Spooky Season Reads

Name: Western Kankakee County
Brand: Jim Ridings
SKU: 9781467107211
Price: 12.0 USD
Availability: InStock

Get in the spirit of spooky season with these stories of the unknown!

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Western Kankakee County

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Lampasas County

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McNeil Island

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Wilhoit Springs

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Prince William County

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Southern Highland Craft Guild

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Delavan

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Rise to the Occasion

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Olympic Hot Springs

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American Indians in Milwaukee

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Historic Movie Theaters of Delaware

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Alabama Baby

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Hotel Roanoke

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Mount Vernon

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Shark Attacks of New York

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Narragansett Bay

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Metairie

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East Haddam

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Pecans from Soup to Nuts

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Metcalfe County

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Auseklis Ozols

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Sedalia

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Mount Pleasant

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Sacramento's Moon Rockets

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Lowell

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Fun, Funky and Fabulous

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Oregon Surfing

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Santa Fe

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Clarksville

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Blacksburg

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Montana State University, Bozeman

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Forgotten Baton Rouge

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New London Police Department

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Langworthys of Dubuque, The

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The Coast Guard in Hampton Roads

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Western Kankakee County

9781467107211

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Kankakee County, named after the Kankakee River, was created in 1853 by an act of the Illinois Legislature. The western portion of the county is an extensive geographic area even though it has only a handful of small towns. Nestled in swaths of farmland, which serve as the foundation of the area, the villages of Herscher, Irwin, Bonfield, Buckingham, Limestone, Cabery, Reddick, Essex, and Union Hill make up Western Kankakee County. In addition to farming, all of these towns owe their existence to the coming of the railroads beginning in 1878. Wherever a railroad decided to build a station, a settlement became a town. Settlements that were bypassed by the railroads vanished. Today, the region's agricultural heritage is on proud display as farming remains the biggest economic factor, along with the Herscher School District and the gas pipeline storage area. The communities of Western Kankakee County continue to be great places to work and play.

Lampasas County

9781467108935

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Lampasas County's sulfur springs fueled early success in the region, but when the railroad extended past its small towns, prosperity waned. Today, Lampasas enjoys a renaissance as crowds, real estate prices, and high taxes drive people from the big cities into the countryside. These newcomers have taken an interest in the history of the county and have worked alongside natives to restore many historic sites.

McNeil Island

9781467116282

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McNeil Island might look like just another wooded island along Washington State's Puget Sound. That first impression would be wrong. McNeil was home to territorial, federal, and state prison systems, and its inmate roster included mobsters, politicians, infamous killers, and bank robbers. But, alongside the inmates and the wire that contained them was a thriving community. The original pioneer residents and, later, the families of essential prison staff lived their daily lives as normally as possible while anchored by prison activities.

Wilhoit Springs

9781467103237

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History and legend mingle at Wilhoit Mineral Springs, a former health and recreation resort south of Molalla in Clackamas County. Although nothing remains of the rustic lodge buildings and campground today, tales of the healing soda springs enticed people to "take the waters," and indeed they did. By the late 1800s, this call for relaxation, social camaraderie, and a healthy cure escalated into a large gathering ground and community resort. The rustic getaway lured wealthy city guests from Portland, Salem, and Eugene, as well as the average local family. Wilhoit Springs Park, open to visitors today, is part riparian wilderness and part oak savannah and contains a fortress of older trees in a verdant setting. Today, people can picnic, walk through the mossy woods and meadows, and explore the lush surroundings. There are two springs, one pleasantly soda and the other highly sulfur--each is accessible today.

Prince William County

9780738553467

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Prince William County, just south of Washington, D.C., has changed dramatically over the years.

The area welcomes thousands of visitors annually to historic sites and is home to thousands more residents. This volume takes readers on a journey through the county that preserves its past with an eye to the future.

Southern Highland Craft Guild

9781467106450

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Authors Deb Schillo and Barbara Miller take the reader through the fascinating history of the Southern Highland Craft Guild through a series of charming images and narratives of the craftspeople and artists throughout the 20th and into the 21st century that have made the Guild the world-renown cultural staple that it is today.

The Southern Highland Craft Guild is the oldest craft guild in the United States and the only guild to be defined by a geographical area. First conceived by Olive Dame Campbell in the 1920s, the craft guild was launched in 1930 with an exhibition of regional arts. Frances Louisa Goodrich contributed her Allanstand Shop so that families living in an already depressed region would have a sales venue for their work throughout the Great Depression and the years of World War II. From that early start, the Southern Highland Craft Guild has grown to nearly a thousand members and has established a worldwide reputation for fine workmanship. The guild is governed by the artist membership, which is made up of a wide range of craftspeople from institute-trained artists to local makers trained by parents and friends. Deb Schillo served as the guild's librarian and archivist for 20 years. Barbara Miller juried into the guild in 1965 and is still an active member, having served on the board and numerous committees. The authors have selected a sampling of the thousands of photographs and materials from the archives of the Southern Highland Craft Guild to provide a glimpse at some of the people and places that contributed to where the guild is today.

Delavan

9780738533117

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Delavan Lake, formerly known as Swan Lake, was once heavily wooded along its banks and flanked further north by prairies and groves of oaks. Eventually, the banks of the lake wouldbecome home to many seasonal dwellings, which sprang up as summertime moved Delavan residents out of town and to the lake in order to escape the heat. By the 1880s, Delavan had become a popular tourist destination and dozens of resorts were built to accommodate visitors. Ultimately, steamers and excursion boats with daily schedules were added to the lake for sightseeing and ease of movement between resorts. This additional influx of people needed entertainment, giving birth to Delavan's ballroom era, which lasted until 1960.

Rise to the Occasion

9781589808560

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The owners of rise n° 1 restaurant share their take on cooking and entertaining in this beautifully photographed book. Recipes for soufflés, salads, soups, seafoods, tarts, and more illustrate their dedication to food and tradition. Do not miss some of their favorite guests and coveted annual events, which you will find covered throughout the book. Anecdotes and ideas for entertaining round out this charming volume.

Olympic Hot Springs

9781467130196

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The Olympic Hot Springs served as a destination resort in the Olympic Mountains near Port Angeles, Washington, for 60 years. Andrew Jacobsen is considered the first to discover the springs, nestled 2,100 feet up in the Elwha River valley, in 1892. Today, individuals still hike up the Elwha trail to soak in the earthen pools of mineral water, unaware that years ago it was home to a legendary resort. While on a hunting trip in 1907, Billy Everett, "Slim" Farrell, and Charlie Anderson rediscovered the springs and began work developing the site of Olympic Hot Springs, hewing logs into wood baths and building a cabin and bathhouse along the hillside. Everett went on to become proprietor of the enterprise, which opened to the public in 1909. In the years to follow, cabins, pools, and lodges were constructed along the hillside above Boulder Creek, and the beloved resort thrived with visitors. In 1940, the resort was annexed into the Olympic National Park, and it was later closed in 1966.

American Indians in Milwaukee

9780738582580

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Milwaukee is an Algonquin word meaning "the gathering place." Wisconsin's 11 American Indian tribes have long gathered in the city, contributing to its name and origins. American Indians continue to assist in Milwaukee's growth through nationally recognized innovations in education, gaming, and cultural representation. The city's "founding mother," a Menominee Indian, continued trading partnerships with the area's native residents until Indian removal in the 1830s. Over the next century, Indians returned to Milwaukee as visitors, creating villages at the state fair and lakefront grounds. By the 1930s, Indians again called the city home and expressed their common heritage through Pan-Indian organizations. Later the new ideals of the national Red Power movement helped transform those organizations into successful city institutions such as the Indian Community School, Potawatomi Bingo and Casino, and Indian Summer Festival.

Historic Movie Theaters of Delaware

9781625858474

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From the opera house and movie palace to the modern multiplex, the big screens in Delaware have been delighting moviegoers for more than a century.

Hollywood legend Cary Grant visited the Playhouse Theater in 1955, fondly recalling his days on its stage as a child actor. Clint Eastwood came to Wilmington for a secret test screening of his film The Gauntlet at the Branmar Cinema. The groundbreaking history of Star Wars includes a Delaware theater that was one of only forty-five in the country to open the film. Author Michael J. Nazarewycz recounts the cinematic history of Delaware's grand movie theaters.

Alabama Baby

9781455626359

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Keep track of your baby's essential Alabama firsts in this unique baby book! Place birthday photos and record milestones on colorful pages with hand lettered text. Capture baby's first experiences with food including favorite fried chicken, white BBQ sauce, and banana pudding! Colorful pages provide guided journaling of baby's first football game, visit to the U.S. Space & Rocket Center, and more. Illustrated end sheets give space to record blessings from the baby shower and well wishes from loved ones in this book that will become an heirloom for generations.

Hotel Roanoke

9781467144834

$29.99 $15.00 Save 50%

The Hotel Roanoke is as old as the city of Roanoke itself. It opened in 1882, when the city became the headquarters for the Norfolk & Western Railway, and signaled the city's progress. It has since survived a devastating fire, the Depression and closure after a century of operation. Thanks to the determination of the leaders of Virginia Tech and the Roanoke Valley, the hotel reopened in 1995. Today, the reimagined Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center is once again a symbol of the region's economic vitality. This revised and updated version of Donlan Piedmont's Peanut Soup and Spoonbread: An Informal History of the Hotel Roanoke captures the amazing history of not only a hotel but also the personalities and stories that have made the Hotel Roanoke what it is today--a remarkable blend of century-old tradition and state-of-the-art hospitality.

Mount Vernon

9780738562650

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Conceived in 1850, Mount Vernon is a young city, founded as an alternative to overcrowded New York City living by a group of ambitious middle- and laboring-class citizens. By the beginning of the 20th century, Mount Vernon was known as "the city of happy homes." It became a bedroom community for the region's most prominent upwardly mobile movers and shakers. Its ideal location to the city, elegant spacious homes, tree-lined streets, progressive schools and businesses, and receptivity to diversity spawned decades of sustained growth. Today Mount Vernon has become a critical gateway to New York and Westchester County. The images in Mount Vernon highlight the people and places that shaped the formative and golden years of the community, providing the quintessential look at the most dynamic small city in New York.

Shark Attacks of New York

9781467144988

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New York's crowded beaches can come to halt with the shout of a single word: shark! The shores of Long Island and Staten Island and the waters surrounding Manhattan have had more than thirty shark attacks recorded since the days of New Amsterdam. Legend has it that Antony Van Corlear, Peter Stuyvesant's trusted deputy, was killed by a shark crossing Spuyten Duyvil Creek while blowing his famed trumpet. In the summer of 1916, after a series of bloody encounters along the Jersey Shore, sharks terrorized beachgoers of Sheepshead Bay, frightening the entire region. Two incidents on Fire Island in 2018 within mere hours and miles of each other involved a twelve-year-old and a thirteen-year-old, striking fear in the hearts of parents. Authors Patricia and Robert Heyer chart the history of New York's shark attacks.

Metairie

9781467109048

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Humans first inhabited Metairie after the Mississippi River flowed through it, leaving behind natural levees--as well as Bayou Metairie--along Metairie Road. After the surrounding swampland was drained, other areas were developed, and in 2020, Metairie became the sixth-largest census designated place in the nation.

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.

Pecans from Soup to Nuts

9781455624829

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This lovely collection of 37 recipes features the pecan in appetizers, soups, salads, meats, and more. The popular nut grows naturally from Iowa all the way down to the Southeast and to Mexico.

America's most popular indigenous nut, the pecan offers a comfortingly rich and buttery flavor. Delicious in sweet, savory, and spicy dishes, the nut takes center stage. From the simple pleasure of roasted pecans to the more complex pairing of Speckled Trout with Pecan Meuniere, the dishes in this cookbook offer an enticing spectrum of tastes and treats to savor all year long.

Metcalfe County

9781467107884

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Metcalfe County was established by the state legislature in 1860 after two previous unsuccessful attempts to create a new county honoring Kentucky’s 10th governor, Thomas Metcalfe. Metcalfe County is rich with history, especially from the Big Blue Spring, a well-known destination for Native Americans and long hunters who hunted elk and bison along the divide between the woodlands and the extensive barrens that spread west of Edmonton. As settlement began, the spring continued to be a destination for pioneers traveling along the Warrior Trail. Much of Metcalfe County was settled by Revolutionary War soldiers whose land patents provided land in payment for their services in the war. For the past 160 years, Metcalfe County has been a source of timber, oil, and agriculture products. From 1903 until 1968, the Beula Villa Hotel, which featured famous mineral water, became a renowned resort destination for visitors from across America. In the 21st century, Metcalfe County remains agriculture based, and although new roads and industry have arrived, Metcalfe’s rural roots and natural resources help it remain a destination for those seeking small-town life.

Auseklis Ozols

9781455624126

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Few great painters have had the uncanny ability to transition between the worlds of teacher and artist--Auseklis Ozols is one of them. He founded the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts, where he emphasizes the classical disciplines of artistic instruction. In this fascinating biography, author John Kemp uses Ozols' own paintings to reveal the life of the talented artist and teacher dedicated to passing down the lessons of the great painters of the past.

Sedalia

9781467104050

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Sedalia's rich architectural history began when visionaries erected wood-frame buildings prior to the Civil War. Stately brick structures later lined its downtown streets, signifying Sedalia's status as Queen of the Prairie. Throughout Sedalia's history, new generations have brought fresh ideas to enliven the city's commerce and culture. This book is a tribute to Sedalia's visionaries, past and present, and their legacy.

Mount Pleasant

9781467107730

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Lush pastures, babbling creeks, seven lakes, and piney timber woods surround a community that has seen considerable growth and expansion in the last few decades. As the hub of Northeast Texas, Mount Pleasant has a delightfully storied past that natives fondly remember and newcomers have yet to learn.

Sacramento's Moon Rockets

9781467133890

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On July 16, 1969, a Saturn V rocket launched the Apollo spacecraft carrying American astronauts to the surface of the moon, where Neil Armstrong would take his famous first steps and fulfill Pres. John F. Kennedy's goal of a successful lunar landing by the end of the decade. This event marks one of the greatest achievements in human history and is in large part due to the years of rocket testing that took place at the Douglas Aircraft Company's Sacramento testing facility (SACTO). The SACTO facility played one of the most important roles in the success of the Apollo 11 lunar mission and is where the Saturn rocket's S-IVB stage was developed and tested--making this historic accomplishment possible.

Lowell

9780738539324

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Lowell, a historic industrial city, owes its life to the broad Merrimack River. Renowned for its water-powered textile mills, it was also a city rich in natural beauty, where spiritual and cultural values took root. Postcards from the 1890s to the 1940s bear witness to riverscapes, varied waterways, arched bridges, and green parks. Vintage cards depict grand churches and stately mansions, some now altered or gone, and rare interior views. Informative text accompanies the images of yellowbricked colleges, pastoral neighboring environs, dignified cemeteries, and imposing monuments, such as the captivating Lion Monument.

Fun, Funky and Fabulous

9781455620609

$24.00 $12.00 Save 50%

Backstreet and little-known grub stops in New Orleans!

". . . an updated version of those classic Creole cookbooks you (should) already have on your shelf."

--Robert Peyton, restaurant reporter for New Orleans Magazine

". . . illustrates how our native cuisine has evolved in the 21st century while still keeping all of its familiar flavors."

--Poppy Tooker, author of Louisiana Eats!

A variety of recipes from restaurants, including Toups' Meatery, Purloo, Kingfish, and many more, celebrates a new group of successful eateries sure to become New Orleans classics. Each recipe is accompanied by stunning photos, and chapters are introduced with colorful folk art from Simon of New Orleans.

Oregon Surfing

9781467115322

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Surfing culture began in Portland, Seaside, Cannon Beach, and Pacific City in the early 1960s. Influenced by surf music and a few California surfers, a handful of skin divers and adolescent boys yearned to engage in the sport. In the beginning, surfing was illegal along the beachfronts of Seaside and Cannon Beach. Answering the siren call, locals took to the beaches, while others from around Oregon, Washington, and California found their way to isolated spots along the Northern Oregon coast. The early surfers were not intimidated by their lack of knowledge, poor equipment, or the unpredictable waves. Instead, surfing caught on in the cold waters of Oregon. Experience the early days of Oregon surfing through the pioneer surfers' stories and vintage photographs.

Santa Fe

9781467133128

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Located in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, Santa Fe was founded in 1608 by Spanish colonists and Franciscan missionaries who were searching for gold, arable land, and Indians to convert to Christianity. In the 400 years since, this mountain community has been the hub of Spanish colonialism in the New World, the terminus of the historic Santa Fe Trail, and since 1912, the state capital of New Mexico. It is America's third-oldest continuously inhabited, European-built community, surpassed in age only by St. Augustine, Florida, and Jamestown, Virginia. It is also the birthplace of Santa Fe style, a term used to describe the unique amalgamation of Indian, Spanish, and Anglo cultures that has strongly influenced the world of architecture and fashion since the 1960s and made the city one of America's most popular and recognizable tourist destinations.

Clarksville

9781467113069

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Clarksville may have been put on the map as a major tobacco port at the confluence of the Cumberland and Red Rivers, but ever since the founding of Fort Campbell--home of the 101st Airborne Division--in 1942, Clarksville has expanded rapidly and is currently the fifth-largest city in the state of Tennessee. Reinvention of its historic mainstays, such as Austin Peay State University and the Roxy Theatre, has brought new cultural activity to the area. The Monkees' 1966 hit single "Last Train to Clarksville" was inspired by the local Louisville & Nashville Railroad depot. The Leaf-Chronicle, Tennessee's oldest newspaper, has continued to publish in Clarksville, capturing its endless growth and redevelopment. Today, the tight-knit community continues to uphold its brand as "Tennessee's Top Spot."

Blacksburg

9780738592411

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Blacksburg has always been on the frontier's edge: pushing the boundaries of westward expansion in Colonial Virginia, as a leader in agricultural and mechanical education with the founding of a land-grant university in 1872, and home to a leading research institution known today as Virginia Tech. The history revealed by numerous historic structures is the foundation that makes Blacksburg "a Special Place."

Montana State University, Bozeman

9781467128254

$23.99 $12.00 Save 50%

Montana State University (MSU) was founded in 1893 in Bozeman, Montana. Bozeman is in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, near Yellowstone National Park, and surrounded by blue-ribbon trout waters, world-class skiing, and unspoiled wilderness in every direction. MSU is the state's land-grant university, with a mission to educate students, create knowledge and art, and serve communities by integrating learning, discovery, and engagement. Over its 125-year history, the university has grown from its original class of eight students to today's more than 16,000 from across the United States and over 70 nations. Sports, MSU's annual American Indian Council Pow Wow, and outdoor recreation facilitate avenues for education, exercise, and entertainment for faculty, staff, and students, creating invaluable experiences that last a lifetime.

Forgotten Baton Rouge

9781467114776

$29.99 $15.00 Save 50%

Discover Baton Rouge's bygone days of booming growth and the influence of its renowned residents.

For nearly two centuries, Baton Rouge remained a sleepy little river town. Situated on the first bluffs of the Mississippi River north of the Gulf of Mexico, it was prime real estate for habitation. Images of America: Forgotten Baton Rouge collects a plethora of lost images of this city's greatest period of expansion: from the 1890s to the 1930s. This era began when Louisiana State University moved to the grounds of the old US Army arsenal, followed by a corporate decision from John D. Rockefeller to build a Standard Oil Company refinery at Baton Rouge. These historic decisions, coupled with the forward-thinking actions of bold businessmen and politicians like Robert A. Hart and Huey P. Long, changed the face of the city forever.

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.

Langworthys of Dubuque, The

9781467148504

$21.99 $11.00 Save 50%

James, Lucius, Edward and Solon Langworthy arrived in the lead mining district of the Upper Midwest in the 1820s and made a lasting impression on what would become Dubuque. Their father, Dr. Stephen Langworthy, and their seventeen siblings soon joined in the wilderness adventure. Solon plowed the first fields, James built the first Methodist church and Lucius built the first road between Dubuque and Iowa City. Their ancestor James IV fought to secure victory at Fort Ticonderoga during the American Revolution, and cousin Hart Massey founded the Massey-Ferguson Company. Julia Langworthy led relief work for the Union soldiers and helped to found a home for orphans. Author Susan M. Hellert details how the Langworthys helped build a city.

The Coast Guard in Hampton Roads

9781467108157

$23.99 $12.00 Save 50%

The US Coast Guard has a long history of saving lives and deterring and defeating threats in the Hampton Roads area that dates to the Revolutionary War era. The Coast Guard in Hampton Roads has interdicted hundreds of millions of dollars of illegal drugs; saved countless lives; operated lightships, lighthouses, and lifesaving stations; ensured safe navigation in one of the largest and busiest coastal waterway systems in North America; inspected thousands of shipping containers; conducted security and safety boardings of foreign flagged vessels; and tracked commercial vessels using the Harbor Surveillance System. The team at Coast Guard Sector Virginia is composed of nearly 500 active duty and civilian personnel, 130 reservists, and 1,300 auxiliarists. The area is also home to several multimission boats and ships. Hampton Roads regional Coast Guard personnel and assets continue their multimission capability to ensure strategic and economic prosperity for the one of the gateways to the United States.