Maynard

9780738539461

$24.99

Maynard was incorporated in 1871 as a manufacturing community. By 1880, it was one of the most influential towns in Massachusetts. As the population boomed from an expansion in business, postcards became the substantial method of communication. Local photographers took advantage of the events, pictorial venues, and influx of immigrants and visitors to create many unusual postcards of Maynard. Through vintage postcards, Maynard shows how this town, once a farming community, has retained its friendly, small-town character.

Franklin

9780738562964

$24.99

The first town ever named for Benjamin Franklin, Franklin, Massachusetts, has seen big changes and its population nearly quadruple since it celebrated its bicentennial in 1978. Franklin presents the evolution of a town with a storied past and promising future, providing links to its history as a prosperous farming and manufacturing community.

Pleasure Island

9780738564609

$24.99

Billed as Boston's answer to Disneyland, Pleasure Island opened on June 22, 1959. William Hawkes, president of Childlife Magazine, and executives at Cabot, Cabot and Forbes collaborated with Marco Engineering of Los Angeles to build what was called the "Disneyland of the East." Pleasure Island rose from the wetlands off of Route 128 into an 80-acre theme park. Through photographs, Pleasure Island recalls memories of boat rides to Pirate Cove, searching for the great white whale, driving a Jenney car, getting dizzy in the Slanty Shanty, and taking a ride on Old Smoky. At Pleasure Island, children and children at heart entered into a world that traditional amusement parks could not provide, where character actors continually put on a show and the entire park was the stage.

Holyoke

9780738539447

$24.99

Born in England in 1824, William Skinner was a tradesman who, at 19, immigrated to the United States. Skinner turned his skill and resourcefulness into a tremendous success. He first went to work in Northampton and eventually opened the Unquomonk Silk Mills in nearby Haydenville. Skinner would have remained there had a flood not destroyed his business. He built a new mill along the canals in Holyoke, one of America's first planned industrial cities, and moved his family home, Wistariahurst, to the city by dismantling it piece by piece. Residing in Holyoke for eight decades, the Skinner family contributed greatly to the community. Holyoke: The Skinner Family and Wistariahurst contains a rich legacy of photographs, letters, journals, and oral histories that provide an amazing view into life at Wistariahurst and the adventures of the family and their servants.

Assabet Mills

9780738502625

$24.99

The sleepy town of Assabet Village woke up very quickly when the Assabet Mills was built in 1847. Dams were constructed on the river, millponds were created, and large mills began producing yarn and carpets. Soon the village was turning into a town with stores, churches, schools, and government. As the mill grew, so did the town; the population grew to 7,000 people by 1905. During good times, the mill prospered, but during bad times, it faltered and had to re-invent itself. It had almost as many lives as
the proverbial cat. The carpet mill faltered in 1857, but in 1862, the Assabet Manufacturing Company started producing woolen materials and blankets to support the Civil War. This mill faltered in 1898, but in 1899, the American Woolen Company bought the
mills and greatly expanded them. In 1950, the woolen company faltered and shut down completely, but in 1957, Digital Equipment moved in. Digital faltered in 1997 and sold the buildings to Clock Tower Place, which is converting the mills into first-class industrial space. Today, the mills are attracting a new set of small industries. This book is filled with images of the various "lives" of the mill complex. Photographs featured within these pages show mill employees at work and at play; workers' homes; the evolution of the mill buildings; and the products produced and sold by the mill. There is even a chapter that shows how wool products are produced.

Sudbury

9780738597546

$24.99

Sudbury, located 20 miles west of Boston, was incorporated in 1639. It has a rich, unique history as one of the first colonial settlements. In 1676, it was the site of one of the major battles of the Indian War, called King Philip's War. In 1775, Sudbury sent more than 350 men to Concord to stand up for liberty against the British. Once known as the "carnation capital," Sudbury still has two of the largest wholesale greenhouses in the state. Historic landmarks, including Longfellow's Wayside Inn --made famous under the ownership of Henry Ford from 1923 to 1945--draw thousands of tourists every year. The town attracts residents because of its natural beauty, stone walls, scenic roads, and history. Sudbury remained a small agricultural town until the 1950s and has become a desirable suburban town known for its excellent schools, attractive homes, and community spirit.

Hopkinton

9780738590141

$24.99

The picturesque starting place for the Boston
Marathon, the town of Hopkinton, Massachusetts,
is home to a rich variety of industries and businesses.
Residents here have strong ties to the community, as
evidenced by the town's wealth of festivals, public parks,
and gardens.
This exciting new photographic history takes us to the
time when electric streetcars ran in Hopkinton and the
coming of the railroad shaped the growth of the town.
We catch glimpses of residents hard at work in the area's
old boot and shoe shops, granite quarries, sawmills, and
cranberry bogs. From views of early town government,
schools, and church buildings to intimate scenes of
home and everyday life, the over 150 rare and previously
unpublished images contained in Hopkinton create a
dramatic mosaic of the town's past.

Beverly Revisited

9780738573588

$24.99

Beverly was first settled by five men known as the "Old Planters" and was incorporated as a town in 1668. Its first minister, Rev. John Hale, was the author of an important work on the Salem witch hysteria. In 1775, the schooner Hannah, the first commissioned military vessel, sailed from Beverly Harbor. Privateers also sailed from here for their raids on enemy ships. In the 19th century, Beverly's Lucy Larcom wrote about life working in the cotton mills. The early 20th century attracted a wave of immigrants for the construction of the United Shoe Machinery Corporation and the development of the estates, beaches, and gardens of Beverly's Gold Coast. President Taft vacationed at present-day Lynch Park, and many visitors have come to Beverly for the North Shore Music Theatre and Le Grand David.

Thomas Drew's South Shore

9781467128841

$24.99

Thomas Drew (1845-1913) was a country storekeeper in the town of Hanover, Massachusetts, with a fascinating photography avocation. While he used his camera skills to create postcards and souvenir china of local scenes to sell in his South Hanover store, he also found time to preserve the images of family, friends, and South Shore landmarks on his glass-plate negatives. Drew's adult life was spent in a home on the banks of the Indian Head River in Hanover, almost across from his general store. His darkroom was his kitchen; his portrait studio, a burlap tarp hung outside. In his free time, he traveled the South Shore capturing scenes of interest to him, among them the shipwreck of the Helena in Scituate, the Stetson Shrine in Norwell, Hira "Bill" Bates's gunning stand on Oldham Pond in Pembroke, the Phillips beach cottage at Brant Rock, and his father's general store at Harding's Corner in Hanson.

Manchester-by-the-Sea

9780738562827

$24.99

Manchester-by-the-Sea is known today for its historic summer colony, made famous by the rich and illustrious seeking relief from the sweltering city. Its sandy beaches, rocky irregular coastline, and cool breezes provided the perfect habitat for massive summer cottages. Presidents, ambassadors, Brahmans, and robber barons escaped, with a full staff of servants, to an exclusive enclave where they romanticized an idealized past. Prominent artists captured the idyllic environment on canvas, the most famous being Winslow Homer's painting of Singing Beach. Originally farmers, the first colonists learned to build boats, fish, and trade along the coastal waters, becoming clipper ship captains in the late 18th century. Located on Boston's famous North Shore, Manchester-by-the-Sea remains a quiet, isolated place enjoyed by residents and tourists alike.

The Great Boston Fire of 1872

9780738538532

$24.99

The Great Boston Fire of 1872was a spectacular conflagration that destroyed Old Bostonand allowed a phoenix to arise from the ashes.

Few events can be said to have changed the face of Boston forever. Eventually destroying 775 buildings and causing millions of dollars in damage to the commercial section that we now know as Boston's business district. This conflagration ranks among the most destructive fires in American history

This exciting new pictorial history brings to life the drama that began one Saturday evening in 1872 when a fire started in an empty hoop-skirt factory on the corner of Summerand Kingston Streets. At the time, Boston was in the throes of an epizootic disease that caused all horses in the area to be ill. This caused a virtual shutdown of transportation and city services and delayed the fire department's response to calls for help. By the time the breathless firemen arrived, the fire had already consumed the granite five-story factory and burst through the mansard roof, which acted as a flue and spread the fire. Within an hour, much of Summer Streetwas engulfed in flames and firemen from near and far were being summoned to combat the spread of the deadly blaze. By midnight, the fire had spread through Summer Streetto Arch Streetand was attacking Winthrop Square.Old Trinity Church, at the corner of SummerandHawley Streets, had given itself up to the flames.

With this moving new work, author Anthony Mitchell Sammarco has artfully combined images and text to commemorate the 125th anniversary of the awesome fire. A well-known lecturer and local historian, Mr. Sammarco has created an entertaining and educational look at a critical and unsteady moment in Boston's past.

Sandy Bay National Harbor of Refuge and the Navy

9781467128704

$24.99

In 1885, construction began on the second-largest deepwater harbor in the world--second only to Cherbourg, France--to be called the Sandy Bay National Harbor of Refuge. It would consist of a giant 9,000-foot granite breakwater that would offer safe harbor to over 5,000 vessels and enclose an area of 1,600 acres. As it was being built, the US North Atlantic Fleet began making annual visits to Rockport with its newest and largest warships, including most of Teddy Roosevelt's Great White Fleet. These visits were designed to facilitate the fleet's training maneuvers in the waters of Cape Ann as well as demonstrate the need for a protected harbor for national defense and security. Over a 30-year period, 21 annual visits occurred with more than 100 naval vessels, including battleships, cruisers, torpedo destroyers, submarines, dispatch yachts, and other support craft, anchoring in Sandy Bay Harbor.

Sandy Bay National Harbor of Refuge and the Navy

The Brockton Tragedy at Moosehead Lake

9781467139328

$21.99

Follow the tragic story of a fishing trip gone wrong and its impact on the community of Brockton, Massachusetts.

On May 13, 1928, ten prominent men of Brockton, Massachusetts, headed off on a fishing trip to Moosehead Lake in Maine. After traveling fourteen hours, the group met Maine guide Samuel Budden and boarded the Mac II for the final voyage to their destination. Approximately six miles from the Tomhegan sporting camp, the boat took on water in rough seas and sank, taking Budden and all but one of the adventurers to a watery grave. Jim Benson and Nicole Casper chronicle this horrific tragedy and its legacy in two New England communities.

Lancaster Revisited

9780738537597

$24.99

Lancaster Revisited is an engaging look at this historic town located in the heart of New England. This book takes the reader on a tour of residential life, from cottages and town homes to lavish country estates of the Gilded Age. Glimpse places that vanished as Fort Devens annexed a portion of the town, and witness the devastation caused by the flood of 1936 and the Great New England Hurricane of 1938. Learn the poignant story of one of Lancaster's hometown boys lost in World War II, and meet the father of the Nashua River Greenway plan. Vintage photographs depict the pleasures of small-town life, including two of Lancaster's anniversary celebrations. Enhanced by insightful captions, these images bring to life memories of days gone by in this charming and
picturesque place.

Mansfield

9780738500102

$24.99

With the earliest known images of the town and its people through the 1950s, this unprecedented collection reveals Mansfield as it once was.

Mansfield explores the history of this small Massachusetts town between Boston and Providence that has grown to 20,000 residents. Included in Mansfield are early schools and churches, as well as many buildings that have burned or been demolished. Longtime residents of the community will remember the huge construction projects of the 1950s that created underpasses for the railroad to cross local streets. The faces of Mansfield's past are seen in these vintage images, highlighting the people who shaped the town's future and tracing the area's development as an impressive industrial base. All geographical areas are covered, including the South Common, the North End, Main Street, East and West Mansfield, and downtown. Discover the changes the town has endured over the years in this engaging collection of images complimented by an informative text.

Chicopee

9780738537276

$24.99

These vintage postcards illustrate the significant role that manufacturing played in the day-to-day life of the blue-collar community of Chicopee River.

The original meaning of ""Chicopee"" is ""place where water rushes. In 1823, Jonathan Dwight purchased the water privilege at Skenungonuck Falls in Chicopee. Five years later, the textile mill had fourteen thousand spindles and nearly five hundred looms, making it the second-largest operation in Massachusetts. By 1831, there were two giant dams, two waterpower canals, and two manufacturing communities on the Chicopee River. During the next one-hundred years, eight Chicopee River companies gained product recognition around the globe: Ames, Belcher, Lamb, Dwight, Stevens, Spalding, Fisk, and Duryea. These vintage postcards illustrate the significant role that manufacturing played in the day-to-day life of this blue-collar community.

Boston's North End

9780738555034

$24.99

Since Boston's settlement in 1630, the North End has developed from a neighborhood of residences and artisan shops. Known for the nationally important Paul Revere House, which is the oldest standing building in Boston, and the Old North Church, the North End is a destination for tourists.

Legendary Locals of Holyoke

9781467101813

$24.99

Holyoke is home to some of the most amazing and courageous individuals. In 1658, European pioneer John Riley, along with other early planters, was instrumental in establishing a community in the West Springfield area called Ireland Parish, which eventually became known as Holyoke. This tenacious man led the way for many other trailblazers, including George Ewing, who envisioned utilizing hydropower to operate factories and inspired town engineers to design one of the first planned cities in the United States. In 1898, the progressive Elizabeth Towne encouraged Holyoke residents and an international audience with her New Thought movement that advocated a healthy lifestyle. Another outstanding citizen, Timothy Alben, judiciously leads the Massachusetts State Police, while Holyoke's Henry Jennings honorably served his country in the armed forces, as a commander of the Holyoke War Memorial Building, and on the Holyoke City Council. Barbara Bernard has astutely kept residents informed about current events for the last 70 years. Legendary Locals of Holyoke chronicles the community's finest men and women who survived and prospered through harsh circumstances and against all odds.

When Hull Freezes Over

9781596290990

$21.99

The peninsular community of Hull, Massachusetts, reaches a total of seven thin, sandy miles into Boston Harbor, forming a protective barrier against intruding navies and pounding waves. Unfortunately for those residents who choose to live here for the three miles of crescent-shaped beach and its attendant summer advantages, exposure to the sea during the winter months can be, at times, trying, to say the least. When Hull Freezes Over, by lifelong Hull resident and columnist John Galluzzo, is a collection of historic tales that look beyond the sunny days of summer and remember the other nine months of life along this scenic shore. From shipwrecks and drownings, to subzero temperatures and frigid arctic gales, locals have learned to enjoy their seasonal solitude, and especially enjoy the holiday season in ways only New England peninsula dwellers can.

Steamboats to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket

9781467122825

$24.99

The islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, off the Cape Cod coast of Massachusetts, were first inhabited by members of the Wampanoag tribe. English settlements were established in the mid-1600s. As the populations and commerce grew, so did the need for reliable transportation. The islands were first served by privately owned sailing vessels, but things began to change with the introduction of marine steam power. In 1818, the little steamer Eagle was the first to cross Nantucket Sound. Although she only remained in these waters for three months, she began what was to become a tradition of steamboat travel to the islands that lasted for 170 years. The images in this volume include well-known steamers with familiar names like Nobska, Naushon, Gay Head, and Uncatena, as well as many others.

Steamboats to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket

Plymouth

9780738574080

$24.99

Plymouth, famous as the landing place of the Pilgrims in 1620, conjures images of quaintly clad settlers, the first Thanksgiving, and Plymouth Rock. Known as "America's Hometown," Plymouth is the nation's longest enduring English settlement, still thriving four centuries after its founding. In the 19th century, Plymouth became an industrial center with the largest rope-making factory in the world. Immigrant workers revitalized the old Yankee town, making its modern character as much blue collar as blue blood. A developing Plymouth embraced its past, erecting monuments to the Pilgrims and highlighting sites like Burial Hill and Pilgrim Hall. The town became a major destination in the 20th century, attracting tourists and seasonal residents with its antiquity and scenic beauty. From picturesque to gritty, encounter more than the Pilgrims in this postcard history of Plymouth, featuring early-20th-century souvenir views.

Barnstable

9780738598369

$24.99

In 1639, Barnstable was established by the Plymouth Plantation Colony as the third town on Cape Cod. Over time, Barnstable was divided into six distinct villages: Centerville, Cotuit, Hyannis, Marstons Mills, Osterville, and West Barnstable. Each of these communities grew and developed their own libraries, schools, churches, and general stores. Local industry was abundant, and residents were employed as blacksmiths, cobblers, copper smiths, and farmers. Saltworks, cranberry bogs, shipbuilding, and light industry also supported the area. Barnstable documents the evolution of the town between the 1839 centennial celebration and the 1939 tercentenary and shows how the advent of both the railroad and steam-powered ships spurred great change in the town's communities. Today, economic life revolves around Hyannis while the other villages have become more residential in nature.

Berkley, Freetown, and Lakeville

9780738550367

$24.99

Berkley, Freetown, and Lakeville began as rural farming communities. Many current residents have lived in the area their entire lives, as did their ancestors for generations before them. There is a deep sense of ownership in the land and a deep interest in its history. Through vintage photographs, Berkley, Freetown, and Lakeville
chronicles the history of this area until the mid-1960s, a time when the character of the towns changed due to increasing populations and industries. Historic images showcase the pride residents took in their families, work, and leisure-time activities. The majority of photographs were provided by the Berkley Historical Society, Freetown Historical Society, and Lakeville Historical Society. Additional images were generously provided by area residents.

Wellesley

9780738557083

$24.99

Wellesley, the Boston suburb known to many because of its noteworthy college of the same name, developed from a hamlet into an independent community that celebrates both its past and its future. From 1778, when the townspeople of West Needham petitioned for a separate meetinghouse, to the arrival of the Boston and Worcester Railroad in 1834 and the successful secession from Needham on
April 6, 1881, the people of Wellesley have taken an active role in their town's religious, social, economic, and educational development. From the mid-19th century forward, Wellesley has continued to progress, becoming a town devoted to quality education, public service, and aesthetic beauty. This photographic history chronicles Wellesley's
development since the 19th century, highlighting the people, schools, clubs, and businesses that have made Wellesley the prosperous suburb it is today.

Braintree

9780738572475

$24.99

First settled in 1634, and incorporated in 1640, the Town of Braintree has a long and distinguished history. "Old Braintree," which originally encompassed what is now Braintree, Quincy, Randolph, and Holbrook, was the birthplace of John Adams, John Hancock, John Quincy Adams, and Sylvanus Thayer. Primarily a farming community for almost three centuries, Braintree was also home to a number of water-powered mills and businesses, which prospered along the banks of the Monatiquot River. With the arrival of the railroad in the mid-19th century, several manufacturing plants were built near South Braintree Square. Farming and manufacturing have since been replaced by white-collar businesses and retail establishments. Since World War II, Braintree has become home to a larger and increasingly diverse residential and business population, due in part to its proximity to Boston and three major highways. Braintree presents images from the archives of the Braintree Historical Society and includes many previously unpublished photographs.

Tewksbury State Hospital

9781467106528

$24.99

Opened on May 1, 1854, the State Almshouse at Tewksbury was a venture by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to provide economical care for state paupers. Originally intended to accommodate 500 residents, by the end of 1854 the almshouse had admitted well over 2,200 paupers, thus necessitating future expansion. Although the virtue of the institution was called into question in 1883 by Gov. Benjamin Butler, who decried Supt. Thomas J. Marsh, the almshouse would continue to serve the destitute of the commonwealth for years to come. The name would later be changed to Tewksbury State Hospital to reflect the inclusion of the mentally ill, the sick, and those suffering from infectious disease as patients. Today, the hospital remains operational in providing specialized care in the Thomas J. Saunders Building while also serving as host to various governmental agencies and community organizations like the Public Health Museum on its historic campus. Although many of the early structures were demolished in the 1970s, the Tewksbury State Hospital remains an active institution brimming with architectural beauty and a rich public health history.

Twin Lights of Thacher Island, Cape Ann

9780738572284

$24.99

Thacher Island was named for Anthony Thacher who, in 1635, lost his four children and other family members in a shipwreck during the most severe storm to ever hit the Massachusetts coast. Only Anthony and his wife Elizabeth survived. The lighthouses have played an important role in several wars, including the Revolutionary War and World Wars I and II, when the navy established a radio compass station to protect the coast from enemy submarines. A ship bearing a U.S. president almost wrecked on Thacher Island, and the island was used as a witness protection site for a Mafia criminal. Twin Lights of Thacher Island, Cape Ann captures the history, adventures, and intimate stories from over 200 years of lighthouse keepers living on the island, including how the two towers were built and how scientific discoveries were applied to improve the lights over the years.

Quabbin Valley

9781467122818

$24.99

Quaben, the Nipmuc Indian word for ""many waters,"" was the name originally given to the area of central Massachusetts that is now known as the Quabbin Valley.

The abundance of ponds, lakes, and streams in the region made it an obvious target for those seeking new water sources to supply the escalating population of Boston in the late 19th century. However, the little towns of Dana, Enfield, Greenwich, and Prescott that were established in the area stood in the way. Following an act of the legislature in 1926, these towns were disincorporated, and the 2,500 inhabitants were given modest compensation and ordered to leave. By 1938, the former towns were flooded and stood at the floor of the reservoir, which held the potential of 420 billion gallons of water to be outsourced eastward. Never to be forgotten, the story of the lost towns and their former residents are displayed through artifacts housed at the Swift River Valley Historical Society in North New Salem.

Shipwrecks of Cape Cod

9781467147194

$21.99

From the wreck of the Sparrow-Hawk in 1626 to the grounding of the Eldia in 1984, Cape Cod's outer beach--often referred to as the "Graveyard of Ships"--saw the demise of more than three thousand vessels along forty miles of shifting shoals. The October Gale of 1841 claimed the lives of fifty-seven sailors from Truro, a devastating toll for a small seaside community. Survivors from the 1896 wreck of the Monte Tabor in Provincetown were arrested for a suspected mutiny. Aboard the Castagna, which stranded off Wellfleet in 1914, several sailors froze to death in the masts, while the crew's cat survived. Local author Don Wilding revisits these and many other maritime disasters, along with the heroic, and sometimes tragic, rescue efforts of the U.S. Life-Saving Service and Coast Guard.

Legendary Locals of Falmouth

9781467100434

$24.99

The settling of Falmouth is a proud and powerful story with unexpected heroes, remarkable achievers, and unforgettable characters. The faces and stories of Falmouth range from the town's rebellious founding father, Jonathan Hatch, to the much-loved journalist Kitty Baker. Falmouth's past and present have always been marked by exceptional creativity and genius in the arts, sciences, and business. Falmouth, it can be said, is a town with a talent for allowing individuals to follow their unique paths. Witness Rachel Carson pursuing her lost birds and marine life at Woods Hole, Gus Canty pursuing his dreams through town sports, and James Miskell Sr. beginning the 100-year family legacy of Wood Lumber Company. This cavalcade of residents is presented in chapters on Falmouth founders, maritime folk, newcomers, and creative entrepreneurs, and it appeals to all who ever wished to be a part of small-town living.

Revere

9780738536712

$24.99

The city of Revere was one of the first suburbs of Boston, located approximately five miles north of the city. It is best known for its three-mile crescent-shaped beach that has entertained throngs of visitors through the years, but the beach is only a small fraction of the history of this great city. From shopping on Broadway, Revere Street, or Shirley Avenue to local names such as Horatio Alger Jr., Tony Conigliaro, and singer Jack Haley, Revere's history is explored through vintage images, many never before published. This book is a look back at a sweeter time, when a trip on the narrow-gauge railroad was a delightful adventure and the street was a more animated place for residents to sit and visit with neighbors.

Boston Common

9780738538914

$24.99

The nation's oldest and most venerated public park, Boston Common has belonged to the people of Boston since 1634. Throughout its history, it has been a centerpiece of civic life; the scene of executions, sermons, protests, and celebrations; and in each century, host to famous visitors from Generals Washington and Lafayette to Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Pope John Paul II. In Colonial times, it served as a meeting place, pasture, and military training field. Bostonians in the 19th century added treelined malls and paths and, following the Civil War, monuments and fountains. However, for all its adaptation to modern life, Boston Common remains a green retreat remindful of its storied past.

Legendary Locals of Weymouth

9781467100342

$24.99

At first glance, Weymouth would seem to be a typical South Shore town of average size and seemingly average people. However, after interviewing longtime locals, hearing their stories, and understanding their past, one would discover
that Weymouth and its people are anything but average. This community has been home to Abigail Adams, wife of one president and mother of another; Maria Weston Chapman, famous abolistionist; and Harry Arlanson, the "father of Weymouth football." Other notables include actor Hal Holbrook, hockey player Tim Sweeney, and Olympian Kathy Corrigan. The second oldest town in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Weymouth has had quite some time to muster up some extraordinary residents: young, old, famous, infamous, heroic,
and scandalous, each with their own unique stories that have contributed to the character of the community. Legendary Locals of Weymouth brings these legendary tales together to chronicle the great history of this unique town.

West Bridgewater

9780738565231

$24.99

Incorporated on February 16, 1822, West Bridgewater was once the geographic center of Old Bridgewater, an area consisting of what is today Brockton, East Bridgewater, and Bridgewater. The West Parish, as West Bridgewater was called at the time, became the political, religious, and industrial center of the region. In 1774, Capt. John Ames established his shovel works in the town and manufactured the first steel shovels in America. The site of his manufactory is today War Memorial Park, considered the first industrial park in America. The town is also home to the Reverend James Keith Parsonage, the oldest existing parsonage in the United States. Through a collection of vintage images from the late 19th through the mid-20th century, West Bridgewater depicts the town's simple agrarian lifestyle that can still be seen today in its open spaces, family farms, and Colonial historic prominence.

Holyoke

9780738586571

$24.99

Here in Massachusetts, as we look to the future and approach the twenty-first century, there is an unmistakable longing to make connections with our past. At the grass-roots level this longing manifests itself in the private restoration of many lovely and historic homes. Another sign is the growth of local historical societies and small museums. The Holyoke Museum at the public library and the Wistariahurst Museum are two nationally recognized organizations that are bringing the history of Holyoke to the forefront. Holyoke draws from the priceless photograph collections of these two archives, as well as from the photo treasures of the Holyoke Water Power Company and other important public and private sources. The images take readers from the late 1800s, when Holyoke was known as the Paper City, to the 1960s, when the downtown was the place to go shopping. Readers are delivered to a time when the author remembers taking the bus downtown to go to the Strand, the Victory, Dorothy Dodds, and Steigers.