Name: East Chicago
Brand: Jane Ammeson
SKU: 9781467115001
Price: 24.99 USD
Availability: InStock

East Chicago

9781467115001

$24.99

Once an almost impenetrable landscape of dunes, marshes, and woodlands hugging the southern shore of Lake Michigan, the land comprising what would become East Chicago was a developer's dream for the emerging steel industry. Considered one of the country's ultimate melting pots, four out of five of its citizens hailed from other countries, each bringing their valued cultures and traditions to this thriving metropolis. The industrial jobs, requiring hard work and much grit, provided a way out of poverty, but the area also offered beautiful parks and mansions along the waterfront, as well as great schools, neighborhoods, and civic organizations. East Chicago had a sense of vitality and the essence that the American dream was available for all.

Wakefield and Brookfield

9780738544793

$24.99

Wakefield and Brookfield, located at the geographic center of New England, lie in the beautiful Lakes Region of New Hampshire. Incorporated in 1774, Wakefield was a small agricultural community until the arrival of the Boston and Maine Railroad in 1871. The railroad brought economic and cultural changes to the town, shifting the town center from Wakefield Corner to Wolfeboro Junction (now Sanbornville) and giving rise to a bustling downtown business center and thriving ice-cutting industry. Brookfield became an independent town in 1794. Farmers were drawn to the town's fertile ground, and the area has remained quietly rural into the present. Both towns continue to draw visitors to their many lakes and ponds, as they have done for more than a century. Wakefield and Brookfield illustrates the shared history and diverging identities of these small towns.

Rochelle

9780738541341

$24.99

The Lincoln Highway through Rochelle was originally a Potawatomi Indian trail. In 1853, Robert P. Lane purchased land from Charlotte Bartholomew, Sheldon Bartholomew's widow, near the settlement known as Hickory Grove, and the community became officially known as Lane. After a hanging scandal, the citizens renamed their village Rochelle. From then, the town grew to the largest city in Ogle County. Rochelle's famous railroad park and the diamond (crossing of the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railroad and the Union Pacific Railroad) attract visitors throughout the year. The park's tourist center is located in a refurbished Standard Oil gas station. The Flagg Township Historical Museum offers times gone by in many forms in the 1884 city hall, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. Rochelle offers suburban amenities with the healthy atmosphere of the small town where actress Joan Allen grew up.

Georgetown

9781467121507

$24.99

Georgetown is an island located between the historic Kennebec and Sheepscot Rivers. Incorporated in l716, it was accessible from the mainland only by various ferries and local fishing boats until a bridge was erected in 1898. Maritime endeavors like fishing and shipbuilding emerged as the major industries in town very early on and continue to be a primary means of employment today. Georgetown encompasses several beautiful villages, all of which retain a feeling of an older time and place. As the area continued to grow as a destination for artists in the early 1900s, several notable photographers congregated at the Seguinland Hotel, now known as Grey Havens Inn, to discuss starting a school that would ignite the development of commercial photography. One of the most recognizable parts of Georgetown is Reid State Park, which attracts visitors with its beautiful beaches. Today, residents take pride in the new historical society building, firehouse, post office, and restored community center.

Cincinnati Police History

9780738550961

$24.99

The Village of Cincinnati appointed its first marshal, James Smith, in 1802. Today the Cincinnati Police Department boasts a dedicated staff of more than 1,000 sworn officers. Throughout its 200-plus years, the department has celebrated many firsts, such as being the first police agency to use telephones, and has also persevered through some difficult times, the most recent being the 2001 race riots. The Cincinnati police have won such awards as the Best Community Police Program by National League of Cities, the Governor's Community Policing Award of Excellence, and more than 35 local, state, national, and international awards. Programs like the Cadet/Intern Program, the Civilian Volunteer Program, the Juvenile Aid Bureau, the Youth Services Section, and the Citizens Police Academy are ways the police have reached out to the community to educate and protect over the years.

West Long Branch Revisited

9780738549033

$24.99

West Long Branch Revisited is the long awaited follow up volume to Helen-Chantal Pike's first pictorial narrative. Here she tells the stories of the well-landscaped properties, storied summer cottages, and families who gave the borough its distinctive country character. Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the fertile farmland of New Jersey's coastal plain, West Long Branch has always had a town-and-country personality. It was tilled by the descendants of some of the original settlers into the early 20th century, and later it developed a distinct commercial hub and an industrial area. Concurrently, prosperous New Yorkers originally drawn to cosmopolitan Long Branch developed bucolic vacation homes in this small town. They created a vibrant community that can still be found today. Following World War II and the rise in post-secondary educational opportunities, various cottages were converted to classrooms as West Long Branch evolved into the town-and-gown community it is today.

Glennville

9781467116169

$24.99

The area that would become modern Glennville was first opened to settlement in 1773. In the early decades of the 19th century, settlers converged around the intersection of Hencart Road and Reidsville-Johnston's Station Road. The community that grew around this intersection came to be known as Philadelphia--a name it would hold until 1889, when the village's first post office was established. The village was then renamed after a prominent schoolteacher and minister, Glenn Thompson, who was instrumental in securing the post office for the village. Glennville was incorporated as a town in 1894 and continued to grow remarkably through the coming decades until it became the commercial and agricultural hub of Tattnall County.

Kokomo, Indiana

9780738520261

$24.99

According to legend, Kokomo, Indiana was named after a Miami Indian Chief who lived in the area, "Ma Ko Ko Mo" -meaning Black Walnut.

Founded in 1842 by David Foster, a frontier trader, Kokomo has since become the home to many of the nation's most influential inventions. From the birthplace of the automobile to the introduction of stainless steel and the development of canned tomato juice, Kokomo has been a leader in ingenuity, earning its nickname, the "City of Firsts." In this collection of reminiscent images, Kokomo, Indiana illustrates the charming history of an area which has developed from a small community to what is now one of the largest cities in Indiana. The book is an exploration of the city's streets and a stroll through the history of its growing neighborhoods, tracing the fascinating past of a bygone age.

Around Oswego

9780738539126

$24.99

With Around Oswego, readers are invited to experience satisfying glimpses of over one hundred years of history and change.

Active as a busy commercial port city in the 1880s, Oswego would redefine itself as a recreation and tourist destination by the 1980s. This evolution is witnessed through text and pictures, as factories, textile mills, lumber docks, coal trestles, and schooners were replaced with pleasure boats, marinas, hotels, restaurants, and parks. Familiar as well as rare and previously unpublished images document changes in the local landscape. Readers will meet some of Oswego's citizens, from international industrialist Thomas Kingford and Medal of Honor recipient and reformer Dr. Mary E. Walker, to soldiers and factory workers. Celebrate the opening of a turn-of-the-century playground, watch a circus parade, and enjoy a quiet picnic scene on a since-vanished shore line. Discover the outside world's interest in Oswego with photographs from United Nations Week in June 1943, and the World War II refugee center at Fort Ontario.

Around Lake Okeechobee

9780738585642

$24.99

This pictorial history of Lake Okeechobee illustrates the people, places, and events that have shaped the area's cultural and natural history.

From the Calusa Indians to the travelers who used boats for transport in the early 1900s and up to the prosperous farms and cattle ranches of today, the Everglades has evolved into a mecca for fishing, birding, and hiking. The smell of orange blossoms entices the settler to an untamed land where bears, deer, and snakes still inhabit the wilderness and where alligator hunting and fishing are still popular sports. Lake Okeechobee is 110 miles around from Pahokee to Canal Point, Okeechobee, Lakeport, Moore Haven, Clewiston, South Bay, and Belle Glade. To cross Florida from the Atlantic to the Gulf, a boat starts in Stuart and ends at Port Mayaca, crossing Lake Okeechobee to the Moore Haven lock and out the Caloosahatchee River past Lake Hicpochee and west to Fort Myers. Around Lake Okeechobee presents images from the Clewiston Museum, Lawrence E. Will Museum, state archives, and private collections, painting a history of the boom and bust, the boaters and farmers, and the cattlemen and ranchers who have settled and raised their families here.

New Brighton Revisited

9781467122214

$24.99

New Brighton is nestled along the east bank of the Beaver River. The Constable brothers laid out the town's first lots in 1815. The surveyors then named the town New Brighton after their hometown on the southern coast of England. New Brighton Revisited is another entertaining look at the town's rich historical past. Citizens who were prominent in promoting the growth and prosperity of the town included Sen. Samuel White, Joseph T. Pugh, Francis Reader, and Daniel Corbus. Businesses such as Pioneer Twine Mills, Wisener and Bingham Carriage Factory, E.R. Boots Dry Goods, J.J. Snellenburg Clothiers, Bestwick Hardware, Martsolf Brothers Furniture Company, Pryde-Wynne Company, Locke's Service Stations, Morell's Pizza Shop, and Pullion's Paints and Supplies all helped to shape New Brighton's development into what it has become today. New Brighton Revisited takes a nostalgic journey into the town's sports history, dating back to 1896. The community has seen a revitalization in the past year, with new businesses moving into the historic downtown area.

The White Horse Pike

9780738539102

$24.99

The White Horse Pike may not be America's most famous road, but it is one of the most storied. Originally a migratory footpath of the Leni-Lenape, this timeless 60-mile route from the Delaware to the Atlantic has been followed by everyone from Walt Whitman to the Jersey Devil. It has served as a stagecoach highway, a toll road, and a pattern for railroads. The White Horse Pike depicts the heyday of this still popular
city-to-shore road, the most direct route from Camden to Atlantic City.

Licking County

9780738551548

$24.99

Licking County is located at the geographic center of Ohio. The history of the county began over 2,000 years ago when an ancient people known as the Hopewells occupied the area. While they disappeared for no apparent reason, the large earthen mounds left behind give modern man clues to their type of culture. Licking County is home to a countless number of these mounds with the Great Circle Earthworks being the largest. In 1808, Licking County was established with Newark as its county seat. The construction of the Ohio Canal began in 1825 and finished in 1833. The canal brought a new era to Licking County, and Newark became a beehive of activity. The railroads came and the canal gradually began to lose its value. In 1908, the great Ohio Canal was filled in. For the past 200 years, many people have had a connection to Licking County, and their names continue to keep the history of the county alive.

Whaling on Long Island

9781467115773

$24.99

The story of whales and the whalers who followed them is inextricably tied with Long Island's rich maritime history. Before the Long Island Expressway, strip malls, golf clubs, and suburban sprawl, calls of "Thar she blows!" rang out from Long Island harbors and ships. This book chronicles the rise and fall of whaling on the island and describes local whaleship fleets that traveled to the far corners of the world, the personalities behind local enterprises, and the villages whose cultures and economies grew from the industry. Be transported to a time when whalers roamed the streets between journeys, shipbuilders worked in the harbors, captains charted their expeditions, and whaleship masts seemed to pierce the clouds in Long Island's pursuit of the largest creatures in the world.

Garrard County in World War II

9780738541983

$24.99

Images of America: Garrard County in World War II depicts the citizens of a small, rural central Kentucky county who served their nation in war-torn areas worldwide and on the home front. Images courtesy of veterans and their families show the sacrifices made and honor those who served. With photographs of all branches of the armed services, the county's war story is told in representative vignettes at numerous fronts. Through interviews, news accounts, and letters, many veterans' stories of courage, humor, and despair come to life. Here at home, patriotic efforts began in 1940 when school children made "bundles for Britain" and continued throughout the war years with residents sacrificing at home to spend every available dime on war bonds. In fact, in 1943, Garrard Countians bought more bonds per capita than citizens in any other Kentucky county. To reward their patriotism and sacrifice, in March 1945, the government commissioned the USS Garrard, an attack transport ship. A member of the crew donated to the county's historical society photos of the ship and his diary. Survivors of the USS Garrard held a reunion here in 2002.

Red Bank

9780738564111

$24.99

Red Bank, New Jersey--one of the state's most vibrant
places--is fortunate to have such a comprehensive and
vivid photographic record. Pioneer photographers from the 1860s, as well as their modern counterparts, have contributed an exciting number of images to four books about the area: Red Bank Volumes I through III and Red Bank in the American
Century. Present and former residents of Red Bank have greeted each volume with enthusiasm--a testament to the people's pride and commitment to preservation in this community. This exceptional new book continues an in-depth exploration of ongoing changes in the town. By directing attention toward each part of the town--from Broad Street to Front Street and from the waterfront to the west side and
Monmouth Street--Red Bank Volume III presents a far-reaching portrait of the town. A separate and final chapter devoted to Red Bank's people, places, and events allows readers to grasp the flavor of this distinctive town.

St. James Trade School and Brother James Court

9780738578118

$24.99

Helping orphaned and disadvantaged boys get a chance at a better life was the mission of Brother James, founder of the Franciscan Brothers of the Holy Cross, a German Catholic Order that sent Brothers to the United States in 1924. To that end, St. James Trade School was established in Springfield, Illinois, in 1928. Two years later, the first group of apprentices was admitted; they and hundreds who followed them through 1972 went on to become certified mechanics, carpenters, and electricians among other valuable trades. High school diplomas were earned beginning in 1948. In 1975, Brother James Court (BJC) opened with a brand new building specifically designed as a residential intermediate care facility. BJC provides both residency and advocacy for developmentally disabled men. Providing the highest quality care, consistent with the spirit and principles of the Franciscan Brothers of the Holy Cross, programs at BJC meet residents' needs and allow them to live happily at BJC for as long as they need.

St. James Trade School and Brother James Court

Baltimore in World War II

9780738541891

$24.99

The World War II years were a time of growth and productivity for the Baltimore area, and the city contributed significantly to the Allied war effort. Baltimore launched the first of the famed Liberty ships, the SS Patrick Henry, which was constructed at the Bethlehem-Fairfield yard. The Baltimore area also produced many advanced military aircraft such as the B-26 Marauder, built at the Glenn L. Martin plant in Middle River. At Camp Holabird, the army first tested the world-famous jeep and trained the soldiers who kept the jeeps and other army vehicles running. Coast Guard sailors trained at Fort McHenry and Curtis Bay before heading to combat or stateside duties. Baltimore sent plenty of its own men and women abroad to take the fight directly to the enemy in every theatre of war. Through wartime photographs, this volume tells the story of Baltimoreans engaged in the war effort--men and women, the young and old, lifelong residents and newcomers--from a variety of racial and religious backgrounds, all working together toward victory.

Orem

9780738578828

$24.99

In 1861, a group of hardy pioneers ascended the "Provo Bench" that overlooks Utah Lake. With dreams of fruit orchards and vegetable fields, they uprooted the sagebrush, dug irrigation canals, and planted crops. These farms were successful, and they helped transform Orem into a dynamic community by the time the railroad arrived. The produce was boxed and shipped across Utah on the Orem Line, and the Provo/Orem area earned the nickname "Garden City of Utah." Incorporated in 1919, Orem was transformed again during World War II when the U.S. government constructed Geneva Steel Mill on the shores of Utah Lake. Blue collar workers joined farmers and ranchers in building a city. Orem supports higher education and is home to Utah Valley University. Although malls and subdivisions have replaced many of the orchards and the steel mill has closed, Orem remains rooted in its past while growing towards its future.

The Ossipee Valley

9780738539058

$24.99

In 1668, a Sagamore Indian named Wesumbe conveyed all of the lands between the Great and Little Ossipee Rivers to Kittery trader Francis Small. This area ranged from the waters of the Saco to the Newichawannock River. For over

100 years, the land title was questioned. Finally, the ancient deed was declared genuine by two Boston experts: William P. Upham of the Suffolk County Court and Robert B. Swan, commissioner of public records for Massachusetts. Once the

court rendered the deed valid in 1772, this unbroken wilderness was surveyed. Within a few short years, five new communities emerged. Over 230 years later, The Ossipee Valley presents a visual history of the villages, lifestyles, and the countryside as it once was. Vintage photographs

witness a place of family and friends, working and sacrificing for what they believed important.

Along the Kennebec

9780738564333

$24.99

This wonderful new book takes us back in time to visit the rural communities that thrived along the banks of the Kennebec River around the turn of the century--from Augusta and Gardiner down to Merrymeeting Bay on the coast. Local author Gay M. Grant has brought together more than two hundred beautiful photographs taken by gifted local photographer Herman Bryant between 1890 and 1936. This volume makes these photographs available to the public for the first time. The images bring to life the people, places, and events that defined the history of the area during this exciting era. We see the Kennebec River at its industrial peak, when industries such as lumber, paper, ice, and shipbuilding lined its banks. We encounter buildings such as Maine's old capitol building (before its refurbishment) and the Blaine House as it used to look. We witness terrible tragedies such as the train wreck of 1905, and share in local celebrations too. We experience the Age of Steam and the Age of Sail in their heyday. Most important of all, we meet the people who lived and loved, worked and played in these communities throughout this fascinating period. Through the pages of this book, our past reaches out to us.

Annapolis and the Gualala River

9780738581149

$24.99

Annapolis--a hidden jewel of a community--is tucked into the timber-filled ridges above the jagged northern Sonoma coastline. Undeterred by the steep, mountainous terrain and rugged living, early settlers were first lured to the area by the timber. They quickly discovered Annapolis had perfect weather for apple farming. At the beginning of the 20th century, almost every farm had apples, and apple dryers dotted the hills. The wild Gualala River, known for Coho salmon and steelhead trout, is 32 miles long and flows through the Annapolis area before meeting the Pacific Ocean. Early Native American Pomo tribes settled along this important river, which eventually served as a boundary between Sonoma and Mendocino Counties.

Buffalo's East Side Industry

9781467134897

$24.99

When Buffalo was incorporated as a city, the East Side represented a vast forested area and farmland that would one day be booming with industry.

By 1832, the beginnings of the major arterials of Genesee, Sycamore, Broadway, William, Clinton, and Seneca were there. These streets were laid out in 1826 and represented the seeds of the East Side's explosive growth. The development of railroads and the Buffalo Belt Line, constructed in 1883, created a semicircle pattern that outlined the East Side. Industries began sprouting up, eager to use their proximity to the belt line to transport wares all over the country. Immigrants from Germany, Poland, and Ireland, along with African Americans from northern and southern states, began establishing their lives around these industries. Access to land, water, roads, and rail lines and eager immigrants and natives looking for work led to the development of Buffalo's East Side industry, an immensely diverse industrial base and workforce.

Sacramento's Curtis Park

9780738530512

$24.99

This peaceful community loved by thousands of locals was once, in part, a Mexican land grant called New Helvetia, given to John Sutter. With the 1852 arrival of homesteader (and area namesake) William Curtis, who managed a 200-acre farm started by his brother, and those drawn by the California gold rush, the area began to develop and expand. In 1887, papers were filed for the Highland Park subdivision--a nod to early flood concerns. Since that time, more than 30 other subdivisions have sprung up between Broadway and Sutterville, along with the Sierra School, which has been nominated for city landmark status. Situated south of today's Broadway, the area that was once a flood plain and then an agricultural area now holds over 2,500 homes and is among the city's most vibrant neighborhoods. Houses here represent various architectural styles, from Victorian to Arts and Crafts and the various 1920s revivals. The neighborhood has an equally interesting mix of residents.

San Francisco's Visitacion Valley

9780738530413

$24.99

Rancho Cañada de Guadalupe, La Visitacion y Rodeo Viejo was named in July 1777 by a party of Spanish priests and soldiers who lost their way in heavy fog while en route to the Presidio. Now called Visitacion Valley, this area was the only Mexican land grant within San Francisco deeded to an Anglo. Windmills pumped water to irrigate the fields of early settlers' cattle farms, nurseries, and vegetable gardens, leading to the nickname "Valley of the Windmills." Over the years, however, the pastoral scenery gave way to a mix of housing and commerce, and today Visitacion Valley is one of the city's most ethnically diverse neighborhoods.

Patchogue

9780738590004

$24.99

With timeless images and a thoroughly researched and informative text, Patchogue is sure to be enjoyed by young and old, resident and visitor alike

As a continuation of the first volume, Patchogue Volume II returns to the beginning of the century to explore the town's development as a business center for the eastern region of Long Island and to provide another fascinating glimpse into the history of Patchogue and the lives of its residents. Patchogue Volume II serves as a legacy for future generations and a valuable tool in teaching the history of the town.

Poughkeepsie Potters and the Plague

9780738508719

$24.99

Folk art has long been a part of the cultural heritage of the Hudson River Valley.
The Hudson River school of painting traces its roots to the valley, as does a unique
decorative style of stoneware--preserve pots and jugs with scenes of birds, flowers, and
animals that were part of the potter's life. While the Hudson River paintings, usually
commissioned by wealthy landowners, have achieved universal acclaim, the utilitarian
stoneware, owned by even the least successful merchants and farmers, has been widely
collected but little understood.
Poughkeepsie Potters and the Plague makes an important contribution toward an
understanding of the stoneware tradition of the Hudson Valley. Based on years of
research, it uncovers for the first time the significance of early stoneware production
at Poughkeepsie and outlines its one-hundred-year history. Astonishingly, its early
beginnings may be attributed to a series of yellow-fever epidemics that struck New
York City during the 1795-1805 period. These epidemics forced a migration of
people away from the beleaguered city to places such as Poughkeepsie. Poughkeepsie
Potters and the Plague began with a dated butter pot that was made by the first
stoneware potters of Poughkeepsie as a tribute to the epidemic victims of New York
City in 1798--a single piece of pottery transcending time and location to bring to
life the historical triumph of the enduring human spirit.

Raritan

9780738534510

$24.99

Raritan documents the growth of a Raritan River town from the 1800s through the 1970s. With intriguing photographs and text, it explores the emergence of a quiet farming area as, first, a bustling industrial town with mills and factories and, later, the modern suburb it is today. Working together, resourceful residents enriched life by harnessing the waterpower of the river, organizing the first fire department in the area, and opening schools, churches, and organizations. Worldwide recognition came when President Warren G. Harding, while visiting at the Raritan home of his friend Senator Joseph Frelinghuysen, signed the Knox-Porter Resolution, officially ending World War I.

Harlem Valley Pathways

9780738589831

$24.99

The residents of Harlem Valley have shaped both the history and culture of our nation with bravery and integrity.

Quakers in the Harlem Valley stood firm against slavery, and the Amenia Conference, organized by Joel Spingarn, strengthened the NAACP. The Harlem Valley served as a transportation center, linking New England to the west, and was also a major supplier of iron ore in the eighteenth century. Well known for their educational endeavors, the residents of Harlem Valley established one of the oldest libraries in the state of New York. The images in this collection were made available through the efforts of many groups in the Harlem Valley area, including the historical societies of North East, Little Nine Partners, Amenia, Dover, Dutchess County, and Pawling and Quaker Hill. Join Joyce Ghee and Joan Spence for a remarkable trip down memory lane to the wonders of the Harlem Valley. This historic collection of images will serve as a valuable tool in discovering and understanding the area's history as well as appreciating its beauty. Harlem Valley Pathways is sure to be enjoyed for generations to come.

Hueytown

9780738586908

$24.99

The City of Hueytown was incorporated on May 6, 1960. Since then, city officials, past and present, have provided excellent laws and codes that offer a well-designed city for its citizens. Native Americans were the first to settle along Valley Creek, while the following prominent names helped develop and establish the area: the Huey, Waldrop, Salter, Knight, Dabbs, Parsons, Vines, Crooks, and Robertson families. The Woodward Iron Company was the first major employer, and the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company, later called United Steel Company, also provided jobs and security for many citizens. A group of famous NASCAR race car drivers from Hueytown, "The Alabama Gang," helped create an interest in racing. In addition, Hueytown has had many devoted educators who staffed the area's schools and encouraged students to strive for the best.

Northern Cambria

9780738504155

$24.99

Northern Cambria is not only the upper region of
Cambria County, it is also the new name of two
century-old villages, Barnesboro and Spangler, that have
merged to become a millennium entity.
Located high in the Allegheny Mountains of western
Pennsylvania, the region was once covered by virgin
forests. In time, the dense acreage led to the development
of numerous sawmills, from which logs were floated all the
way downriver to what was then the lumbering capital of
the world, Williamsport. Miles of scenic farmland were
cleared and cultivated.
Then, in the mid-1800s, rich coal veins were found
beneath the Cambrian hills. As word of this discovery
spread, mines opened throughout the region. Within a
short time, immigrants from far and near streamed into
the region to work in the mines. Soon, rail lines were
constructed to serve the coal fields. High school graduates
became miners and dubbed the mines "Dust College."
Coal had become king.

Helotes

9780738579443

$24.99

A small town with a big history, Helotes--20 miles northwest of downtown San Antonio--was named for the Spanish word elotes, or corn on the cob. So extensive were the fields of corn along its namesake creek, a Spanish official in 1723 called the area el Puerto de los Olotes, or Corncob Pass. When settlers later arrived, few ancient cornfields remained. Situated along Bandera Road, the town became a stagecoach stop, and a post office was established in 1873. Nevertheless, the settlement remained rural for the next 100 years. Helotes, known as a place to "let down yer hair and kick up yer heels," solidified its reputation in 1946, when John T. Floore Country Store, a dance hall and concert venue for top-rated country musicians, opened for business in downtown Helotes. The annual Cornyval Festival, inaugurated in 1966, continues this tradition. Incorporated in 1981, the town provides a verdant and hilly escape from the city.

St. Albans

9780738573465

$24.99

Many years after Jesse Welden became the first permanent settler in St. Albans, the town was the site of the northernmost raid by Confederate Civil War soldiers in 1864. St. Albans went on to earn fame as the "Railroad City." Over the years, the commercial base in St. Albans grew, many churches and schools were founded, and there was a sharp increase in population. Because of these many changes, St. Albans transformed from an agricultural community dependent upon Lake Champlain for transportation to the seat of Franklin County.

Seymour

9780738573441

$24.99

Early in its history, Seymour was a thriving Native American fishing community along the banks and falls of the Naugatuck River. As European settlers arrived, agriculture dominated the landscape. During the early days of the Industrial Revolution, Seymour flourished as a manufacturing community, and its products were in demand throughout the world. The first woolen mill in the United States was established at the falls by Gen. David Humphreys, who was aide-de-camp to Gen. George Washington. It has been said that his mill produced some of the finest wool in the entire country. The Kerite Company remains the longest-standing manufacturer in Seymour, producing electrical cable used in oil drilling and other areas. Today Seymour is one of the seven towns that make up the All American Valley.