New Book Releases

Befitting its role as Wisconsin's thumb, Door County has its own unique pulse. It is the "Door of the Dead," which some historians blame for more shipwrecks than any other body of freshwater in the world.

It is also the idyllic paradise "north of the tension line," that sends many unsuspecting tourists spiraling into an addiction that lands them in a summer home. The variety of nature's splendors and terrors is matched by the cast of characters that has risen up among them. In Door County Tales, these characters are given free rein, which seems only proper in a place where one might walk out of a restaurant and see goats grazing on the roof.

Thousands of young men embarked on the adventure of a lifetime when they joined the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression.

Service at Wisconsin's popular state park offered notoriety absent at most camp assignments. While most of the CCC work around the country was in remote forests and farmlands, at Devil's Lake tourists could view CCC project activity each day, forging that labor into an essential part of the park experience. Historian Robert J. Moore interviews veterans and mines the archives to preserve this legacy so that the gasps of wonder at nature's marvels remain mixed with respect for the men who helped bring them forth.

Founded in 1903 by Oscar Werwath, the School of Engineering of Milwaukee (now the Milwaukee School of Engineering) has emphasized educating students and the wider community about the newest scientific and technological advances. Close partnerships with local businesses helped determine the most useful practical skills for young engineers to have, and the school was comprised of four distinct institutes in its early days: the College of Electrical Engineering, the Institute of Electro-Technics, the School of Practical Electricity, and the School of Automotive Electricity. As the skills necessary for success in the workforce evolved, the school remained focused on innovation, offering degrees in areas such as welding, mechanical engineering, nursing, business, computer engineering, and many more. In recent years, the school has continued to remain at the forefront of modern developments while still placing emphasis on the success of the individual student in a changing world.

The abundance of whitefish in the Lake Michigan bay that frames this village gave it its name. The whitefish also helped feed the appetites of patrons of the resorts that once graced the community. Whitefish Bay quickly grew away from fishing and resorts to become the "Gold Coast" village north of Milwaukee. Nestled close enough to the city to allow an easy work commute, yet far enough away to provide an attractive community atmosphere, Whitefish Bay became a desirable location for families to put down roots. Stately homes went up alongside early farmhouses. Stores and other vibrant commercial enterprises quickly followed along with schools, churches, clubs, and organizations that continue to provide residents with a strong sense of community.

The city of Madison is no stranger to odd goings-on and events that just don't add up. Plunge into murky waters in search of the Lake Mendota monster or briefly part the clouds of the Great Airship Mystery of 1897, which was witnessed by such credible sources as "Wisconsin judges, good church-going folk and those not predisposed to drink whiskey." Please don't stare for too long at Myrtle Downing's shoes, which were said to be made from human skin. Revisit some of the murders that earned the intersection of Murray Street and Desmond Court the epithet "Death's Corner." And that is just a portion of the unsolved crimes, strange creatures and bizarre happenstance that make up Mysterious Madison.

Investigate the mysteries surrounding the brutal murder of Wauwatos's Arthur "Buddy'? Schumacher Jr. A must-read for fans of true crime and Wisconsin history enthusiasts.

In 1925, the peaceful Milwaukee suburb of Wauwatosafound itself involved in mystery and horror. Eight-year-old Arthur ""Buddy"" Schumacher Jr. was last seen by three of his friends after they hopped off a freight train they'd jumped to get a ride to a nearby swimming hole.

For seven weeks, the community and state searched desperately to find the boy until his body was found just a mile from his house with his clothing torn and a handkerchief shoved down his throat. The police pursued several promising leads, but to no avail.

In this engaging mystery, author Paul Hoffman walks us back to the scene of the crime and through the reasons it was never solved.

The city of Whitewater was named for the soft, white clay that lined the stream flowing through the area. Later it claimed the motto "the Banner Inland City of the Midwest" and, after that, "Whitewater, the City Beautiful" for its stately homes and large, graceful trees. Samuel Prince, the first settler, erected a cabin on his claim of 60 acres in 1837; a gristmill, sawmill, paper mill, and numerous stores were soon established in this rich agricultural area. The railroad came, and the manufacturing of the Esterly Grain Harvester and the Whitewater Wagon made Whitewater an industrial town. In 1868, the state's second normal school--later the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater--located here, further changing the town's character.

From schooners to submarines, Manitowoc has been home to shipbuilders and their craft for over 200 years. Thanks to the vast collections of the Wisconsin Maritime Museum, Maritime Manitowoc: 1847-1947 uncovers the fascinating and colorful Golden Age of shipbuilding in the area. This book explores the remarkable history of Manitowoc's shipyards and the magnificent ships that were built there. These ships have sailed the Great Lakes as well as open oceans across the world.