Name: Missions of San Francisco Bay
Brand: Robert A. Bellezza
SKU: 9780738596846
Price: 24.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Missions of San Francisco Bay

9780738596846

$24.99

Legendary explorer Lt. Col. Juan Bautista de Anza completed a 1,000-mile journey from Sonora, Mexico, crossing the Mojave Desert with the first settlers, to San Francisco's pristine harbor. Fr. Francisco Palóu celebrated the dedication of Mission San Francisco de Asís on June 29, 1776. First established to protect Spain's interests in Alta California from foreign ships, California's landmark buildings are featured here with newly discovered photography depicting a romantic era of colorful Spanish conquistadors, Franciscan padres, and mission Indian neophytes from 1769 to 1823. Explore the heritage of California pioneers' first communities and the 21 California Spanish missions of adobe, stone, and tile that are considered architectural wonders that have captured the imagination of visitors and historians over centuries.

Yellow Fever on Galveston Island

9781467146555

$21.99

Jan Johnson provides a definitive account of Galveston's fight against outbreaks of Yellow Fever, which transformed an island paradise into the City of Dreadful Death.

In the summer of Galveston's founding year, a mysterious malady accompanied by black vomit descended upon the inhabitants. Names for the devastating plague came quick and fast as the body count rose. Saffron Scourge. Bronze John. Yellow Jack. Yellow Fever. The disease's cause and cure remained elusive, as did the medical institutions Galveston would need treat the illness. Four thousand souls perished in nine epidemics between 1839 and 1867. By the time of Galveston's final Yellow Fever outbreak in 1903, however, residents were better informed and equipped. Discover the key figures and pivotal events of the island city's experience with the mosquito-borne disease.

Hopkins County

9780738588056

$24.99

Postcard History Series: Hopkins County portrays the fantastic history of its cities, including Dawson Springs, as unveiled through postcards of the lavish hotels and businesses that once brought thousands of people across the nation to sample the healing water from the wells of the city in the early 1900s. Showcased are glimpses of the coal mining industry, downtown memories, institutions, and leisure activities in Earlington, Madisonville, Nebo, Hanson, Mortons Gap, and St. Charles. This book also includes information about two different businesses that were contracted by the government of the United States of America; one received an order for two million units of cigars and other visited the White House annually with a truckload of trees from Hopkins County.

Columbia and the State of South Carolina:

9781439600900

$11.99

DO YOU KNOW...
WHAT the elephants (and other animals!) at the
Riverbanks Zoo and Garden are doing to inspire greater
stewardship of the Earth?
(Hint: It's a special kind of "Green Movement!")
HOW city planners fi rst named the streets in Columbia?
(Hint: Direction was important!)
Find these answers and more in Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know?
--an interesting little book about a very special place on the planet! Arcadia Kids is a new series of fun, colorful, easy-to-read books for children ages 7-11 featuring attention-grabbing cover art, inviting conversational style content, and vivid full-color images of landmarks and geography. Parents, grandparents, and savvy shoppers will appreciate the feel good factor of purchasing books that are both fun AND educational.

Columbia and the State of South Carolina:

Explosion at Morgan:

9781609495176

$21.99

While World War I raged in Europe, America scrambled to supply the Allies with ammunition, and several munitions plants were constructed near the Jersey Shore. The hastily built plants hummed with hardly a mishap until the fateful night of October 4, 1918, when a series of explosions killed one hundred people. Firemen and other volunteers were powerless to stop the destruction as it devastated the Morgan-South Amboy area and terrified the surrounding region. Strangely, though, this woeful disaster has been forgotten by history. New Jersey historian Randall Gabrielan re-creates this terrifying night and its aftermath in the context of Middlesex County's role in the Great War.

Pittsburgh Jazz

9780738549804

$24.99 $12.50 Save 50%

Pittsburgh Jazz documents the almost forgotten magic created in the city of Pittsburgh by a host of artists, uptown inner city streets, and jazz joints that served patrons from a menu packed full of delightful music. The magical improvised songs, compositions, and unique styles of hundreds of those who were born, raised, or influenced by what occurred in the smoke filled clubs, bars, restaurants, and theaters is difficult to comprehend. And yet, every jazz artist in the world was attracted here to "stand the test" waiting in the Steel City. This book is committed to connecting Pittsburghstyle jazz as the synthesis that resulted in the art form called bebop. This photographic presentation was captured by Pittsburgh Courier photographers between the 1930s and 1980s.

Holland Point

9780738552866

$24.99

Begun in 1923 as a cluster of summer cottages, Holland Point has developed into a jewel-like residential community on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay at the southern tip of Anne Arundel County. Vintage photographs here capture the history of this community's early beach life that virtually vanished in an August 1933 storm. Behind rock seawalls, residents continued to celebrate with seafood, boating, and parties. Fourth generations of founding families now build luxury homes around "Grandma's cottage" but appreciate the same waves, waterfowl, and wildlife that their ancestors admired when they first cut through the forest to discover the bay.

Covington

9780738587493

$24.99

The town of Covington has had a unique and varied history, due in large part to its location between the Bogue Falaya River and the pine forests of St. Tammany Parish. The city serves as the parish seat and something of a de facto capital of the Ozone Belt, an area of South Louisiana characterized by clean air, flowing streams, and verdant woodlands. Early settlers established themselves in the area, producing pine products and bricks, and Covington soon developed a reputation as a retreat from epidemics of disease, as well as from the rigors of city life. Covington has long shipped goods to the cities across Lake Ponchartrain, and those cities in turn have sent their people to Covington to vacation, relax, and revel in its beauty.

Assyrians of New Britain

9780738550121

$24.99

The first Assyrians arrived in Connecticut during the beginning of the 20th century. Initially brought here through a mission organized by the South Church of New Britain, larger numbers of Assyrian families later migrated to the United States in an attempt to find security during World War I. Since their arrival, New Britain has seen its Assyrian community thrive and grow. Upon settling in New Britain, many Assyrians put endless effort into helping recent immigrants find shelter and jobs. They also created an Assyrian magazine and established learning centers to ensure that the traditions, language, and history of Assyrian culture were not lost. These efforts were secured by the establishment of St. Thomas Church of the East in 1957. The history of New Britain's Assyrian community has been documented and collected for the past 100 years by local residents utilizing the New Britain Public Library, South Church, St. Marks Church, and St. Thomas Church.

Lewis University

9780738520223

$24.99

Now the twelfth largest among more than 50 private colleges and universities in the State of Illinois, Lewis University was established in 1932 as a small aeronautical school for boys and has developed into a dynamic, coeducational, and comprehensive Catholic university with a richly diverse student body. Founded by the Archdiocese of Chicago and now sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis is faithful to its Catholic and Lasallian heritage, offering a values-centered curriculum rich in the Mission values of knowledge, fidelity, wisdom, and justice and guided by the spirit of association, which fosters community in teaching, learning, and service. As Lewis celebrates its 70th anniversary, this volume provides a visual glimpse into the history of this unique institution. Included are photographs of its humble beginnings, its evolution during and after World War II, dynamic enrollment growth during the 1960s, the dramatic campus transformation through construction, its student activities, its athletic successes, and the campus today.

San Augustine County

9780738579375

$24.99

San Augustine has been called the "Eastern Gateway into Texas" for more than three centuries. Many immigrants crossed the Sabine River and followed El Camino Real to the little settlement nestled on each side of this ancient roadway. Alamo-bound David Crockett wrote his last letter to his daughter Margaret from San Augustine on January 9, 1836. Davy's words echoed the favorable impressions expressed by new arrivals to Texas: "I am hailed with hearty welcome to this country . . . The cannon was fired here in San Augustine on my arrival. What I have seen of Texas, it is the garden spot of the world, the best land and the best prospects for health I ever saw, and I do believe it is a fortune to any man to come here." San Augustine County still retains the charm of times past through her well-preserved 19th-century homes and churches. Images of America: San Augustine County profiles these cherished landmarks and others through the vintage photographs of local historical groups, family collections, and private archives.

Virginia Marmaduke

9780738519661

$24.99

Nicknamed "The Duchess" by a tongue-tied editor early in her career, Virginia Marmaduke is the First Lady of Chicago print journalism. She was the first woman to: cover both crime and sports for Windy City newspapers; be named (by Mayor Daley Sr.) to the Chicago Board of Health; be named Press Veteran of the Year by the Chicago Press Veterans Association; and to be inducted into Chicago's Journalism Hall of Fame.

First with the Chicago Sun, then the Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune, the Duchess's newspaper career ran parallel to the 20th Century. She covered, as she called it, "blood, guts and sex," as well as presidents, natural disasters, women's issues, and-notably-humanitarian causes.

This volume, the first on the life and career of Virginia Marmaduke, reprints many of the famous articles from her Chicago heyday. Additionally, it documents her childhood in Carbondale, Illinois, her first newspaper job, and her return to Southern Illinois where she became a community booster, humanitarian, and beloved "all-Illinoisian."

Dowagiac

9780738534220

$24.99

The story of Dowagiac's first 100 years may ring familiar to other small cities across the United States. After Dowagiac was established on a railroad line in 1848, new settlers arrived and had the opportunity to establish large-scale factories in the young village. This growth would last for a
full century, fueled by the Round Oak Stove Company and other manufacturers in the city. Because of its manufacturing base, immigrants moved to Dowagiac, and the small city enjoyed strong business and manufacturing districts, solid educational institutions, and a vibrant social life. Surrounding lakes provided one venue for entertainment, while downtown Dowagiac offered theaters and fairs. This book documents and celebrates the history of Dowagiac with over 200 photographs from the collection of the Museum at Southwestern Michigan College.

Gary's East Side

9780738519531

$24.99

Gary's East Side is a nostalgic look back at one of the Steel City's oldest neighborhoods. Through a captivating collection of photographs that chronicle the many aspects of life on the east side of Gary, the book presents the rich history of the community from 1906, the year of Gary's founding, to the present.

From the steel mills to the churches to Gary's City Hall, Gary's East Side offers a touching look at this close-knit community. The east side of Gary was a place where people knew their neighbors, where children went to school together, and married high school sweethearts. The area has changed, but a new Gary is emerging. Gary's East Side presents the history of this area in poignant detail and points to the heartening future. Author John Trafny's skillful compilation promises to bring back fond memories of this historic neighborhood.

Fight, Grin and Squarely Play the Game:

9781609499181

$21.99

In 1945, the Loyola New Orleans Wolf Pack became the city's first basketball team to earn a national championship. The Cinderella season was chronicled in the Times Picayune," the student newspaper "The Maroon" and letters from students and alums fighting overseas. The 1944-45 run to the championship was an amazing boon to the community during trying times. The group of boyhood friends and rivals beat out previous national champions and exhausted opponents. Take a courtside seat as journalist Ramon A. Vargas chronicles the season, including heartfelt personal narratives to tell the story of the championship and legacy of a team that led Loyola to national prominence."

Bristol, Rhode Island

9780738589749

$24.99

The town of Bristol, Rhode Island, has been celebrating Independence Day in grand fashion since 1785.

Americans from near and far have long regarded the town as a center of patriotism and history. With this pictorial history, Bristol resident and ""Fourth of July Historian"" Richard V. Simpson presents a lively tribute to his town's heritage. Simpson has combined carefully selected images--many rare and previously unpublished--with informative and compelling text to take his readers on a journey through the history of this dynamic and diverse community. Readers are taken inside Hope Street's historic mansions and family-run shops, gaining valuable insight into the lifestyles of Bristolians in the early 1900s. By contrast, the growth and development of the town in the 20th century is revealed in aerial views taken over a period of 50 years.

Castalia, Cold Creek, and the Blue Hole

9780738550534

$24.99

Over the past hundreds of years, trillions of gallons of pure, crystal clear water have flowed through the subterranean aquifer system under Huron and Erie Counties in Ohio. The water comes to the surface at the Castalia Springs and the famous Blue Hole, both popular tourist destinations receiving thousands of visitors. Artificial canals were dug in the early 1800s to convey the water northward from Castalia to Venice to power flour mills, subsequently transforming the muskrat marshes into rich farmland. Water was also piped to Sandusky for brewing Crystal Rock beer. The fastmoving waters of Cold Creek provided a favorable environment for raising game trout. This resulted in the establishment of several private troutfishing clubs renowned throughout Ohio. Castalia, Cold Creek, and the Blue Hole offers a pictorial journey through the history of Cold Creek from Seneca Caverns near Bellevue to the carp pens in Venice on Sandusky Bay.

Slave Labor on Virginia's Blue Ridge Railroad

9781467144902

$21.99

Between 1849 and 1859, Virginia raced to pierce the Blue Ridge Mountains by rail and reach the Ohio River. At least 300 enslaved people labored involuntarily toward that goal, along with 1,500 Irish immigrants. The state leased the labor of enslaved Virginians from local slaveholders, including four connected with nearby University of Virginia. Blue Ridge Tunnel and Blue Ridge Railroad historian Mary E. Lyons explored hundreds of primary documents to write the first nonfiction book about slave labor on a specific antebellum railroad. She shares hundreds of enslaved people's names, traces where they toiled along the line and describes their backbreaking--and sometimes fatal--tasks.

Slave Labor on Virginia's Blue Ridge Railroad

The Feast of St. Gerard Maiella, C.Ss.R. : A Century of Devotion at St. Lucy's, Newark

9781609498078

$21.99

In the late nineteenth century, many Italian immigrants settled in Newark. For these newcomers, the Church became a source of community and strength. Feasts of Patron Saints from their paese, or village in Italy, were a tradition that helped make the new country feel more like the old. At St. Lucy's Church, parishioners held the first Feast of St. Gerard Maiella--the unofficial patron of mothers, children and the unborn--in October 1899, and it has been held every year since. As the decades have passed, generation after generation of Italian Americans return annually to celebrate their heritage and Catholic faith and express their gratitude for St. Gerard's powerful intercession. In this way, the Feast of St. Gerard, the treasure of their grandparents, has become part of their descendants' heritage.

The Feast of St. Gerard Maiella, C.Ss.R. : A Century of Devotion at St. Lucy's, Newark

Spring Grove

9780738519494

$24.99

Spring Grove: Minnesota's First Norwegian Settlement is a tribute to the state's earliest Norwegian emigrants, and to generations of Norwegian Americans who have made this small farming community amongst deep valleys, fjord-like bluffs, and winding streams their true vesterheim. It is a tale told through striking historic photographs, many previously unreleased, and personal narratives, often humorous and always insightful.

The area was first settled in the 1850s by pioneers like James Smith, who, inspired by the landscape, named the place Spring Grove. Smith was followed by the likes of "Big" Ole Gulbransgutton, who chased crooked land surveyors out of town with his bare fist; by the innovative Mons Fladager, whose business acumen earned him the title of "Father of Spring Grove"; and by the 20th-century cartoonist Peter J. Rosendahl, whose work gave a comical voice to the challenges of cultural assimilation. Spring Grove: Minnesota's First Norwegian Settlement also conveys the universality of the Norwegian immigrant experience, and anyone with Norwegian roots who desires to learn more about their ancestors will find it an enjoyable read.

Fire on the Mountain:

9781596297593

$21.99

In 1985, a high school football team in Sand Rock, Alabama, made history. Through the excitement of an undefeated season and a championship-winning game, the lives of players, coaches and everyone in the community were changed. Join author Scott Wright, a lifelong resident of Cherokee County, as he recounts the story with the flair of a sports journalist and the warmth of a local fan.

Victorian Augusta

9780738557748

$24.99

From the 1860s through the 1880s, local photographer Henry Bailey captured all aspects of Victorian life after the Civil War in Maine's capital city. Bailey's rare stereoscopic images depict downtown Water Street, the industrial north end, Capitol Park, the Togus veterans home, and numerous public buildings, churches, and residences. Through these historic images, Victorian Augusta presents a view of the world through one man's lens. Most of the vintage photographs in this volume have come from the collection of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, which has acquired many Bailey stereographs once owned by the photographer and his family.

Cover image for Victorian Augusta, isbn: 9780738557748

Fair Lawn, New Jersey:

9781596296985

$21.99

In Fair Lawn, New Jersey, the layered heritage is clear from the mix of Native American, Dutch and English names adorning its street signs. Author Jane Lyle Diepeveen traces Fair Lawn's history from its origins as a settlement at Sloterdam, a site of the developing Dutch Colonial architecture, to the innovative neighborhoods of Radburn, a cutting-edge planned American garden city. Through interviews with longtime Fair Lawn residents, Diepeveen honors the days of dairy farms and swimming holes, as well as this vibrant community's progress today. From Warren Point to Columbia Heights, Fair Lawn reveals the hidden story of this jewel of New Jersey.

Springfield Firefighting

9780738550114

$24.99

The history of the Springfield Fire Department dates back to 1792 when the first hand pumper, Lion, was purchased. On January 24, 1794, a fire club with 50 members, all prominent citizens of the city, was organized. Fire districts were established in 1830 by an act passed by the Massachusetts legislature. By 1833, Springfield officially organized a fire department, and like the fire club, the new volunteer department consisted of prominent members of the community. The fire department changed from volunteer to paid in 1872. The volunteers then formed the Springfield Veteran Fireman's Association. After 1872, the department made great strides, especially in the area of apparatus. In 1906, Springfield entered the motorized age with the introduction of a Knox squad truck, and by 1916, Springfield became the first fullymotorized fire department in the United States.

Famous-Barr

9781626196926

$21.99

For ninety-five years, St. Louis residents counted on Famous-Barr to buy the things they used every day and to celebrate the moments that happened only once a year. Customers might bump into Sophia Loren while shoe shopping or confide in Santa Claus during a visit to Toyland. May Company purchased the Famous Clothing Company in 1892 and acquired the William Barr Dry Goods Company nineteen years later. In 1914, Famous-Barr opened the doors of its iconic downtown location, treating folks across Missouri and Illinois to almost a century of spectacular window displays and legendary luncheons.

Gardner-Webb University

9780738517971

$24.99

Gardner-Webb University is a leading regional Christian university with a distinguished history. In 1905, representatives from the Kings Mountain and Sandy Run Baptist Associations voted to create a high school in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. The school opened in 1907, and a junior college program was added in 1928. By World War II, the high school program had been phased out. In 1942, the school changed its name from Boiling Springs Junior College to Gardner-Webb College in honor of former North
Carolina Gov. O. Max Gardner and his wife, Fay Webb
Gardner. The university is proud of its long line of successful presidents. Under the leadership of Dr. Philip L. Elliott, the institution's first long-term president, the student body grew, the campus was expanded, and the school joined the family of colleges supported by the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. Today, Gardner-Webb offers both undergraduate and graduate studies in an idyllic Southern setting.

The Shakers of Union Village

9780738551234

$24.99

Founded in 1805, Union Village began as a religious and communal experiment. Eventually it became one of America's largest and most productive Shaker communities, its members achieving many firsts in education, equality, music, horticulture, and animal husbandry. Their unique faith influenced every aspect of their lives, from making furniture to raising children. They welcomed the leading figures of the period, including Native American chiefs, politicians, and abolitionists, while they continued to open other Shaker settlements in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and Georgia. These vintage images--including many never published before--trace the Shakers" progress as they worked toward creating an earthly paradise. Although Union Village dissolved in 1912, some Shakers remained there for almost another decade. Today Union Village's heritage is still shared with the public at OtterbeinLebanon Retirement Community and in neighboring Lebanon.

Victorian Hartford Revisited

9780738549989

$24.99

The gilded city of Hartford triumphantly returns in this volume, Victorian Hartford Revisited, a compilation of many never before published images of Victorian splendor and incredible architecture. The social, economic, cultural, and architectural center of the state went through unparalleled growth after the Civil War. Demand for new technology made Hartford not only the political capital but the epicenter of the Industrial Revolution in the region. Tremendous wealth accumulated and materialized in the form of extensive estates, historic parks, magnificent schools, churches, public buildings, grand hotels, and a multitude of immigrant housing. This once Colonial port city along the Connecticut River rose to epitomize America's Victorian age, and it is captured within these impressive pages.

Fanny Bixby Spencer

9781609498757

$23.99

The last daughter born to Jotham Bixby, the Father of Long Beach," Fanny Bixby Spencer (1879-1930) carved her own singular and eccentric path across California history. Born to wealth and power, she chose a boldly independent, egalitarian lifestyle in an age when women's lives were largely confined to domesticity. Fanny served with the Long Beach Police Department as America's first policewoman. She was a founder of the city of Costa Mesa in Orange County. Her humanitarian efforts reached across ethnicities and social standing. Yet beyond her civic accomplishments, Fanny was provocative as a poet, artist, pacifist, suffragist, child advocate, foster mother and humanitarian. Marcia Lee Harris captures this fascinating woman's remarkable life, enhanced by Fanny's own poetry and soulful reflections."

Auburn Police

9780738550350

$24.99

Auburn Police traces the history of the Auburn Police Department, which dates back to the mid1800s. It portrays many of the faces of those people who have devoted 20, 30, or more years of service to their community. Although a number of aspects of law enforcement have changed over the years, the very principle of the police officer interacting with the public remains the same.

Puerto Rican Chicago

9780738533681

$24.99

Puerto Ricans have a long history in Chicago. Beginning in the 1920s, a handful of middle-class Puerto Rican families sent their daughters and sons to study at prestigious universities in the city. While most returned to Puerto Rico, migration to Chicago peaked during the 1950s and 1960s. Enticed by the prospect of a better life for their families and future generations, thousands of Puerto Ricans came to Chicago in search of a brighter tomorrow. They came to Chicago as American citizens, yet still faced rampant discrimination and prejudice. In 1950, there were only 255 Puerto Ricans in Chicago; today, there are over 113,000. Chicago is home to a thriving Puerto Rican community, and its members continue to make important contributions to the political, educational, social, and cultural institutions of Chicago.

Charleston Jazz

9780738543505

$24.99

Charleston Jazz sets out to reveal the rich, untold story of the evolution of American jazz in one of its major cradles: Charleston, South Carolina. The text and images show that what happened on the Gullah coast of South Carolina in terms of history, culture, and entertainment had a huge impact on jazz as we know it today. By all accounts, jazz is America's classical music. It now stands at the dawn of its second century and is poised to take its place as one of the more meaningful cultural phenomena ever to come along. Since Charleston was the gateway for enslaved Africans into the United States, it is no wonder that this uniquely beautiful place produced key creators of what many believe to be this country's most important influence on world culture. An international Charleston diaspora of jazz musicians attests to the fact that the likes of Freddie Green, William "Cat" Anderson, and Edmund Thornton Jenkins spread the Charleston style everywhere. Charleston jazz is one of the last great unknown stories in American history.

Jenny Giraffe and the Streetcar Party

9780882899626

$19.99

Ride along with Jenny for another fun adventure in the Big Easy!

Jenny Giraffe's second New Orleans adventure begins with an invitation to attend her friend T-Boy's birthday party—on a rolling streetcar on the St. Charles line! Jenny is not sure what a streetcar is. Once her adopted family convinces her to try the new experience even though she is scared, she joins her friends aboard the historic streetcar. Decorated with ribbons and balloons, the party car rolls down the tracks! The streetcar, filled with happy children and one young giraffe, travels along St. Charles Avenue through the American and University sectors of the city and on to the Garden District. Jenny enjoys herself and gains confidence in this charming tale.

Sharonville and Its People

9780738519630

$24.99

This book is about the people of Sharonville-the folks we read about in the "neighbors" column of a local paper, our grandparents, great-grandparents, and great-great grandparents, the human beings inside the uniforms. Sharonville: And Its People shows how different we are from those that lived here 50, 100, or 150 years ago; and yet, how much we are the same. Since its founding in 1788, the town of Sharonville (originally Sharon) has been called home to generations of people who have built homes and businesses, churches and schools, and a vibrant community that will be called home by the generations to come. The story of these people is told here through over 200 photographs from the collection at the Society for Historic Sharonville. These images show that a town isn't just its buildings and politicians, but a place built by everyday people who all have rich stories to tell.

Stevens County

9780738540825

$24.99

The land area that came to be known as Stevens County was ceded to the United States government by the Dakota Indians in the treaty of the Traverse des Sioux in 1851. Government and railroad exploration parties, Red River Trail oxcarts, and pioneers and missionaries had come through the area long before it was officially ceded or settled. After the Dakota uprising of 1862, the United States government made the decision to put a fort in Dakota Territory. In 1864, Fort Wadsworth, later called Fort Sisseton, was built. Mule teams with supplies for soldiers and Native Americans, and pioneers began traveling in greater numbers across the tallgrass prairies of Stevens County from St. Cloud and into Dakota Territory. Pioneers from many different countries settled in Stevens County to break up the prairie sod and plant wheat and tree claims on their homesteaded land. Grasshoppers, prairie fires, and blizzards tested their determination, but the hardy ones survived to provide for their children's education, organize local governments, and build homes, churches, and businesses.