Name: Two Rivers
Brand: Patrick J. Gagnon
SKU: 9780738588711
Price: 24.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Two Rivers

9780738588711

$24.99

The heritage of Two Rivers, Wisconsin, is shaped by water but has rapidly developed into a woodenware manufacturer of world significance.

The heritage of Two Rivers has been shaped by water. The rare conjunction of Lake Michigan with a dual river system compelled the Potawatomi and Menominee as well as the first American settlers. People of the First Nations plied the lake and rivers in search of whitefish, while initial American settlers sought fish and timber and appreciated the commercial potential of the harbor.

As the years went on, Two Rivers quickly grew into a woodenware manufacturer of world significance. When native forests diminished, the community demonstrated patterns typical of a small American town. Businesses, schools, churches and public services grew and thrived. Through periods of growth, decline, and stability, the lake and the rivers have given the community its distinctiveness. Located on a small peninsula almost 90 miles north of Milwaukee, Two Rivers's climate has also earned it a reputation as ""the coolest spot in Wisconsin.""

The Swiss Colony

9780738540245

$24.99

Each year, millions of Swiss Colony mail-order catalogs featuring more than 30,000 items flow into American homes. Little did Raymond Kubly realize in 1926, when he had the goofy idea of selling cheese by mail, that his then-fledgling company would become a mail-order giant. In those first years, cheese wheels were cut and wrapped in consumer-sized pieces in the Kubly family basement and garage. Soon the company was selling not only cheese but sausages, meats, and pastry desserts, all from the pleasant, little southern Wisconsin city of Monroe. Today the ever-expanding Swiss Colony, having ventured into home furnishings, jewelry, apparel, and more, is one of the largest direct marketing companies in the United States.

Kenosha on the Go

9780738550985

$24.99

Kenosha on the Go chronicles 110 years of transportation in Kenosha. From the first interurban streetcar that reached Kenosha's northern city limits in 1897 to the existing transit system in 2007, this book covers local streetcar operations, trackless trolley and bus operations, the two electric interurbans that served Kenosha, and the North Western Railway. Kenosha on the Go also brings readers to the rebirth of streetcar operations in Kenosha at the dawn of the 21st century.

Wauwatosa

9780738532325

$24.99

First called Hart's Mills, after its founder Charles Hart who settled here in 1835, early Wauwatosa resembled a New England village, complete with a commons. Its first pioneers were Yankees and New Yorkers, later joined by Germans who would mold the growing community. Wauwatosa became the most highly developed, unincorporated settlement in Milwaukee County. It attained a degree of sophistication with its commercial mix of mills, a pickle factory, inns, modest businesses, and nearby stone quarries and breweries. Vital links to Milwaukee in 1851, the Watertown Plank Road and the state's first railroad through the village center to Waukesha, enhanced this development. In 1852, the County Board selected a site nearby for its poor farm. Wauwatosa incorporated as a village in 1892, attaining city status in 1897. The streetcar of the 1890s and the automobile fueled residential growth. Wauwatosa became known as the "City of Homes." In the 1950s, Wauwatosa tripled in size with final annexations and was transformed into a major center of commercial and industrial development, while retaining large public green spaces, parkways, and recreational sites.

Plymouth

9780738540863

$24.99

Plymouth, originally considered a "hub" city because of the hub and wheel factory located here, has also earned that moniker for its central location between Milwaukee and Green Bay. Tourists flock to Plymouth year-round to visit the variety of shops, to golf, swim, and ski, or to explore the beautiful Kettle Moraine State Forest. And residents of the city are proud of their heritage, which can be seen at sites such as the Wade House, the Herrling Saw Mill, or the Wesley Jung Carriage Museum, as well as the numerous architectural gems featured on a walking tour of historic homes and businesses. First settled in 1845, it was predicted that "Plymouth bids well to become quite a business town," and so it became, earning the nickname of "World's Cheese Capital."

Wind Point Lighthouse

9780738550633

$24.99

Several lighthouses have called Racine home, but none is more synonymous with the nautical heritage of the "Belle City" than Wind Point. Always a beehive of activity, the Wind Point Lighthouse is one of the larger lighthouse complexes on the Great Lakes, and a hardworking keeper, two assistants, and their families made their livelihood here. For over 125 years, the tall stately tower has faithfully stood guard, shining its bright beam out over Lake Michigan nightly. Countless mariners relied on the Wind Point Lighthouse, along with a booming trademark foghorn for safe passage. Today the Wind Point Lighthouse is the most well-known symbol of Racine and is a success story among Great Lakes lights. A devoted friends group, in partnership with the Village of Wind Point, sees that the legacy and history of the Wind Point Lighthouse is preserved for future generations.

Entertainment in Early Milwaukee

9780738550992

$24.99

What did early Milwaukeeans do to have fun and relax? This book answers that question, covering pop culture from the mid-1800s up to 1950, from the earliest tavern stages hosting traditional German plays and musicals, to the large traveling circus acts that arrived via the railroad, to the beer gardens, nickelodeons, and old grand cinemas that dominated the city's landscape during the first half of the 20th century. In its heyday, Milwaukee had several classic amusement parks with roller coasters, fun houses, water rides, and more. The first movie was shown in Milwaukee in 1896, and by 1920, there were nearly 100 buildings dedicated to motion pictures. And it was two Milwaukee businessmen who discovered the great Charlie Chaplin and also produced the 1915 epic Birth of a Nation.

Madison

9780738577289

$7.99

Madison boasts a rich history.

Cover image for Madison, isbn: 9780738577289

Around Eagle

9781467108256

$23.99

The village of Eagle is a small town with a big smile. Located within the southern Kettle Moraine Forest and a large prairie, the town is identified by its yellow, smiley-faced water tower. Eagle's modern history began in 1836, when three prospectors came across an expansive prairie with a large bald-headed eagle hovering over it. The early pioneers settled in small communities that blurred into the neighboring towns of Ottawa, North Prairie, Mukwonago, East Troy, and Palmyra. In 1851, the railroad made Eagle Centre the metropolis, thus stifling Jericho, Palestine, Melendy's Prairie, and Eagleville. Eagle was nearly named Diamond City when it became known that a diamond had been discovered there in 1876. The 1900s saw a transition from wheat and sheep to dairy farming and then to crops of corn and soybeans. Some land was returned to nature as the Kettle Moraine State Forest, and others turned into housing developments and industrial parks. The 21st century brought the acceleration of urban sprawl to once rural areas.

Merrill

9780738590844

$24.99

Jenny or Jenny Bull Falls, as the city was fondly referred to before the railroad roared into town, was born on the backs of speculators, lumbermen, and businessmen in the mid-1840s. Pursuing wide-eyed dreams in the vast pine forests of the north woods, Jenny's population was around 200 in 1870. The worn trails of the Ojibwe/Chippewa, the area's first occupants, were transformed into logging roads, and by the time the city's name was formally changed to Merrill in 1881, the population had grown to 2,000. Nicknamed the "City of Parks" in 1903, Merrill is situated on the convergence of the Wisconsin and Prairie Rivers and features four seasons of natural beauty within the city limits. The wonder of Merrill lies in a century of traditions and in the heritage and beauty of its numerous historic buildings and places.

City of West Bend

9781467113861

$24.99

The City of West Bend got its name from its location on a large westward-reaching bend of the Milwaukee River. Settled mainly by German immigrants in the 1840s, the city was bestowed with leaders possessing entrepreneurial know-how. West Bend became an international center of manufacturing with companies such as the West Bend Aluminum Company, Enger-Kress Pocket Book Company, and Gehl Brothers Manufacturing. Knowing how to work hard, West Bend's residents also played hard with a booming downtown area, local sports teams, parks, and cultural entertainment. Recent decades have seen a decline of local industry, but unlike many communities, the historic downtown continues to thrive with shops, restaurants, and lively cultural offerings. Home to unique architecture such as Old Courthouse and Jail, beautiful Victorian homes, and the new Museum of Wisconsin Art, West Bend continues to thrive and take pride in its past while looking to the future.

Logging in Wisconsin

9781467125321

$24.99

Logging in Wisconsin explores the 70 years when logging ruled the state, covering the characters who worked in forests and on rivers, the tools they used, and the places where they lived and worked.

Wisconsin was the perfect setting for the lumber industry: acres of white pine forests (acquired through treaties with American Indians) and rivers to transport logs to sawmills. From 1840 to 1910, logging literally reshaped the landscape of Wisconsin, providing employment to thousands of workers. The lumber industry attracted businessmen, mills, hotels, and eventually the railroad. This led to the development of many Wisconsin cities, including Eau Claire, Oshkosh, Stevens Point, and Wausau. Rep. Ben Eastman told Congress in 1852 that the Wisconsin forests had enough lumber to supply the United States "for all time to come." Sadly, this was a grossly overestimated belief, and by 1910, the Wisconsin forests had been decimated.

La Crosse

9781467113328

$24.99

La Crosse is situated between the Mississippi River and the picturesque bluffs of the Driftless Area. Founded in the 1840s, La Crosse's location at the intersection of three rivers attracted entrepreneurs. Fertile farmlands, scenic coulees, and prosperous industries enticed adventurous East Coasters and immigrants to settle in the area. From the 1850s to early 1900s, a boomtown atmosphere shaped the city's culture and fueled the construction of a distinctive downtown--much of which remains standing today.

Kenosha

9780738540061

$24.99

Looking from the decks of schooners toward the western shore of Lake Michigan, early explorers quickly saw the potential of the prairie wilderness that was to become Kenosha. The vintage postcards in this book show a community that has evolved through rapid growth due to immigration, employment opportunities, and eras of educational leadership, patriotism, and a phoenixlike revival following devastating economic depression. From its beginning, the people of the area have demonstrated a strong work ethic, religious and civic spirit, and the ability to triumph over adversity.

Cover image for Kenosha, isbn: 9780738540061

Lake Lawn

9780738560274

$24.99

Nestled on 275 shaded acres beside beautiful Delavan Lake, Lake Lawn has been a favorite vacation destination since 1878. Much of the area's local history is rooted to this wooded lakeside retreat. It is the site of the highest concentration of ancient Native American effigy mounds in the area. Plus, it was the place where the Mabie brothers first brought their circus, leading to Delavan's designation as 19th-century circus capital of the nation. It was also home to the Lake Lawn Ballroom, one of the most popular dance halls of its day, where a young Lawrence Welk played annually before achieving national fame. In addition to its historical significance, Lake Lawn was the beloved vacation spot for generations of families who enjoyed annual trips to its lakeside cottages and rustic timber lodges.

Fort McCoy

9780738551708

$24.99

From the days of the horse-drawn caisson to today's Humvee, Fort McCoy has played a vital role in the military readiness of America's armed forces. The only federal military installation within the state of Wisconsin, Fort McCoy has seen more than five million military personnel from throughout the United States pass through its gates since its founding in 1909. Fort McCoy exists today primarily because its founder, Maj. Gen. Robert B. McCoy, foresaw that the U.S. Army would need a regional site at which to train and maneuver and then dedicated himself to making that vision a reality. Fort McCoy's mission of supporting training and mobilization has remained constant from those early days on the McCoy ranch to the current global War on Terror. This book chronicles the illustrious history of Fort McCoy from the doughboys of World War I to today's soldiers supporting Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Bay View

9780738588599

$24.99

Bay View was built as the company town for the Milwaukee Iron Company, which was established at the outlet of Deer Creek into Lake Michigan in 1867. Most people credit the Bay View name to Mrs. William Durfee, wife of the steel mill's chief engineer. In 1879, Bay View incorporated as a village but eight years later joined the city of Milwaukee. Although Bay View owes its existence to the steel mill, it closed in 1929 and was torn down 10 years later. Bay View was Milwaukee's first industrial suburb and Wisconsin's first company town. In 1982, the Bay View National Historic District was created to preserve a portion of this area that still retains the community pride that was born with the steel mill and Bay View's village days.

Milwaukee Police Department

9780738551722

$24.99

The Milwaukee Police Department was organized in 1855 with a determined chief, seven pugnacious officers, and little money. The department grew to 21 men by the start of the Civil War in 1861. Law enforcement in the city soon earned the national reputation for honesty, integrity, and fairness it has enjoyed into the 21st century. The Milwaukee Police Department was first in the country to establish a formal officer training school, police bomb disposal vehicle, and "talking squad car." Nefarious criminals handled by the department include the foiled presidential assassin John Schrank, the serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, and characters with quaint nicknames like "Cat-eye Lil" and "Kelly the Choker."

Racine

9780738550626

$24.99

In November 1834, Capt. Gilbert Knapp staked a claim to 141 acres at the mouth of the Root River, naming it Port Gilbert. This site became the city of Racine.

During the pioneer years, Racine was dubbed "the Belle City" of the Great Lakes (from the French word belle, meaning "beautiful"). The growth of this beautiful city and its harbor was captured in vintage postcards at a time when people sent little notes and messages to friends and family the way people use e-mail and cell phones today. These cards are like vignettes showing the changes that have taken place since one century ago - a pictorial documentation of Racine preserved for future generations to enjoy.

Chinese Milwaukee

9780738552248

$24.99

The history of Chinese Milwaukee begins in April 1874, with the opening by Wing Wau of a Chinese laundry at 86 Mason Street. Other Chinese soon followed, and by 1888, there were at least 30 Chinese laundries operating in the city. Charlie Toy moved to Milwaukee in 1904 and within two decades had built both one of the largest Chinese trading businesses in the United States and a six-story Chinese-style building in downtown Milwaukee described as the largest and most luxurious Chinese restaurant building in the world. An example of the community's influence as a whole is the period 1937 to 1940, when the community of less than 300 residents contributed more money to the Chinese war effort against Japan than any other Chinese community in the United States except San Francisco.

North Point Milwaukee Lighthouse

9780738582641

$24.99

The North Point Milwaukee Lighthouse, neatly nestled in beautifully landscaped Lake Park on Milwaukee's east side, is a local maritime jewel. Incorporated as part of legendary landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted's grand design for this scenic urban park, North Point rests far atop a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan, making it one of the highest light stations on the Great Lakes. Three distinctly different lighthouses have been located here, each with its own unique story. Notable keepers include Georgia Stebbins, who came to North Point as a sickly young woman and was transformed by fresh air and hard work into a feisty, dedicated lightkeeper and served with distinction for over 30 years. Abandoned and boarded up for many years, North Point has been resurrected from near ruin. Today, the North Point Lighthouse Friends see to it that this historic sentinel is preserved for future generations.

Langlade County

9780738588636

$24.99

The "Great North Woods" counties of Wisconsin, home to various native tribes, have transformed through several fascinating stages of development. The US government built a military road from Fort Howard (Green Bay) to Michigan's Upper Peninsula soon after the Civil War, causing increased development in what would later become Langlade County and the heavily forested lands that stretched northeastward. The Wolf River proved essential in creating the local logging trade, which in turn drove the expansion of railroad lines. By 1900, logging was slowing down, but the public's growing awareness of Langlade's abundant hunting and fishing resources gave rise to northern Wisconsin's tourism industry. Even Indian tribes gradually participated in the tourist trade. A.J. Kingsbury photographed these transitions. This book reaches beyond Langlade County to portray early-20th-century Ojibwe and Menominee tribes along with loggers, railroads, and tourist attractions.

Milwaukee County Parks

9780738550848

$24.99

Milwaukeeans love their parks, and with nearly 15,000 acres of parkland throughout Milwaukee County, there is much to love. But few know the story behind the development of this great park system. Milwaukee County Parks takes readers on a photographic tour of the area's earliest parks--town squares and beer gardens established by the early settlers--through the creation of city and county park commissions, to the parks today. It will leave one with a better appreciation of the vision and dedication it took to build such a park system and the need to assure it remains intact for the enjoyment and benefit of future generations.

Menomonie

9780738541273

$24.99

Historic Menomonie lies alongside the beautiful Red Cedar River in western Wisconsin. A town with a rich, diverse history, it grew to become home to a massive lumbering era spearheaded by four innovative pioneer men whose heritage continues to identify the city. Lumbering gave way to the establishment of respected sleigh, brick, piano, and cigar factories in the early 1900s. Throughout these eras, up until the present, inventors, artists, educators, philanthropists, and farmers all put their stamp on the town. Home to the popular Red Cedar Trail, it also is the site of the Mabel Tainter Theatre, an ornate historic building constructed to memorialize a young daughter. Dairy farms still pepper the hillsides, small businesses line Main Street, farmers still market products in the park, and Stout University leads the way in education; and always the arts abound in the nooks and valleys that comprise Menomonie.

Janesville

9780738588650

$24.99

In 1837, Henry Janes, one of the area's first settlers, proposed the name "Black Hawk" for the small southern Wisconsin settlement he lived in, but the US Post Office chose Janesville. The village along the Rock River was selected as the Rock County seat, and by 1860 it had grown to become Wisconsin's second largest city. Janesville developed into an important railroad town and, because of its waterpower, a milling and manufacturing center. General Motors built a large plant, and George Parker started the Parker Pen Company here. As the city grew, land was donated or set aside for recreation, and today Janesville calls itself Wisconsin's Park Place. Its population has grown to more than 62,000.

Watertown, Wisconsin

9780738507699

$24.99

Watertown, Wisconsin, nestled in the southeastern part of the state between the largest city, Milwaukee, and the state capital, Madison, was once considered the second largest city in Wisconsin. Founded in 1836 by Yankee settlers from the East coast, these individuals were soon joined by Irish and German immigrants who contributed to Watertown's unique cultural and ethnic make-up. The town was granted a village charter by 1849 and became a city in 1853. Watertown, Wisconsin: 1836-1936, explores this exciting era of growth and expansion in the city's first one hundred years. From the arrival of the stage line in 1844 to the new ideas and inventions presented in the twentieth century, the reader is able to gain insight into the development of this wonderful community. However, amidst all of this change, there is one thing that has remained constant--the people. Within the pages of this book, the lives of the residents of Watertown are represented through the images and the text, thus bringing to life the rich history of this community.

Schroeder's Department Store

9781467128988

$24.99

With financial help from his father, Peter Joseph Schroeder, Peter Schroeder opened a small dry goods business in 1891 at the southeast corner of Eighteenth and Washington Streets in the B. Mayer Building. Over the next five years, his brothers Joseph, John, and Frank joined the operation. In 1899, business was flourishing. The current three-story building was constructed at the northwest corner of Seventeenth and Washington Streets, and the store became a physical anchor in the downtown business district. The Schroeders believe in giving back to the community they call home. Over four generations, the Schroeders and their spouses donated more than 5,000 hours to various civic organizations in Two Rivers. Many changes have taken place at Schroeder's in its 126-year history. Today's store offers a full line of men's and women's apparel and footwear, as well as a coffeehouse and alterations. Schroeder's also leases space to a toy shop, yarn shop, quilt shop, and gift shop.

West Milwaukee

9780738533650

$24.99

Formerly a part of the Town of Wauwatosa and the Town of Greenfield, West Milwaukee became a village in 1906. The influx of industry (Pauling and Harnischfeger located here in 1904), transportation (new roads, railroads, and streetcars to service the area), the swelling of the population to 909, and strong leaders fueled the village's urge for independence. What was once an area "west" of the City of Milwaukee has become West Milwaukee, the center (or heart of) Milwaukee County. Large farms, estates, summer homes, and gravel pits have become homes, shops, and industries which happily coexist. Ethnicity, once almost purely European, now includes a more worldly cross section of African Americans, Hispanic, and Asian peoples. Many who have moved still have fond memories of growing up in West Milwaukee.

Sheboygan Falls

9780738533841

$24.99

Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin, originally platted as the village of "Rochester," took shape in the late 1830s and 1840s. Settled by Yankee businessmen from the East, "Sheboygan at the Falls" was strong from the beginning, surviving even the national financial panic of 1837. As the village grew up along the Sheboygan River, this reliable source of water ensured rapid growth of industry and population and the accompanying prosperity. A city of Greek Revival and Cream City brick architecture, Sheboygan Falls boasts two districts listed on the National Historic Register. The Cole Historic District is the largest Greek Revival District west of the East Coast. Its five buildings were built between 1837 and 1846. The largely original downtown business district of the city includes buildings that once housed a tannery, a cheese bandage factory, a rake factory, a woolen mill, a Temperance Hall for teetotalers, and a Free Hall for women.

Cana Island Lighthouse

9780738541013

$24.99

The Cana Island Lighthouse is one of the most picturesque of any lighthouses still operating on the Great Lakes today. The beautiful peninsula of Door County has a long and bountiful tradition of maritime history, including its many lighthouses. Cana Island has illuminated the coastline on the Lake Michigan side of Door County for over 100 years. Cana Island's story involves bricks and mortar, engineering marvels, and, most noteworthy, people. The dedication of Cana's keepers and their families over the years was remarkable. Countless mariners relied on them. Lighthouse life could be challenging, at times tedious, but also extremely rewarding. Most visitors will agree that Cana Island is indeed an extraordinary place.

Milwaukee's Historic Bowling Alleys

9780738583785

$24.99

From the U.S. Olympic team, to "Bowling with the Champs," to countless corner bars with a couple of lanes in the basement, Milwaukee has lived and breathed this sport. In the late 1800s, German brewers like Capt. Frederick Pabst and the Uihleins offered bowling in their Milwaukee beer gardens. When Abe Langtry brought the American Bowling Congress here in 1905, "Brew City" became bowling central. Today owning a bowling alley is a labor of love, with good reason. It's the place where you rolled that 700 series, met your wife, and taught your son how to bowl in the junior league. Even in this high-tech, immediate-gratification society, bowling still thrives in Milwaukee. Several old-school lanes still have steady business, and this book is a tribute to the people, the places, and the sport that made Milwaukee "America's Bowling Capital."

Kaukauna

9781467110907

$24.99

Explorer Jean Nicolet traveled down the Fox River in 1634 and explored an area of three waterfalls. Settlers arrived and began trading at this natural way station in 1760, establishing what became Kaukauna—one of the oldest settlements in the state. In fact, the first land deed ever recorded in Wisconsin happened here. The first state road followed in the 1820s, connecting Kaukauna with Green Bay, and people trickled in to work at the sawmills. Locks and dams were built to harness the river, and the paper mills were not far behind. It was then that Kaukauna was nicknamed the Lion on the Fox, and the boom of a great city began. It is a thriving community today that maintains a small-town feel. Thilmany Pulp and Paper has been the leading employer in the area for more than a century. At the heart of the city remains the Fox River, dividing north and south, and Kaukauna remains the Lion on the Fox.

Geneva Lake

9781467112253

$24.99

Geneva Lake was formed by a glacier tens of thousands of years ago. The Oneota left historic footprints with a cultural gift in the form of the shore path.

The path is accessible for all to walk just as the natives did many centuries earlier. Images of America: Geneva Lake illustrates the early history of the communities surrounding the lake--Lake Geneva, Linn, Fontana, and Williams Bay--through scrapbooks, vintage photographs, and storytelling. The chapters in this book cover the history of people, places, pioneers, physical chores, and play at Geneva Lake. Families who have spent time at the lake for generations share enchanting memories, and those new to it can experience ""lake living years ago.""

Burlington

9780738534275

$24.99

Nestled in the southeastern corner of Wisconsin, Burlington originally blossomed from industrial roots. The city was settled in 1836 by Easterners seeking waterpower for mills at the junction of the White and Fox Rivers. Over the years, the city has grown to attract a wide variety of business, tourism, and families. In the years leading up to the Civil War, Burlington area residents provided hiding places on the Underground Railroad under the leadership of abolitionist Dr. Edward G. Dyer. In the late 1800s, the nearby lakes began attracting summer visitors from Milwaukee and Chicago. Today, the city is home to a Nestle Co. chocolate plant and hosts an annual chocolate festival, earning it the name "Chocolate City."

Stevens Point Brewing Company

9781467104029

$23.99

The history of the Stevens Point Brewery tells the history of Stevens Point itself. The city's identity is tied so closely to its brewery that they are considered synonymous. Indeed, the Stevens Point Brewery predates the incorporation of the city by one year. The lumber boom brought thousands of people to Stevens Point, and two enterprising German immigrants sought to make sure those pioneers would have a quality beer to call their own. The loyalty of the local residents kept the brewery afloat through the dark days of Prohibition and through the 1960s as small, regional breweries were closing due to mass consolidation. Community members have always made sure that theirs would not follow suit. The Stevens Point Brewery will forever be tied to its locale through more than just its name.