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Legendary Locals of St. Joseph and Benton Harbor (Legendary Locals)
by Elaine CotsirilosA cast of characters tumbles out of the pages of this book, beginning with the courageous settlers who tamed the wilderness. By the 1890s, dynamic denizens of St. Joseph and Benton Harbor harvested fruit, established factories, and opened tourist attractions. Drake and Wallace’s Silver Beach Amusement Park, with its roller coaster, fun house, and Lake Michigan beach, attracted visitors from Chicago. So did the curative mineral waters. Al Capone took “the baths,” despite their stinking like rotten eggs. The Israelite House of David, a Christian sect founded by Benjamin and Mary Purnell, welcomed summer visitors to their amusement park. Despite an infamous scandal and trial involving Benjamin, the House of David thrived for decades. The cities spawned inventors like Augustus Herring, who flew an airplane five years before the Wright brothers; Emory Upton, who developed an electric-powered washing machine manufactured by a company now known as Whirlpool; and Walter Miller, inventor of a record-changing machine manufactured by V-M. By the 1980s, manufacturing in the area had declined, and the cities suffered. Present-day entrepreneurs, artists, and community activists have jump-started their return to vitality.
Legendary Locals of Staten Island (Legendary Locals)
by W. Matteo EdDLocated at the entrance to New York Harbor, Staten Island has had a front-row seat to many of the comings and goings of the New World. From the early European explorers, such as Verrazano and Hudson, to the waves of immigrants coming in steerage, the island would be part of a gateway to a great continent. Some visitors stayed briefly, while others would go no further and would make the island their forever home. Those who called Staten Island home would include inventors, business leaders, writers, athletes, politicians, and artists. Some famous islanders include industry titan Cornelius Vanderbilt; inventor Antonio Meucci; Central Park visionary Frederick Law Olmsted; poet Edwin Markham; silent film star Mabel Normand; and singers Christina Aguilera, Joan Baez, and members of Wu-Tang Clan. All these would play a role in the development of Staten Island, a borough of New York City and sister to one of the world's great metropolises.
Legendary Locals of Tippecanoe to Tipp City
by Susan FurlongLock No. 15 on the Miami and Erie Canal ensured the development of Tippecanoe, Ohio, but the village would not have grown into the busy Tipp City of today without people determined to build futures for themselves and their families. John Clark established the town, and prosperity came with men and women like Joshua Horton and his newspaper, John Garver and his furniture factory, James Scheip of Tipp Novelty, Peter Bohlender of SpringHill Nursery, and the Timmers of TipTop Canning. The strong school system evolved thanks to innovative leaders like James Bartmess and L.T. Ball. The entire community benefited from the vision of Sidney Chaffee and his opera house, and it benefits still today with the visions of volunteers like Bob and Jackie Wahl and Peg Hadden, who, along with so many others, give their time, talent, and love to Tippecanoe and Tipp City.
Legendary Locals of Toledo (Legendary Locals)
by Barbara L. FloydWhile Jesup W. Scott proclaimed it the "Future Great City of the World" in 1868, in reality, Toledo saw little development for the first four decades after its founding in 1837. Plagued by swamps, disease, and unwelcoming occupants, few settled here. But slowly, the city attracted people who saw a chance to improve their lives and perhaps their fortunes, including Edward Drummond Libbey. In 1888, Libbey brought with him the glass industry that would dominate the city's economy and earn it the nickname of "Glass Capital of the World." Legendary Locals of Toledo describes the impact of people like Scott, Libbey, and others who shaped Toledo--from the well known whose names grace street signs, buildings, and monuments, to unsung heroes who few remember. Included are pioneers who were the first in their fields as well as leaders of business and industry, representatives of government and the law, and successful entertainers and sports figures. Some were born here and moved on to make their impact, while others lived here and impacted the city.
Legendary Locals of Ukiah (Legendary Locals)
by Darline BergereMountains. Trees. A lake. What makes a city, town, or village come to life are the people--those who have gone before and those who are there today. They are what shape and build the community of Ukiah. With their personalities, foibles, compassion, and humor, some of these influential men and women stand out by design and some quietly exist on the sidelines. Utah Haley, a disabled veteran, drives other veterans to doctors' appointments. Rick Paige is always the first on-scene to help in a disaster. Spencer Brewer started the "Sundays in the Park" free concerts more than two decades ago. Ukiah is a town that supports its businesses, and those same local businesses give back to the community in many ways. Shannon Riley of Shoefly and Sox holds an annual shoe drive. Jan Hoyman and Doug Browe of Hoyman Browe Studios donate countless pieces of their work to charitable auctions. Ann Kilkenny of Mendocino Book Company gives time and assistance to local organizations. Marty Lombardi, who spent 40 years with Savings Bank of Mendocino, was always lending a helping hand to local nonprofits.
Legendary Locals of Wake Forest
by Jennifer Smart Durward MathenyFor much of its history, Wake Forest was an idyllic college town. Trains chugged past White Street, the depot hummed with activity, and citizens could shop for groceries, see a movie, and cheer the Demon Deacons without ever getting behind the wheel of a car. It was a town of visionaries. Samuel Wait, William Louis Poteat, Sophie Stephens Lanneau, and Peahead Walker made history in the fields of academics, religion, and athletics; when famous 20th-century writer and satirist H.L. Mencken reportedly called North Carolina "the most intelligent" of all Southern states, he was referring to Wake Forest. That tradition continues today. The Allen family publishes one of the region's most honored weekly newspapers; Andy Ammons recreated small-town magic in the community known as Heritage Wake Forest; and Steve Tarangelo followed his dream to prove that "food is love."
Legendary Locals of Walla Walla
by Diane B. ReedNestled in the foothills of southeastern Washington's Blue Mountains, Walla Walla has been a center of commerce and culture since its founding in 1862. Earlier, the Walla Walla River Valley was the site of Indian rendezvous, Marcus and Narcissa Whitman's mission, and British and American forts and trading posts. The new city prospered as an outfitting center for nearby Idaho goldfields. Capt. John Mullan's military road provided a route for miners and new settlers coming to the valley. Merchants like the Schwabacher Brothers and bankers Dorsey Syng Baker and John Boyer tapped into the city's growth, which expanded as wheat became the new gold. Home to Fort Walla Walla, the city welcomed Whitman College, Walla Walla University, and the territorial penitentiary. Today, the revitalized downtown and burgeoning culinary and arts scene are popular tourist destinations. Walla Walla sweet onions are nationally known, and more than 120 wineries call the valley home, from Figgins family's pioneer Leonetti Cellar (1977) to football legend Drew Bledsoe's Doubleback winery.
Legendary Locals of Wallingford
by Tarn T. GranucciLegendary Locals of Wallingford is about fabric--the fabric of community that is made up of an amazing variety of threads, yarns, and whole panels of every color, design, and origin. These represent the people of the community. Wallingford's story goes back over 350 years and encompasses an enormous range of people with every kind of motivation for being part of this town. The people of this community love where they live and give back to the townspeople who have supported their businesses, educated their children, and protected them in so many ways. Wallingford has produced a number of people of celebrity, including Morton Downey, the famous singer and songwriter of the 1920s and 1930s, and also his son Morton Downey Jr., who earned a name for himself in the TV talk show world; Beverly Donofrio authored Riding in Cars With Boys; Maureen Moore acts on Broadway; sculptor Robert Gober recently completed a major show at MOMA in New York; and Maj. Raoul Lufbery was a renowned World War I Flying Ace. These and more are celebrated here.
Legendary Locals of Washington (Legendary Locals)
by Suzanne StotesburyLocated on the banks of the Pamlico River, Washington has been home to many famous, infamous, and unique people over the years. Springing from the community of Forks of the Tar under the watchful eyes of the everlasting Blount family, the town has grown from a small shipping port into a prominent county seat. Many pivotal people have called Washington home. William Blount, son of town founding father John Gray Blount, signed the US Constitution before scandal drove him from his Senate seat and into exile in Tennessee. Filmmaker Cecil DeMille was raised here. It is a place where opportunity has been available no matter the time period. Susan Dimock broke the gender barrier by becoming a physician and Joan Little's violation in a local jail led to a precedent-setting legal battle. Ed Peed served valiantly as a fireman, and his death during a great waterfront fire shook people of all classes and races in the community. The people of Washington, from the founding families to the artistic community that thrives today, have defined the town seen today.
Legendary Locals of Wayland
by Evelyn WolfsonWayland's historic district is dominated by the 1815 First Parish Church, designed and built by Andrews Palmer of Newburyport, who adapted an Asher Benjamin design. The Rev. Edmund Sears served as minister for 17 years and wrote "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear" for a First Parish Sunday school celebration in 1849. Wealthy Bostonians soon established summer homes in town. Willard Austin Bullard purchased the residence beside the church and christened it Kirkside, and William Power Perkins purchased Mainstone Farm and established the first Guernsey cow farm in the state. By the mid- to late 1800s, Cochituate Village was dominated by a well-established shoe industry and stately Victorian homes lined the streets. A little more than a century later, the town was preparing for an influx of folks from the city. Howard Russell and Allen Benjamin created an official town map, designating streets, and delineating the established uses for the town's 15.2 square miles. Thanks to the vision and hard work of these men and others like them, the town still retains a semblance of its rural atmosphere with almost 3,000 acres of permanently protected open space.
Legendary Locals of West Palm Beach (Legendary Locals)
by Janet M. DeVriesFrom West Palm Beach's beginnings as service town to Palm Beach, Standard Oil tycoon Henry Morrison Flagler's resort village, the city has evolved into a trendy art, cultural, and shopping mecca. Palm Beach County's largest city serves as county seat and center of business, government, and commerce. Taming America's last frontier saw the industriousness of pioneers and settlers such as Marion Gruber, the Potter brothers, George Lainhart, and Max Greenberg guide the "Cottage City" of yesteryear to today's gleaming metropolis. Meet many of West Palm Beach's pioneers, civic leaders, educators, business leaders, and entrepreneurs. Learn about the heroes, celebrities, philanthropists, and even the villains who have contributed to the mosaic of West Palm Beach.
Legendary Locals of Yarmouth
by John A. BasileWith roots as deep as the earliest years of the American colonies, Yarmouth has a long and colorful history that is still being written. When Stephen Hopkins built his home with permission from the court of Plymouth Colony, Yarmouth was already home to native peoples. Bounded on its north and south sides by the Atlantic Ocean, it is no surprise that ship captains, salt makers, and merchants are part of the town's early history. Later, artists, writers, and educators also became part of the scene. The artist Edward Gorey chose Yarmouth for his home, as did astronaut Daniel Burbank. Jazzman Lou Colombo and town administrator Robert Lawton have also made their marks on the community. Yarmouth's distinct neighborhoods are a source of pride, and historic preservation is a prime concern to many. The town's annual October gathering is called the Seaside Festival, to let one and all know that the people of Yarmouth are very much aware of their connection to the Atlantic.
Legendary Locals of Yosemite National Park and Mariposa County (Legendary Locals)
by Leroy RadanovichIn 1846, Thomas Larkin, American council general to the Mexican government in California, purchased a Mexican land grant, Las Mariposas, for Col. John C. Fremont. The grant consisted of 10 square leagues of grazing land located near the Merced River and west of the Sierra. In 1848, when California became the possession of the United States, the treaty called for the recognition of preexisting grants. Gold was discovered in the foothills of the Sierra that same year. Fremont floated his questionable Mexican grant into the gold discovery region. With the formation of the State of California in 1850, one of the original counties was named Mariposa, Spanish for "butterflies." Located within the county was the Fremont grant and much of the yet undiscovered Yosemite region of the Sierra. Encounters with Native Americans near the mining camps lead to the formation of the Mariposa Battalion, and a search for the natives led to the American discovery of Yosemite Valley. Thus, it was custodians and photographers such as Charles Leander Weed, Carlton E Watkins, J.J. Riley, George Fiske, Ansel Adams, and many others that interpreted and introduced Yosemite to the world.
Legendary Locals of the Northern Outer Banks
by R. Wayne Gray Nancy Beach GrayThe remoteness and isolation of North Carolina's northern Outer Banks has shaped both early settlers and relative newcomers into tough and independent souls. Sir Walter Raleigh's colonists may have mysteriously disappeared from Roanoke Island, but the enterprising homesteaders who followed managed to eke out a living on the windswept and battered banks. Entrepreneur E.R. Daniels ran a line of mail and freight boats that helped connect the Outer Banks to the outside world. Former slave and Civil War hero Richard Etheridge did not shirk from an opportunity to become the first black keeper of a lifesaving station. In the mid-20th century, leaders like Bradford Fearing saw the importance of developing tourism, so that people would come see Paul Green's new outdoor drama, The Lost Colony. Outer Bankers have warmly welcomed visitors, from the time the Wright brothers arrived to today's modern tourists. The challenge now is to balance commercial growth with environmental sensibility so that oystermen, like Georgie Daniels, and fishermen, like Dewey Hemilwright, can continue to ply the waters.
Legendary Louisiana Outlaws: The Villains and Heroes of Folk Justice
by Keagan LejeuneFrom the infamous pirate Jean Laffite and the storied couple Bonnie and Clyde, to less familiar bandits like train-robber Eugene Bunch and suspected murderer Leather Britches Smith, Legendary Louisiana Outlaws explores Louisiana's most fascinating fugitives. In this entertaining volume, Keagan LeJeune draws from historical accounts and current folklore to examine the specific moments and legal climate that spawned these memorable characters. He shows how Laffite embodied Louisiana's shift from an entrenched French and Spanish legal system to an American one, and relates how the notorious groups like the West and Kimbrell Clan served as community leaders and law officers but covertly preyed on Louisiana's Neutral Strip residents until citizens took the law into their own hands. Likewise, the bootlegging Dunn brothers in Vinton, he explains, demonstrate folk justice's distinction between an acceptable criminal act (operating an illegal moonshine still) and an unacceptable one (cold-blooded murder). Recounting each outlaw's life, LeJeune also considers their motives for breaking the law as well as their attempts at evading capture. Running from authorities and trying to escape imprisonment or even death, these men and women often relied on the support of ordinary citizens, sympathetic in the face of oppressive and unfair laws. Through the lens of folk life, LeJeune's engaging narrative demonstrates how a justice system functions and changes and highlights Louisiana's particular challenges in adapting a system of law and order to work for everyone.
Legendary Sources of Flaubert's Saint Julien
by Benjamin F. Bart Robert Francis CookThe sources for La Légende de Saint Julien l'Hospitalier, one of Flaubert's finest literary works, have long been the subject of numerous conflicting theories. The implications of the controversy are broad and important, not only for Flaubert's work but also for our understanding of how writers generally use traditional material. Superficial resemblances have led critics to conclude that Flaubert relied heavily on a medieval tale of Saint Julian and that he borrowed details and specific phrases from his medieval predecessor. This book, by a world renowned specialist in Flaubert studies and a medieval philologist, demonstrates that the Légende is not medieval in structure or in spirit, and that its conception is distinctly modern; where Flaubert borrowed at all he used contemporary sources to recast the Julian legend in Romantic style. Bart and Cook establish definitely what legendary sources were and show how Flaubert came into contact with them. Their extensive commentary compares the sources and the Légende in detail, explains the circumstances under which Flaubert used his materials, and analyses how they were woven into the texture of his own tale. The book makes available source material scattered throughout obscure periodicals, reproduces accurately and dates correctly important segments of Flaubert's drafts and scenarios, and provides the first modern printed edition of the Alençon life of Saint Julian which Lecointre-Dupont adapted in 1838, thereby giving Flaubert indirect access to the old tale.An introductory chapter explores the broader question of the development of legends and how a particular legendary sequence, embodying powerful themes, was amplified and made explicit from the twelfth century to Flaubert's time.
Legendary Warrior
by Donna FletcherWhen Reena's village falls into the hands of a brutal landlord, she seeks the help of a warrior known only as The Legend. She should have been afraid after all the stories she's heard at her father's knees, but from the moment she meets him, it is not fear she feels but fierce passion. Magnus has never known a lass brave enough to look him in the eye, let alone one who would plead for his help. Yet here was a sweet-spirited woman who inspires a deep yearning within him. He is willing to save her people, for a price. But once Reena uncovers his secrets, will she regret making a bargain with the devil, or find a sinful passion in his arms .?
Legendary Yankee Stadium: Memories and Memorabilia from the House that Ruth built
by Thomas O'ConnellTimed for release with the grand opening of the New Yankee Stadium in 2009, this unique history is based on 30 years of interviews conducted by "Sports Collectors Digest" with iconic players, including Mantle, DiMaggio, Jeter, Giambi, and Berra. The stunning photos inside, featuring memorabilia, player cards, and team photos, capture the essence of the place where dreams are made and greats live forever.
Legends & Lore Along California's Highway 395 (American Legends)
by Brian CluneStretching from Victorville to Carson City, Highway 395 offers a snapshot of California's diverse landscapes and oddities. Tales of skinwalkers and Sasquatch sightings flourish among the bones of ghost towns, and stories of the elusive Lone Pine Mountain Devil ignite the curiosity. Far from fiction, the Sierra Phantom lived among the hills for fifty years, and mountaineer Norman Clyde used his skills to find lost hikers and climbers. Rumors of the Lost Cement Mine, with a rich vein of gold, lure people in, and the Tuttle Creek Ashram, built high above Lone Pine, offers peace. Author Brian Clune explores the strange and fascinating side of the majestic mountains and lonely deserts along US 395.
Legends & Lore of Cape Cod (American Legends)
by Robin Smith-JohnsonCape Cod has a rich tradition of local lore, stretching back to a time before the Pilgrims arrived. Ancient Wampanoag legends like Granny Squannit and Princess Scargo are as familiar as tales of pirates and explorers, including "Black Sam" Bellamy and Donald Baxter Macmillan. Felines often blocked "Cat's Alley" in pursuit of food from fishermen's boats. The remnants of Billingsgate Island can be seen at low tide, and visits from Jenny Lind and Helen Keller contrast with the mysterious stories of the "Lady of the Dunes" and New England's Dark Day. Author Robin Smith-Johnson shares historic tales of shipwrecks, murders, hauntings and more from the Cape.
Legends & Lore of East Tennessee (American Legends)
by Shane S. SimmonsThe mountains of East Tennessee are chock full of unique folklore passed down through generations. Locals spin age-old yarns of legends like Davy Crockett, Daniel Boone and Dragging Canoe. Stories of snake-handling churches and the myths behind the death crown superstitions dot the landscape. The mysteries surrounding the Sensabaugh Tunnel still haunt residents. Author Shane Simmons explores tales of bravery, lore and bizarre customs within the East Tennessee region.
Legends & Lore of New Brunswick (Narrative)
by Mark Neurohr-PierpaoliFolktales, hidden treasures and witchcraft. The towering skyline of New Brunswick stands in stark contrast with the swampy ceder forest it emerged from in the late 1600s. While the city grew over the original Lenape settlement of Ahanderamock, its history was passed on through whispers of tales both real and imagined. In the Buccleuch Mansion, a skeletal figure dressed as a British Grenadier is said to stagger the halls with a lantern, and at Rutgers University tales of secret societies swirl through campus. Long-lost pirate treasures, some rumored to be connected to mysterious clues etched in stone, remain undiscovered to this day. Author Mark Neurohr-Pierpaoli uncovers the mysterious stories lurking below the surface of New Brunswick.
Legends & Lore of Somerset County: Knitting Betty, the Great Swamp Devil and More Tales from Central New Jersey (American Legends)
by Michael HaynesMany have heard the legend of the Jersey Devil of the Pine Barrens, but what about his relative in Somerset County? The Great Swamp Devil was captured by an American Patriot, terrorized a Victorian family and was rediscovered by Depression-era adventurers. Clearly, Somerset County has a rich oral tradition filled with a folklore all its own. An encounter with the Dead River Witch of Liberty Corner is linked with the unsolved disappearance of a nine-year-old girl. Alleged Revolutionary War spy John Honeyman never stopped telling tall tales about himself, even after his death. The Pluckemin orbs--more than six thousand years old--frightened Native Americans, intrigued artists and still defy explanation. Discover these and other legends from Somerset County, New Jersey.
Legends & Lore of Southwest Virginia (American Legends)
by Shane S. Simmons Melody Blackwell-WestExplore the traditional tales of the hills and hollers of southwestern Virginia. From the infamous Black Sisters of Christiansburg to the ghost of the famed Barter Theatre in Abingdon, the region is filled with stories that have haunted residents for decades. The Woodbooger, a local Bigfoot, is said to roam the mountainsides which are also home to many eccentric and inspiring legendary characters, including Molly Tynes, Reverend Robert Sheffey, Napoleon Hill and Cedar Creek Charlie. Authors Melody West and Shane Simmons uncover tales of unique people and places that have seldom been told.
Legends & Lore of Western Pennsylvania (American Legends)
by Thomas WhiteOppaymolleah's curse. General Braddock's buried gold. The Original Man of Steel, Joe Magarac. Such legends have found a home among the rich folklore of Western Pennsylvania. Thomas White spins a beguiling yarn with tales that reach from the misty hollows of the Alleghenies to the lost islands of Pittsburgh. White invites readers to learn the truth behind the urban legend of the Green Man, speculate on the conspiracy surrounding the lost B-25 bomber of Monongahela and shiver over the ghostly lore of Western Pennsylvania.