- Table View
- List View
On This Day in South Dakota History (On This Day In)
by Brad TennantSouth Dakota is quietly nestled in the grasslands and Black Hills, but its history is far less hidden. One day at a time, author Brad Tennant presents intriguing, event-driven anecdotes of state history. On July 17, 1925, the state American Legion passed a resolution to initiate American Legion baseball. On April 29, 1930, Congress passed an act honoring the deceased chiefs of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and the valiant men who made the supreme sacrifice in service in World War I. Celebrate an entire year of history in the Mount Rushmore State or enjoy it one day at a time.
World War II and Chester County, Pennsylvania (Military)
by Marion M. PiccolominiRegiments from Chester County fought bravely in all theaters of World War II, while locals at home took extraordinary measures to support the Allies. West Chester resident G. Raymond Rettew developed a process to mass produce vitally needed penicillin while a peaceful farm transformed into the bustling Valley Forge General Hospital in 1943. Women entered labor positions at companies, including Lukens Steel, to meet production demands. The Coatesville YMCA created and distributed a newsletter to soldiers so the boys on the front had the news from back home. Author Marion Piccolomini celebrates the resilience and perseverance of Chester County residents in the midst of total war.
Lighthouses of Greater Los Angeles (Landmarks)
by Rose Castro-BranDespite news of shipwrecks along California's dangerous coastline, a burgeoning maritime trade came to what would become the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The shipping complex became the nation's busiest, in part because of the bright navigation lights that enabled reliable access for early vessels. In 1874, sister lighthouses Point Fermin and Point Hueneme were lit on the same day, followed by the Los Angeles Harbor Lighthouse in 1913. Nicknamed the "Hollywood Lighthouse" for its frequent use in movies, in 1926, Point Vicente was established to light the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Today, they are joined by the Anacapa Island Light Station, Long Beach Light and the private aid to navigation, Lions Lighthouse for Sight. Together with the U.S. Coast Guard, these historic beacons continue to illuminate and protect the coast of Greater Los Angeles. Join author Rose Castro-Bran as she explores their storied history.
Wicked Tales from the Highlands (Wicked)
by John P. KingThe Highlands was first sighted by Henry Hudson himself and is known as the place where the Jersey shore begins. Its beaches are perennially crowded with sunbathers, swimmers and families. But buried under the sands, the Highlands hides sins from the past. Sandy Hook claimed North America's first European murder victim, a passenger on Hudson's Half Moon. During Prohibition, mobsters supplied Bay Avenue businesses with plenty of booze. A man accused of shooting another with a cannon performed an Old West style jailbreak. And sometimes, soldiers stationed along the shores caused more trouble than they prevented. Read about these and other wicked deeds committed in New Jersey's Highlands.
California State Park Rangers
by Michael G. LynchThe first park ranger in the world was appointed in California in 1866. Galen Clark was chosen as �Guardian of Yosemite,� at what was then Yosemite State Park, and the concept of rangers to protect and administer America�s great nature parks was born. The tradition continued in 1872 with the establishment of the first national park at Yellowstone. From the earliest days, park rangers have been romanticized; they are explorers, outdoorsmen, tree lovers, animal protectors, police officers, nature guides, and park administrators. The park ranger has become an American icon, whose revered image has maintained itself to this very day.
Curiosities of Elmira: The Last Labrador Duck, Professor Smokeball, the Great Female Crime Spree & More
by Kelli L. HugginsLong known as the "Queen City" of New York's Southern Tier, Elmira has a colorful history to live up to that name. Strange events and offbeat characters populate the city's past. Eldridge Park once had a violent bear pit. The mysterious extinction of the Labrador Duck still baffles researchers today. Inventor Henry Clum, forgotten in time, was a pioneer of meteorology. From the bright lights of the city's lost vaudeville stages to the dark corners of the criminal underworld, Elmirans have found fame and infamy. Author Kelli Huggins takes readers on an immersive journey into the curious and unique past of Elmira.
Norwich and the Civil War (Civil War Series)
by Patricia F. StaleyWhen Lincoln issued a call for troops in 1861, Norwich sprang into action. In a meeting lasting two days, the town elected to offer cash awards for volunteers, as well as financial support for their families. The city's women immediately began sewing uniforms for the volunteer soldiers, while mill owners and other wealthy locals donated funds to the war effort. Norwich's Dan Tyler was named head of the Connecticut regiment and led his troops into battle at Bull Run. The town's senator, Lafayette Foster, became acting vice president of the United States after Lincoln's assassination. Author Tricia Staley uncovers stories of valor and sacrifice on the homefront and the battlefield.
North Carolina Governor Richard Caswell: Founding Father and Revolutionary Hero
by Joe A. MobleyRichard Caswell emerged during the Revolution as a vital leader of the Patriot cause. Though he was a loyal British subject who fought against the backcountry Regulator rebellion, he embraced America's revolutionary fervor. He represented North Carolina at the Continental Congress and bravely commanded troops at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge. He supervised the writing of North Carolina's constitution and was elected the Old North State's first governor. After the Revolution, he again served as governor and became a leading spokesman for the ratification of the United States Constitution. Author and historian Joe Mobley chronicles the life of a man devoted to the public service of North Carolina and a new nation.
American Choral Directors Association (Images of America)
by Tim Sharp Christina PruchaAmerican Choral Directors Association (ACDA) was formed in Kansas City, Missouri, on February 24, 1959, by 35 choral directors from around the United States. They aimed to create an organization that would meet the professional needs of all choir directors. To achieve this goal, they made the promotion of excellence in choral music through performance, composition, publication, research, and teaching their central purpose. In addition, ACDA strives through arts advocacy to elevate choral music�s position in American society. From the original steering committee to today�s leaders, this central purpose continues to drive ACDA�s development. Among the ways that ACDA has promoted excellence in choral music are national and division conventions featuring the best choirs in the world, awards given to individuals who have in some way contributed to the art of choral music, state workshops and clinics, and honor choirs and commissioned works. Each generation that has passed through ACDA has left its indelible mark. The first generation built the foundation and gave ACDA its purpose. The second generation gave ACDA its independence and voice. The third generation leads the organization into a new and more globally connected world. And through it all, ACDA remains true to promoting choral music excellence.
Clemson Tough: Guts and Glory Under Dabo Swinney (Sports)
by Larry WilliamsThe 2015-16 season marked a significant moment in Clemson football history. Not only did the team play in its first national championship in thirty-four years, but the nation also finally took note of the burgeoning renaissance. When Dabo Swinney told a national television audience about his team's willingness to "bring your own guts" after an emotional win over Notre Dame, it was a spontaneous line to a television reporter in the delirious, rain-soaked aftermath of a landmark victory. But Swinney's comment also underscored the identity and drive that would fuel a truly special season. Larry Williams relays the intimate details of Swinney's life, his impact on Tiger Town and his mission to create an elite program on and off the field.
Minnesota Moxie: True Tales of Courage, Muscle & Grit in the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes
by Ben WelterMinnesotans are a tough lot, capable of pulling a house six miles by muscle alone or giving birth to a sixteen-pound boy. In 1921, young Phoebe Fairgrave set a parachute world record, stepping off the wing of a biplane 15,200 feet above the Twin Cities. In 1962, the last powerhouse Gophers football team brought home the Rose Bowl trophy. A year later, thirteen-year-old Jean Webb of Minneapolis risked arrest and refused to leave a segregated restaurant. In 1979, Gerry Spiess crossed the Atlantic alone in a 10-foot sailboat he built in his White Bear Lake garage. These inspiring stories and dozens more, culled from the Star Tribune newspaper archives, are presented in their original form by author Ben Welter, along with in-depth background, fresh interviews and more than seventy-five historic photos.
The Counterfeit Prince of Old Texas: Swindling Slaver Monroe Edwards (True Crime)
by Lora-Marie BernardAfter Monroe Edwards died in Sing Sing prison in 1847, penny dreadfuls memorialized him as the most celebrated American forger until the turn of the century. With a bizarre biography too complicated for easy history, his critical contributions to Texas settlement, revolution and annexation were inextricably mired in his activities as a slave smuggler and confidence man. Author Lora-Marie Bernard unravels the unbelievable story of one of the most notorious criminal adventurers ever to set foot on the soil of the Lone Star State.
Virginia Politics & Government in a New Century: The Price of Power
by Jeff ThomasThe modern political landscape of Virginia bears little resemblance to the past. The commonwealth is a nationally influential swing state alongside stalwarts like Florida or Ohio. But with increased power comes greater scrutiny--and corruption. Governor Bob McDonnell received a jail sentence on federal corruption charges, later vacated by the U.S. Supreme Court. Corporate influence on the state legislature and other leaders resulted in numerous ethics violations. Scandal erupted at the prestigious University of Virginia when the school ousted its president amid political drama and intrigue. Author Jeff Thomas reveals the intersection of money, power and politics and the corrosive effect on government in a new era.
Wicked Hartford (Wicked)
by Steve R. ThorntonOne of the oldest cities in America, Hartford holds plenty of sinful stories. Famed inventor and industrialist Samuel Colt sold arms to both the North and South in the buildup to the Civil War. The notorious Seyms Street jail was the subject of national criticism and scandal for its deplorable conditions. Local journalist Daniel Birdsall fought to expose corruption in the powerful insurance industry and local government at the expense of his own printing presses. Tension between unions and "robber barons" such as Jay Gould spilled into the streets during the Gilded Age. Author Steve Thornton takes readers on an exciting journey through the seedy underbelly of Hartford's past.
Growing Up in San Francisco: More Boomer Memories from Playland to Candlestick Park (American Chronicles)
by Frank DunniganNewcomers and visitors can still enjoy iconic San Francisco with activities like riding a cable car or taking in the view from Twin Peaks. But San Franciscans cherish memories of a place quite different. They reminisce about seafood dinners at A. Sabella's on Fisherman's Wharf, the enormous Christmas tree in Union Square's City of Paris department store and taking a handful of dimes to Playland-at-the-Beach for arcade games and cotton candy. In his second volume of these unforgettable stories, local author and historian Frank Dunnigan vividly recalls the many details that made life special in the City by the Bay for generations.
Catalina A to Z: A Glossary Guide to California's Island Jewel
by Patricia MaxwellSanta Catalina Island is one of the West Coast's great nearby escapes, an hour's boat ride from Los Angeles and Long Beach for one million annual tourists. The island's seventy-six square miles contain two communities--Avalon and Two Harbors--and extremely rugged seashores and interior wild lands. Here, the history has been carved by pirates, smugglers, prospectors and squatters and set down by seafaring scribes and Hollywood fabricators. The facts have been massaged by the ebb and flow of time and scattered like sun-baked rocks from a beachcomber's kick. Co-authors Patricia Maxwell, Bob Rhein and Jerry Roberts have collected Catalina's basic facts and lore into a quick reference that's as easily accessible as the most charming of California's Channel Islands.
Charleston (Then and Now)
by Billy Joe PeytonCharleston, West Virginia, became a center of government, industry, and commerce after 1885, as people flocked to the city for work, shopping, and entertainment. Though much has changed over the years, Charleston�s past still matters. A respect for history binds together current and future residents.
The Return of the Renegade (The\scandalous St. Claires Ser. #1)
by Carole MortimerA beautiful physical therapist doles out tough love to a beastly aristocratic actor in this contemporary romance by a USA Today–bestselling author.Physiotherapist Stephanie McKinley has always admired handsome actor Jordan Simpson. So, she’s shocked when her latest client turns out to be the dark-eyed superstar. Except now she’s faced with the man behind the famous facade—Jordan St. Claire, wealthy aristocrat!Recuperating from an accident at Mulberry Hall, his extensive family estate, Jordan isn’t suffering in silence. Roaming around the mansion, he’s like a sulky—but deadly attractive—beast! Albeit one who’s about to unleash Stephanie’s reserved sensuality once and for all. . . .Originally published in 2011.
World War II Arroyo Grande (Military)
by Jim GregoryOn December 7, 1941, war came to Arroyo Grande when two local sailors were killed on the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor. People from the small town were thrust into great circumstances and quickly answered the call for action. A local storekeeper's son won the Silver Star after he brought his flaming B-17 safely back to base. A valley farmworker served with the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team, largely composed of soldiers of Japanese descent. Chinese guerrillas commanded by Mao Zedong--the future Chairman Mao--threw a birthday party for an Arroyo Grande soldier. At home, community groups like the Arroyo Grande Women's Club brought packed lunches for their Japanese American neighbors on the morning they were forced to leave for the internment camps. Local author Jim Gregory brings to life the sorrows and triumphs of a dramatic period in local history.
Wicked Lexington, North Carolina (Wicked)
by Alice SinkNestled within the heart of North Carolina's Piedmont lies Lexington, a town with a history so iniquitous that few dare to tell the tales. Discover how a veritably unknown young singer named Elvis Presley wiggled and gyrated his way through town, and how the Jolly Black Widow claimed her third husband (and victim) in a string of doomed love affairs. It was here in Lexington that an obscene mail menace sent hundreds of depraved letters to wholesome families, and on a sleepy summer day, police seized nine barrels of illicit liquor only to be stolen back and imbibed by the original owners that night. Travel with local author Alice Sink down the streets of old-time Lexington to view a city riddled with all manner of unsavory deeds.
The Denver Dry Goods: Where Colorado Shopped with Confidence (Landmarks)
by Mark BarnhouseOver the course of eleven decades, The Denver Dry Goods and its predecessor, McNamara Dry Goods, proudly served Coloradoans, who knew they could "shop with confidence" for the best quality at the fairest prices. Much more than the goods it sold, the store was a major institution that touched the lives of nearly every Denverite. Comforting culinary traditions like Chicken ala King in the vast fifth-floor tearoom and breakfast with Santa delighted locals. Festive chandeliers adorned the four-hundred-foot-long main aisle during the holidays, and longtime salesclerks knew customers by name. Devoted patrons dearly missed all that charm after the doors closed in 1987. Mark Barnhouse explores the fascinating history and cherished memories of Denver's most beloved department store.
World War I and the Sacramento Valley (Military)
by Special theWhen the First World War thrust the United States into a dire global conflict, the Sacramento Valley was quick to mobilize. Many of America's first air units for combat were trained at Mather Field, while local farms filled some of the largest food supply orders for the Allies. Many women eschewed tradition and joined the industrial workforce at Liberty Iron Works, Southern Pacific Railroad and more. Though many banded together, the region's homefront was not without tension. Gripped by xenophobia, groups like the Liberty League formed local chapters to hunt spies, and local police forced displays of patriotism from suspected German sympathizers. With exclusive content from the Sacramento Public Library's Special Collections, librarians Amanda DeWilde and James Scott reveal the struggles and triumphs of the Sacramento region during the First World War.
The Good Life: Sacramento's Consumer Culture
by Steven M. AvellaMass consumption is a defining feature of modern American culture. During the 20th century, mass production, discretionary income, and modern advertising combined to create and fulfill demand for more products than ever before. From butchers and bakers to big-box retailers, the story of the buying and selling of goods tells the history of ourcities from a unique perspective. The Good Life approaches Sacramento's history from the bottom up, with a look at the city's past from the perspective of ordinary citizens. From the gold rush to the dot-com bubble and beyond, it tells the story of changing times, changing styles, and changing fortunes, and their effects on the lives of the people of Sacramento.
Their Scandalous Affair
by Catherine GeorgeA woman’s secret affair with an irresistible millionaire becomes an all-consuming scandal in this scorching-hot romance.Having barely survived past scandals, beautiful but fiery Avery Crawford likes to keep her personal life to herself. So it’s no wonder she’s determined not to let anyone know about her affair with handsome millionaire, Jonas Mercer. Yet not only does Jonas desire that their relationship go public, he’s determined to claim Avery as his bride!What Jonas doesn’t bargain for is more scandal. For when Avery’s secrets are revealed, they come at a cost that even Jonas can’t afford . . .
Historic Movie Theaters of Downtown Cleveland (Landmarks)
by Alan F. DutkaThe first movie theaters in Cleveland consisted of converted storefronts with sawed-off telephone poles substituting for chairs and bedsheets acting as screens. In 1905, Clevelanders marveled at moving images at Rafferty's Monkey House while dodging real monkeys and raccoons that wandered freely through the bar. By the early 1920s, a collection of marvelous movie palaces like the Stillman Theater lined Euclid Avenue, but they survived for just two generations. Clevelanders united to save the State, Ohio and Allen Theaters, among others, as wrecking balls converged for demolition. Those that remain compose one of the nation's largest performing arts centers. Alan F. Dutka shares the remarkable histories of Cleveland's downtown movie theaters and their reemergence as community landmarks.