and its glass factory sold laboratory glassware to Jonas Salk, discoverer of the polio vaccine.

The 1939-1940 New York World's Fair

9780738565347

$24.99

Bill Cotter is a longtime world's fair enthusiast and his collection of world's fairs photographs, the world's largest, has been featured in museum exhibits.

After enduring 10 harrowing years of the Great Depression, visitors to the 1939-1940 New York World's Fair found welcome relief in the fair's optimistic presentation of the ""World of Tomorrow."" Pavilions from America's largest corporations and dozens of countries were spread across a 1,216-acre site, showcasing the latest industrial marvels and predictions for the future intermingled with cultural displays from around the world. Well known for its theme structures, the Trylon and Perisphere, the fair was an intriguing mixture of technology, science, architecture, showmanship, and politics. Proclaimed by many as the most memorable world's fair ever held, it predicted wonderful times were ahead for the world even as the clouds of war were gathering. Through vintage photographs, most never published before, The 1939-1940 New York World's Fair recaptures those days when the eyes of the world were on New York and on the future.

Haunted Little Rock

9781609494070

$14.99

From the Quapaw tribe who first inhabited the land to the first French settlement in the early 1700s, Little Rock's history predates the founding of America. Yet the people and events that shaped this historic legacy refuse to disappear into the pages of history books, and voices from the past still echo on Little Rock's streets. Join author and tour guide Linda Howell as she recounts history that is as fascinating as it is frightening. From the harrowing tale of how Curran Hall came to be haunted to the story behind the spirits that linger in historic Mount Holly Cemetery and much more, this collection covers the breadth of Little Rock's chilling history.

Ghost Hunter's Guide to New Orleans

9781455621583

$18.95

The haunted history of the Crescent City!

Newly revised and updated, this installment in the much-acclaimed Ghost Hunter's Guide Series is designed for locals, new residents, and travelers seeking the haunted history of the Crescent City. Detailed descriptions and historical background of more than ninety locations guide readers to sites where they might encounter ghostly apparitions. Experience the French Quarter, famous cemeteries, the spirits of Commander's Palace and Arnaud's Restaurant, haunted theatres and plantations, and more as you never have before. This informative and thorough guide includes informative supplementary materials for those looking to have and document their own paranormal experiences.

Ocean Shores

9780738580456

$24.99

Ocean Shores was the newest city in Washington for nearly 40 years, but for centuries before it had been a place of permanent occupation and food gathering for Native American tribes and a place for sea otter hunters, pioneers, and settlers to reach the interior of the Olympic Peninsula. Before Ocean Shores, there was the dream of a town called Cedarville followed by the reality of Lone Tree with its post office and 200 residents. Point Brown Peninsula was a village of survival for Polynesian Kanakas, Finns living on the edge of society, migrant workers called Bluebills, and a Hooverville for Depression-era families. After World War II, when developers first conceived of creating a "Venice of the West," many said their dream would never last. However, in 1970, Ocean Shores became a city and today has entered its 50th year of development.

Benedictine Military School in Savannah

9781467105699

$24.99

Benedictine Military School is perhaps the most enduring and successful of all of the apostolates founded by the Benedictine Order in Georgia. The school's legacy began in 1874 with the establishment of St. Benedict's Parish in downtown Savannah and the first monastery in the South at Isle of Hope in 1876. Benedictine College, as it was originally called, was begun as a boys' preparatory school in 1902 and was organized on a military basis in the tradition of the Citadel and other Southern military schools of the era. This book tells the unique story of "BC"--from its origins as a small, Catholic, all-boys' high school on Bull Street to the dramatic growth that led to the establishment of today's Modernist Seawright Drive campus on Savannah's suburban southside during the early 1960s. With over 7,000 graduates, it has become a tradition among several generations of Savannah families for their sons to attend the alma mater of their fathers and grandfathers.

Denville in World War II

9781467148955

$21.99

The bucolic small-town life of Denville in the 1940s would change forever with the outbreak of World War II. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the town mobilized, creating the Denville Local Defense Council, designating air wardens to watch the skies and establishing air raid sirens. Schoolchildren gathered around home radios to learn if there were enough supplies to heat the school, and families learned to live within the confines of a ration book. The Denville Salvage Committee proclaimed "Bomb 'em with Junk!" as it collected waste goods for the war effort. Hundreds of Denville men served valiantly in all theaters of the war, some earning prestigious military accolades and many tragically never returning. Author Peter Zablocki covers the history of World War II Denville, including interviews with members of the town's "Greatest Generation."

Uintah

9780738579009

$24.99

Nestled at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains is a small community with a grand history. The area's first inhabitants were Native Americans until eight Mormon families arrived in 1850. With the coming of the railroad in 1869, Uintah quickly became a wild and woolly boomtown with more than 100 businesses and a population of about 5,000. But when the Utah Central Railroad moved to Ogden, many people moved out of Uintah. Still, this spirited town has survived, and every year, U-Day celebrates the history of the town with various events and the lighting of the historic "U." Originally built by Uintah residents and located on the northern side of Weber Canyon, the "U" is a meaningful symbol of Uintah's past and present. To this day, Uintah retains its small-town character, and residents honor the history of their town.

Southeast Louisiana Food

9781626195493

$23.99

The cuisine of Southeast Louisiana is informed by a unique landscape. Defined by water--Vermillion Bay to the west, marshlands to the east, the Mississippi River to the north and the Gulf Coast to the south--the scenery transitions from verdant swamps to open seas stocked with diverse wildlife. The indigenous Cajun cuisine is a cultural blend three centuries in the making, with traces of American Indian, French, German, Italian and African heritage. To feed themselves and bourgeoning markets, locals built formidable aquaculture empires. Eventually, the area became less isolated, offering more opportunity while threatening traditions. With interviews and family recipes, authors Addie K. and Jeremy Martin present the history behind this enchanting culinary tradition.

Flood of Lies

9781455621309

$14.95

INDEPENDENT PUBLISHER BOOK AWARDS BEST REGIONAL NONFICTION OF THE SOUTH GOLD MEDAL

“When an elderly couple is charged with murder in the drowning deaths of thirty-five bed-ridden residents of St. Rita's Nursing Home, an emotional edge-of-your-seat thriller takes off like a shot! The players: a wily and profane defense lawyer, a ferocious prosecutor, vengeful families of the victims, and a ravenous media that brands the defendants ‘Monsters of Hurricane Katrina.’ My advice—block out enough time to read this wonderful book in one sitting.”
—John Berendt, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil

“A passionate and personal book, artfully constructed.”
—Washington Post

“A war story of jurisprudence. . . . a book you wish wouldn't end.”
—Daily Beast

It Didn't Play in Peoria

9780738525709

$24.99

It Didn't Play in Peoria explores the interesting history of this small Middle American town which is often looked over.

""Will it play in Peoria?"" was an old Vaudeville phrase meaning, ""Will it appeal to the average person?"" But it had greatness in its grasp, and more than once. The Illinois city has gained fame through the years, but more often as the butt of jokes or as an example of the typical Middle American town than through any recognition of its many accomplishments. Peoria boasts a string of close brushes with prosperity, any one of which could have made it a Chicago or a St. Louis. Charles Lindbergh, for example, first approached Peoria for backing for his historic flight, but the town's moneymen refused him and his Spirit of Peoria, perhaps losing a chance at the airline industry as well.

South Fork Cemeteries

9780738545080

$24.99

South Fork Cemeteries offers a historical tour of the southern stretch of the East End, from Southampton to Montauk. This leisurely stroll reveals not only ancient burial grounds filled with beautifully engraved slate and sandstone markers but also onshore whaling, famous shipwrecks, and fascinating people. The stones introduce the forefathers and their followers who lie in quiet resting places; the author fills in the biographical detail of the common and the famous, including whalers such as Capt. Mercator Cooper, who visited Japan before Commodore Perry did; writers such as P. G. Wodehouse, who created the unforgettable Jeeves; and artists such as Jackson Pollock, whose medium was house paint.

Walpole

9780738565491

$24.99

Walpole, a picturesque New England town on the banks of the Connecticut River, is older than the nation itself. Founded in 1752 by Colonial charter from New Hampshire's royal governor, the town's history parallels that of the nation, and it retains historic settings-period homes, gardens, squares, and commons. Walpole has been home to farmers, loggers, and mill and railroad workers, as well as artists, writers, and world-class chocolatiers. The traditional sense of community is as alive today in Walpole as it was in the early days, when community was necessary for survival.

Top O' Hill Terrace

9780738585277

$24.99

If the saga of Top O' Hill Casino becoming Arlington Baptist College were written as fiction, readers would dismiss it as improbable and impossible. The story of a tearoom evolving into the gambling hot spot of North Central Texas that was then acquired by a fiery gospel preacher, who foretold its transformation into a Baptist seminary and ultimately an accredited Bible college, is stranger than fiction yet absolutely true. The rich and famous enjoyed rubbing shoulders with the mysterious and notoriously infamous, and if large amounts of money were involved, so much the better. Stir in fabulous racehorses, flashy stage and screen stars, singers, dancers, well-known bandleaders and bands, and the tale becomes enthralling.

Skokie

9780738584430

$24.99

Settled in the 1840s, incorporated as Niles Centre in 1888, German and Luxembourger immigrants founded Skokie and created a rural community of farms and greenhouses.

A short-lived real estate boom in the 1920s gave Skokie its current boundaries, streets, and sewer systems. Due to the Great Depression, however, these paved roadways remained vacant until after World War II. Aided by the construction of the Edens Expressway, Skokie experienced tremendous growth and became a bustling suburban community. Many of the families that settled in Skokie during this time were Jewish. In the last quarter century, other families moved to the suburb, many with Indo-Asian origins, leading to the ethnically diverse community that Skokie has become today.

Classic Restaurants of Milwaukee

9781467145572

$21.99

Milwaukee may be known for beer, brats and custard, but the city's food history is even richer and tastier. At the Public Natatorium, diners supped at an old public pool and watched a dolphin show at the same time. Solly's, Oriental Drugs and others nurtured a thriving lunch counter culture that all ages enjoyed. Supper clubs and steakhouses like Five O'Clock reigned supreme. And we can't forget about the more illicit side of Milwaukee meals, like the mafia hangouts and a local fast-food chain with a mysterious resemblance to a national brand. Pairing the history of classic restaurants with recipes of favorite dishes, author Jennifer Billock explores both the well-known and the quirkier sides of Milwaukee's dining past.

Black Life in Old New Orleans

9781455625512

$21.95

Two hundred years ago, on a barren plot of land just outside New Orleans proper, enslaved and free black people would gather on Sundays to freely practice religions both ancient and new. It was a sight unseen anywhere else in the country. This was Congo Square, where the heartbeat of New Orleans was born. The story of the impact people of African descent have had upon one of America's most dynamic cities does not end there. In this well-researched and personal work, historian Keith Weldon Medley takes readers on a journey through New Orleans' African roots.

Franklin, Hamburg, Ogdensburg, and Hardyston

9780738536361

$24.99

In rare photographs, the book reveals the history of the people and places in the communities of Franklin, Hamburg, Ogdensburg, and Hardyston.

Franklin, Hamburg, Ogdensburg, and Hardyston chronicles the settlement and life of the Wallkill Valley area of northern New Jersey. Beginning entirely as Hardyston Township, the area developed into four communities, each with distinctive qualities. Franklin is the ""Fluorescent Mineral Capital of the World,"" as declared by the U.S. Congress, and with its zinc mines, is known as the ""Model Mining Town of America."" Hamburg from early times was a crossroads and business district. Ogdensburg possessed several mines and Thomas Edison interests. Hardyston, with its lakes for summer visitors and still-thriving farmland, retains the beauty of its natural surroundings.

Haunted Independence, Oregon

9781609498726

$21.99

Meet the spirits of Independence, Oregon, who whisper to passersby and tickle the spines of the curious: A young woman who threw herself from a window upon learning of her lover's death. Patients who underwent crude surgeries a century past and whose quiet moans linger on. A mysterious skeleton uncovered by a local business owner in the shadowy recesses of an attic. A doll that inexplicably relocates to different parts of the local museum at night. Mischievous or downright chilling, the ghosts of Independence offer a doorway to the city's colorful past. Tour historic downtown Independence with Marilyn Morton, founder and chair of the annual Ghost Walk, as she reveals the haunted heritage of the one-time hop capital of the world.

Haunted Jefferson City:

9781609494865

$21.99

Missouri's state capital groans beneath the burden of its haunted heritage, from the shadow people of Native American folklore to Boogie Man Bill, Missouri's wild child. The muddy river waters hide the shifting graves of steamboat crews, like the one that went down with the Montana, and the savage scars of the Civil War still linger on the land. Join Janice Tremeear for the fascinating history behind Jefferson City's most chilling tales, including a visit to the notorious Missouri State Penitentiary, where the vicious festered for 170 years.

Branson's Best Day Trips

9781589800090

$14.95

A local's guide to Missouri's entertainment boomtown. Carol A. Shaffer received an MIPA Merit Award in the 2000 Midwest Book Awards.

South Carolina Killers

9781596293953

$14.99

Murder leaves no decade unscarred. In 1903, the lieutenant governor of South Carolina shot dead a local newspaper editor, in full view of witnesses. In 1944, George Stinney was marched to the electric chair, at age fourteen. In 1994, a mother made national news pleading for the return of her kidnapped sons, when in truth she had driven them to a watery grave herself. Jones spares no chilling detail in describing each of these crimes; all make for fascinating, and terrifying, reading.

Lake Lawn

9780738560274

$24.99

Nestled on 275 shaded acres beside beautiful Delavan Lake, Lake Lawn has been a favorite vacation destination since 1878. Much of the area's local history is rooted to this wooded lakeside retreat. It is the site of the highest concentration of ancient Native American effigy mounds in the area. Plus, it was the place where the Mabie brothers first brought their circus, leading to Delavan's designation as 19th-century circus capital of the nation. It was also home to the Lake Lawn Ballroom, one of the most popular dance halls of its day, where a young Lawrence Welk played annually before achieving national fame. In addition to its historical significance, Lake Lawn was the beloved vacation spot for generations of families who enjoyed annual trips to its lakeside cottages and rustic timber lodges.

Washington, D.C. Housing Co-ops

9781467146234

$21.99

Discover the rich history of housing cooperatives in Washington, D.C., part of the urban landscape for a hundred years.

Co-ops first arose in the city in the 1920s. Building slowed during the Great Depression, but their numbers expanded after World War II. Conversions also expanded during the postwar years and several local architects became well known for their co-op designs. The model thrived and has become a vital part of the city's fabric.

Local historian Steve McKevitt tells the stories of each existing District co-op, using both historic and modern images to detail their development and architecture.

The Ghostly Tales of the Long Beach Peninsula

9781467198639

$12.99

Ghost stories from the Long Beach Peninsula have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery!

The haunted history of Pacific County comes to life—even when the main players are dead. Learn about Oysterville Church and the wandering spirits who still call it home. Or discover the history of the Shelburne Hotel, but be careful or you’ll end up trapped for eternity, too. Dive into this spooky chapter book for suspenseful tales of bumps in the night, paranormal investigations, and the unexplained; just be sure to keep the light on.

The Ghostly Tales of the Long Beach Peninsula

The Ghostly Tales of Baraboo

9781467198622

$12.99

Ghost stories from Circus City have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery!

The haunted history of Baraboo comes to life—even when the main players are dead. Visit the Old Baraboo Inn to catch a glimpse of the spirits who checked in but never checked out. Or take a drive down the infamous Highway 12, but keep your eye out for the road’s very own spectral hitchhiker. Dive into this spooky chapter book for suspenseful tales of bumps in the night, paranormal investigations, and the unexplained; just be sure to keep the light on.

The Upper West Side

9780738563169

$24.99

See how the Upper West Side of Manhattan became a neighborhood as diverse in its population as it is in its architecture.

The Upper West Side of Manhattan, the residential and retail neighborhood between Central Park and the Hudson River, is famous for its liberalism, cosmopolitan culture, and appetizing. It is a neighborhood as diverse as there is. Known as Bloomingdale in the mid-19th century, it was renamed the West End by the century's end when real estate speculation and mass transportation made their way inevitably northward in Manhattan. It was at this time that the grand boulevards and avenues Central Park West, Broadway, Columbus Avenue, Amsterdam Avenue, West End Avenue, and Riverside Drive each quickly assumed their impressive and distinct characters.

The Ghostly Tales of Put-in-Bay

9781467198707

$12.99

Ghost stories from Put-in-Bay have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery!

The haunted history of Pudding Bay comes to life--even when the main players are dead. Visit Perry's Cave to catch a glimpse of its mysterious, otherworldly glow. Or look for ghosts amongst the hallways of Cooke's Castle on Gibraltar Island. Dive into this spooky chapter book for suspenseful tales of bumps in the night, paranormal investigations, and the unexplained; just be sure to keep the light on.

Jeb Scarecrow’s Pumpkin Patch

9781455621811

$9.95

Watch out crows, this scarecrow won't give up without a fight!

Every year, pesky crows throw a party in a scarecrow’s patch, gobbling up all the pumpkins in sight and leaving a horrid mess. Not this year! Jeb is determined to protect his pumpkins no matter the cost. Those crows are in for an unpleasant surprise!

Author and illustrator Jana Dillon conceived this as her first book. Originally published in 1992, the rollicking dialogue, glowing scenes of evening mischief, and a scarecrow family of unusual charm have all stood the test of time in this inventive tale full of the radiance and excitement of the Halloween season.

Nutley

9780738562537

$24.99

Once part of Newark, Nutley has grown from a weekend getaway for tired New Yorkers and a permanent home for artists and writers into a charming small city.

Though only three square miles in area, Nutley boasts over 125 acres of park land, as well as the beautiful Third River which runs through the town. In Nutley, town historian and author John Demmer presents a fascinating look at the changes the town as undergone, as well as the life of its residents through the years. Demmer also illustrates Nutley's earliest commercial industry, the brownstone quarry, as well as the textile and banker's safety paper industry.

Savannah's Little Crooked Houses

9781596292260

$21.99

Writer Susan B. Johnson documents the interesting histories of of the famous antebellum cottages which dot Savannah's historic district.

In a warm, accessible style, Savannah writer Susan B. Johnson gives voice to the walls of the famous antebellum cottages that dot the city's historic district and examines the lives of the families that called them home. Who built these tiny dwellings? Who lived in their twelve hundred (or fewer) square feet of space? And what sort of world did they see when they gazed out their windows? This charming, meticulously researched book answers all these questions--and more. Who can resist the story of Dr. Samuel Furman, who was married to sisters, first Lucy and then Henrietta Williams? Or the sad tale of Edward and Jane Harden, who both died of bilious fever in 1804--he on her birthday, she on his--leaving their children in the care of slaves? Or the mystery of lively and conniving Eliza Howell, whose three husbands all died under the same circumstances?

Haunted Ocean City and Berlin

9781626197541

$21.99

Join Author and guide Mindie Burgoyne as she takes a chilling journey through the haunted history and lore of Ocean City and Berlin.

A ghostly sea captain, an ill-fated lover and jazz musicians who go on playing long after their last songs--these are the spirits that make their presence known from Ocean City's Boardwalk to the picturesque town square of Berlin. The phantom scent of a woman's perfume floats from Trimper's carousel while the Ocean City Life-Saving Station is haunted by the ghost of a drowned sailor. In Berlin, some guests never check out of the Atlantic Hotel, and strange happenings have been reported at the Rackliffe House, where legend has it that a cruel plantation owner was murdered by his slaves.