Name: The Ghostly Tales of Mystic
Brand: Beth Hester
SKU: 9781467197267
Price: 6.5 USD
Availability: InStock

The Ghostly Tales of Mystic

9781467197267

$12.99 $6.50 Save 50%

Ghost stories from Connecticut's spookiest seaport have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery!
Welcome to the spooky seaport of Mystic, Connecticut! Stay alert! Ghosts lurk around every corner. Even the most unexpected places might be haunted by wandering phantoms.
Did you know that a friendly innkeeper still checks in on guests at the inn he owned…200 years ago? Or that there may be a fiery curse on Mystic dating back to colonial days? Can you believe the Mystic River may be home to a ghost ship?
Pulled right from history, these ghostly tales will change the way you see Mystic, and have you sleeping with the light on!

Middletown's High Street and Wesleyan University

9781467105460

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High Street and Wesleyan University (founded in 1831) share a fascinating, intertwined history. From this major inland port on the Connecticut River, Middletown's sea captains and merchants made fortunes in the 18th and early 19th centuries trading with the West Indies, South America, and China. Others enjoyed wealth amassed from the local manufacture of swords, firearms, and marine hardware. These prominent families built fashionable villas of the latest architectural designs on High Street. Many of their homes remain, and two have been designated national historic landmarks. With spectacular views of the river valley below, its avenue of arching elms, and the addition of Wesleyan's formidable "Brownstone Row," the street has attracted many to the hill. Dignitaries, including George Washington, the Marquis de Lafayette, William Howard Taft, and Martin Luther King Jr., came to High Street.

Middletown's High Street and Wesleyan University

Historic Tales of Manchester, Connecticut

9781467148115

$21.99 $11.00 Save 50%

From the beginnings of a small town along the Hockanum River in the early 1700s, Manchester developed into a major manufacturing center with a unique history. Events, personalities and inventions have reached out from this central Connecticut city to touch homes across the nation. Common daily objects invented right here include shaving soap and the envelope. Industries essential to everyday life once dominated the town, including the Cheney Brothers Silk Company, Bon Ami Soap, a Pitkin family glass monopoly and many others. Local author and historian Robert Kanehl brings these forgotten treasures to light through the stories from his beloved newspaper column.

Historic Tales of Manchester, Connecticut

Connecticut Hurricanes Drum & Bugle Corps

9781467103886

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The Connecticut Hurricanes Drum & Bugle Corps was founded in Derby, Connecticut, in 1932 as the John H. Collins Post Fife, Drum, and Bugle Corps. Since its transformation to a competitive drum and bugle corps in 1955, the group has garnered notoriety throughout the region as well as national acclaim for its competitive success. Over the course of their 87-year history, the Hurricanes have become a highly regarded institution of the Lower Naugatuck Valley. They were first sponsored by the John H. Collins American Legion Post 24 and subsequently by the Sutter-Terlizzi American Legion Post 16 of Shelton, Connecticut. They are currently sponsored by the Emil Senger American Legion Post 10 of Seymour, Connecticut, and have continued to maintain strong community ties across the Naugatuck Valley region for nearly nine decades.

Rocky Hill

9781467104227

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Rocky Hill is a commercial center, and along with attractions like Dinosaur State Park and the nation's oldest ferry line, make it a popular New England tourist destination.

Any great civilization would say the secret to success is easy access to a river, and the town of Rocky Hill is no exception. East of the Connecticut River, the waterway made Rocky Hill an active maritime center during the age of sail. As steam replaced sail, Rocky Hill's role as a river port diminished. Farms grew, and the town became a thriving agricultural center. In recent years, Rocky Hill has become a residential community. Modern highways and a central location have contributed to the town's growth and made it a commercial center, along with attractions like Dinosaur State Park and the nation's oldest ferry line making it a popular New England tourist destination as well.

Stonington's Steamboat Hotel

9781467152952

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From 1837 to 1900 the tiny borough of Stonington, Connecticut was a major transportation hub on the route between New York and Boston. Steamboats leaving Manhattan followed Long Island Sound to Stonington Harbor where passengers boarded trains for the rest of the journey to Providence or Boston.

Stonington's Steamboat Hotel, built in 1838 near the piers and railroad yard, was home to saloons, restaurants, a pool hall, a cigar shop, a tailor and a barber shop. Merchants, hotel keepers and saloon workers passed through the building, each with their own unique story. Many of them were immigrants or first-generation Americans, and they are a window onto a late 19th-century class of merchants and service workers.

Join local author Stuart Vyse as he reveals a lively portrait of remarkable harmony in a small village that was far more diverse than it is today.

Hidden History of Old Lyme, Lyme and East Lyme

9781467143400

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Old Lyme, Lyme and East Lyme were once one town, founded in the 1600s. Known for early innovations in industry, government and education, these towns also share a wealth of overlooked history. Discover the taverns where Patriots met during the Revolution, the Diving Horses at the Golden Spur Amusement Park and the Spiritualist Camp that has held séances since 1882. Meet the smuggler captain who routinely escaped prison to visit his wife, the Revolutionary War veteran who trailblazed the West and the abolitionist who helped Frederick Douglass escape to freedom. Authors Jim Lampos and Michaelle Pearson weave a fascinating tapestry of local legends, history and lore.

Hidden History of Old Lyme, Lyme and East Lyme

Old Saybrook

9781467143417

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Here in this distinctive New England town, Main Street is the place to meet your neighbors, get a coffee, do your shopping, watch a parade, attend a concert, worship, vote or volunteer. And behind the familiar buildings is a colorful history. There's the humorist who organized his neighbors to buy land and build a town hall that later became the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center. The story of how the Monkey Farm got its name. The nighttime parade that draws thousands. And the heartwarming account of the shopkeeper who sent penny candy to students with good grades. Author Tedd Levy reveals the unique buildings, events, people and heritage of this distinctive thoroughfare.

Mystic

9780738534985

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Despite the name, there is nothing mystical about the successes of the town of Mystic.

Mystic was one of the most active shipbuilding ports along New England's southern coast during the mid-19th century, renowned for building more than 600 ships a year. By the end of the age of sail, Mystic made a successful transition to a new economy based on textile and machine manufacturing, maritime engineer, and small craft building. These industries carried the village into the 20th century, and today, Mystic is a world-class tourist destination, a community that is both divided and unified by the Mystic River. The history of Mystic mirrors the history of many coastal New England towns, but the images here are unique to this southeastern Connecticut region, recognizable to both residents and visitors alike.

Bethel

9781467109611

$23.99

Officially incorporated as a town in 1855, Bethel's recorded history stretches back to its earliest settlement as part of Danbury in 1684. Hat manufacturing represented its premier industry for nearly two centuries, and the ever-changing number of shops and factories employed most of the area's populace. Roughly equidistant from New York City and Hartford and located along the Metro-North Railroad line and US Interstate 84, its convenient access, lively downtown, and modern educational park have attracted continued development. Growing from a population of 1,711 people in 1860 to one of 20,358 in 2020, Bethel has undergone tremendous change and yet still retains much of its small-town New England appeal.

Ski Jumping in the Northeast

9781467148160

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Dozens of towering ski jumps once dotted the landscape across the northeastern United States. Introduced by Norwegian immigrants in the late 1800s, ski jumping became popular in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York and Connecticut. From Lake Placid to Salisbury, crowds thronged to the jumps to watch. Youngsters like the Tokle brothers and Roy Sherwood rose to stardom. All of that changed in the 1980s, though, with the end of college jumping. Today, only a handful of jumping clubs remain. But in a rare few communities, a strong sense of tradition keeps the spirit alive. Join author and coach Ariel Picton Kobayashi as she examines ski jumping's fascinating identity as both a small-town tradition and thrilling sport.

Waterford Country School

9781467108591

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From the cramped quarters of New York City in 1922, childcare pioneers Ettie and Henry Schacht looked to the expansive woodlands of Connecticut for their school and found a perfect location in the town of Quaker Hill. The Schachts purchased 500 acres of farmland complete with two large but old farmhouses and an unused dairy barn. Over the years, a number of cabins, camp buildings, and farm and support facilities were added to the property, and in 1942, the program blossomed into a coveted and ambitious year-round boarding school. The Schachts inspired various specialized programs, including a special education school and residential and foster care programs. In addition, the founders established an ambitious outdoor education facility, its setting surrounded by an adventure challenge course, farm sanctuary, log cabin, and nature center. Celebrating its centennial anniversary, Waterford Country School’s innovative and successful Children and Residential Experiences (CARE) program continues to work around the clock to meet the special needs of children and families at risk.

Simsbury

9780738576268

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When early photographers began recording scenes around Simsbury, the town was over 200 years old and changing with the times.

Photographs taken in 1885 during a mile-high balloon ride trace railroads, rather than the old canal, running through the town. Grand Victorian mansions, some of them summer residences, arose among cherished family homes on farms dating from colonial times. The mills in the Tariffville section and Toy, Bickford & Company near the center of town provided housing for workers who arrived from Europe. Townspeople sent their youngest children to one of 12 district schools. By 1917, the town could boast of a centrally located public high school as well as two private boarding schools. In Simsbury, images capture the mix of old and new until the advent of World War II.

Hidden History of Rocky Hill

9781467150620

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Many know Rocky Hill as the home of the oldest operating ferry in the country and its renowned Dinosaur State Park. However, there is a lot more history that is seldom seen. Abigail (Smith) Grimes was the imposing matriarch who laid the foundation for the town. Elsie Rhodes was a hero in two wars, although her name today is only barely visible on a memorial. Eli Rodman was an African American man who served valiantly in the Civil War, although his surviving daughters were nearly cheated out of his estate. Even a bit of whimsy, like the story of Hayes Farm's hairless cows, reflects the hardworking agrarian roots of the local community. Join author and Town Historian Robert Herron as he uncovers the forgotten stories and personalities that bring this unique town's history into focus.

Lake Waubeeka

9781467149464

$21.99

In 1951, a small group of Jewish firefighters from New York City established a summer colony called Lake Waubeeka in Danbury, Connecticut. Today, it is a religiously, ethnically and racially diversified community of some 250 families. The vision of its founders was to create a bucolic environment away from the grit and grime of the metropolitan area. While Waubeekans did not always agree on the directions life on their mountain might take, a profound community spirit bonded homeowners. Over recent decades, Waubeeka has become a predominantly year-round settlement. While community demographics changed, a cooperative spirit has been passed from generation to generation. Join award-winning historian and Waubeekan Jeffrey S. Gurock as he recounts the fascinating developments that make this community so special.

Plainfield

9780738550299

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There are two dozen places in the United States named Plainfield, but Plainfield, Connecticut, was the first. When it was incorporated in 1699, Colonial governor Fitz-John Winthrop named the town for its rich, fertile fields along the Quinebaug River. During the 1700s, the town was transformed from Native American country to a farming community populated by English settlers. In the 1800s, textile mills were built along the Moosup and Quinebaug Rivers, and Plainfield became an industrial town attracting workers from all over New England, Canada, and Europe. Today the textile industry is gone, and the surviving mills have been converted to other uses. Located in the northeastern part of the state, Plainfield is in the heart of the breathtaking Quinebaug-Shetucket National Heritage Corridor.

History, Legends & Myths of Beacon Falls

9781467150613

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Like many New England mill towns, Beacon Falls has a history that goes back to the founding of this country. It was called "Brigadoon" by a former state senator, and its past is tied to the invention of vulcanized rubber by Charles Goodyear and the manufacture of woolen shawls for Union troops during the Civil War. Its early Native American roots tell the story of Tobe, a Narragansett Indian who owned most of the western portion of land that became the town in 1871. High Rock Grove brought ten thousand visitors each summer to enjoy the skating rink, band concerts and acclaimed scenic vistas of Long Island Sound. Local author and municipal historian Michael Krenesky reveals some of the fascinating stories behind this jewel of the Naugatuck Valley.

History, Legends & Myths of Beacon Falls

East Haddam

9781467103572

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Join author Russell C. Shaddox as he tells the history of East Haddam in stunning images.

Perched along the Connecticut River, much of East Haddam sits on land originally purchased from Native Americans in 1662 for 30 coats (about $100). From that modest beginning sprang a town whose residents became famous patriots, scholars, and explorers. Driven by industries common to 1700s river towns - lumber, agriculture, and shipbuilding - East Haddam spent the 19th century transforming into one of the area's largest manufacturers of cotton twine, netting, and fabric. Prosperity brought an influx of immigrants. As the 1900s dawned, many of the mills shuttered due to faltering demand, and the town turned to its natural beauty to attract a growing leisure class. Resorts of all varieties popped up in town, changing East Haddam from the "Twine Capital of America" to the "Catskills of Connecticut." The town was home to many prominent residents, including a governor, business magnates, fine artists, scholars, and popular stage actor William Gillette, who helped shape the iconic image of Sherlock Holmes. With the resorts in turn seeing a decline in the late 20th century, the town faced another wave of change. Still, with a deep history and a varied beauty that includes stunning forest, hilltop, and river views, East Haddam continues to captivate.

New London Police Department

9781467102636

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Historic photographs tell the story of the illustrious New London Police Department from 1868 to today.

New London, Connecticut, established its first permanent police force in 1868 when a nightwatch and police station were approved by city council. In the late 1800s and into the early 1900s, the busy port of New London doubled in population, reaching almost 20,000 by 1910 with just 17 patrolmen keeping order. In January 1924, the council approved the hiring of a woman as a police officer. In the early 1960s, a police union was formed by members of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association to provide better working conditions. By the early 1990s, the department had moved into its current building and updated its computer-aided dispatch, added mobile computers in police cars, digitized its maps, and created a new records management system. The current department chief's office overlooks a bus and train depot, a busy deepwater port, and a city that draws thousands of people every summer.

Cover image for New London Police Department, isbn: 9781467102636

New Milford Revisited

9781467123648

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Covering 64 square miles, New Milford is the largest municipality in Connecticut and the southernmost town in Litchfield County. Earliest residents settled around the present-day Village Green, making it the epicenter of town. In the early 1900s, a great fire obliterated a good portion of the downtown buildings, but businesses were quickly resurrected. Establishments such as the Robertson Bleachery, Eastern Lounge, and New Milford Foundry & Machine helped the town rise from the ashes. The 20th century also saw the demise of the tobacco industry that had dominated the area for decades, as several businesses, mostly located in the West Street area, rose to prominence. In later years, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Maggi Company (which would merge with Nestlé), Scovill Manufacturing, Century Brass, and New Milford Hospital all thrived as the town prospered. New Milford's iconic bandstand has been the scene of numerous concerts, including one in 1960 conducted by longtime resident Maestro Leopold Stokowski, and the structure has graced the cover of the Saturday Evening Post. It is no surprise that Fredric March, Vladimir Horowitz, Joan Rivers, Diane von Furstenberg, Eartha Kitt, and Ruth and Skitch Henderson have all chosen New Milford as home.

Cromwell

9781467102704

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Once known worldwide as "Rosetown," Cromwell has enjoyed multiple identities in its nearly 370-year existence. Initially called Upper Houses, the village was a tiny religious and agricultural outpost of the larger Middletown colonial settlement on the Connecticut River. Gradually, substantial maritime activities developed to define the community. However, by the mid-19th century, Cromwell had become an independent rural town with small farms and businesses, its river port no longer of consequence. Later, the famed greenhouses and floral industry provided international recognition. Small manufacturers and quarries also contributed to the economy. By the late 20th century, the village had become a suburban community, its cohesion impacted by the construction of major highways as well as significant commercial and residential development. At each incarnation, the town has pushed out toward its defining geographic boundaries, and the conflict between the old and the new has created changing patterns of social, economic, and political organization.