WANT TO KNOW what the Savvy Antiquer thinks is the antique that wins four gold stars for being fun, affordable and educational, while taking little space? Seems impossible, but beyond a doubt, antique postcards win that joyful honor.

I always have followed the Green Bay Packers, but growing up in the 1970s, the team did not have much success. So I also followed certain teams who captured my fancy during the playoff runs. The Baltimore Colts teams featuring Bert Jones, Roger Carr and Lydell Mitchell was one of those teams. But the Cincinnati Bengals teams in the mid-70s were another favorite.

When she's not busy serving as vice-president of the Belmont Historical Society or working to save the historic 1894 Gale School with her Save Our Gale School Committee, Diane Marden enjoys delving into the past, researching the history of the town she has always called home: Belmont.

Because the federally-owned Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge and the Francis Marion National Forest surround it, the picturesque fishing village of McClellanville escaped the incessant development experience by other coastal areas.

We know a place in part by how well we remember it. "Vanishing Seattle," by Clark Humphrey, contributes to Seattle's collective memory of itself with an array of smartly assembled images from the city's more "downscale past," depicting a period before Seattle became a hub of high-end design and economic globalization.

The community of Orangevale has both a Folsom and a Fair Oaks resident to thank for a potential rebirth of interest in the town's past.

The first image shows white paint cracks at the junctures of the wood boards of a church. Several shots later, a truck hoists the church to transport it. A later picture shows the church, iconic in the city, on its way to its next destination: Greenmead Historical Park.

FROSTBURG — Al Feldstein will be at Main Street Books in Frostburg Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. to sign copies of his newest book of Allegany County postcards.

Three local authors, who each have an appreciation for the significance of Amador County's history have put together two new books about the county.

When Jim Tompkins was a boy growing up in the 1950s, he heard firsthand stories of the Oregon Trail. His great-aunt May would recount how Tompkins' great-grandmother came to Oregon as a girl in the 1860s. May would spin tales of her mother's adventures picking flowers along the trail, getting caught in rainstorms, adopting a little antelope as a pet.

You'd think a guy with a wife, two kids and three jobs might want to just kick back in front of the TV whenever possible, but not Bruce Courey. He chose to write a book instead. Courey's work, "Strongsville," a 128-page book tracing the city's history and development in words and pictures, has just been released by Arcadia Publishing Company, creator of the "Images of America" series

Evidence of ethnic pride is abundant in two new books about history and heritage in Milwaukee.

One of the newest books to come from Arcadia Publishing this year highlights the golden days of a sport that is largely ignored now. Kevin Grace and Joshua Grace have written, “Cincinnati Boxing,” a 128-page book that captures the stars of the “square ring.”

Arcadia Publishing has carved its niche by producing photo-heavy portrayals of communities across America. This recent release on Richmond Hill certainly has that; its more than 200 photographs capture the essence of the Bryan County community.

Suzanne Daniel recalls the day she climbed up on the roof of the A.J. Geer General Store to replace wood shingles on the historic building. The memory is one of many Daniel shares when talking about a new book she wrote with Kathleen Glynn on the Livonia Historical Village of Greenmead.

During the first few decades of firefighting services in Roanoke, firefighters such as Howard Dowdy drove and washed the horses that pulled fire wagons.

HANFORD - Who would have thought a postcard could convey a historical timeline of the past? Since 1869, postcards have been mass produced and sent by millions far and wide. For pennies on the dollar, the return has generated into the third largest hobby called deltiology.

Detroit — For Cecile Wendt Jensen, researching genealogy is more than just plotting out a family tree. It's a way to reconnect with ancestors and better understand their hardships, and it's something of a spiritual journey, too. And recently, her love for her family history spawned three books — the two most recent of which, "Detroit's Mount Elliott Cemetery and "Detroit's Mount Olivet Cemetery," were released last month.

The Chesapeake & Ohio Railway, by James E. Casto, features more than 200 historical photographs, postcards, advertisements, and memorabilia related to the C&O. There are chapters on stations and depots, steam, diesel, the Greenbrier Resort, as well as the C&O trademark – Chessie the kitten.

A photographic history book of Marshall University, written by James E. Casto of Huntington, is available in Arcadia Publishing’s Campus History Series. With more than 200 images, arranged in eight chronological chapters, Casto traces Marshall’s history from its inception to the present.

As part of the Images of America series, Hardy – a photographer and historian from western North Carolina – tells of the memorial services, monuments, and reunions that honored the state’s Confederate soldiers long after the war ended.

WINCHESTER — When Arizona native Kathryn Parker was 10, her family spent three months on the East Coast, visiting many historical sites. “I had to write a theme about everything I saw,” she said. Her mother “loved history,” and, although the assignments might seem to be the best way to turn a child completely off the subject, Parker, 59, discovered a love of history and genealogy that year.

Robert Colby, former editor of Tales of the Paradise Ridge, has just published "Paradise" ($19.99 in paperback from Arcadia Publishing), part of the publisher's "Images of America" series of pictorial treatments of towns and cities across the country.

If it weren't for his admittedly bad math skills, Shawn Patrick Hoefler would have been an architect. But that never stopped the art director at Penton Publishing from appreciating architecture. That love of architecture, especially in Cleveland, led to his authoring a book on the city's varied buildings and design details.

If you wanted to grab a book for an in-depth look at mob activity in Michigan, you might not find much. Most Mafia books focus on activity in New York City or Chicago, or solely on the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa.

Sewickley Valley Historical Society has published its latest work of archival treasures in "Sewickley: Postcard History Series." In this 128-page softcover, readers will find many postcards from private collections that perfectly capture the graceful early days of the town and its people.

BOYNTON BEACH, FL – December 13, 2006 – The Schoolhouse Children's Museum in Boynton Beach will benefit from the sales of a new book, compiled and written by Janet DeVries, resident of Boynton Beach. The book contains captivating postcard images that tell a romantic colorful story of the local region's history.

Matthew Liesch, who recently earned a master's in geography from UW-Madison, has put together a photographic history of the Gogebic Range of northern Wisconsin and Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The story is told through 200 vintage photographs, maps and news clippings with extensive captions, along with short introductions to aspects of life in the north country such as "settlement and transportation" and "community and social life."

Want to give a nice, affordable, easy-to-wrap and unique gift this Christmas that can be cool, traditional and new all at once? Give a book. In particular, give one of the many books written by local writers or concerning the history of our area. The choices are varied and there likely is something to fit most tastes.

WINTER HAVEN -Three local authors created a book of more than 120 pages of black-and-white pictures, capturing the history of Florida's first amusement park.

In 1933, Maynard Giles Cosgrove, a local historian in Sylvania, put the past, present, and future in perspective.

We confront history at every turn in Bucks County – behind aluminum and plastic facades, across the built-up highways and untouched country roads, over the waterways and under the many roofs a building has accumulated.

Ever since (fill in the blank) left us, Seattle has never been the same. Some nostalgia buffs might stump for Frederick & Nelson; others, Ivar Haglund or Bob Murray's Dog House.

TOWNSEND -- The Historical Society spent hundreds of hours compiling a pictorial history that Arcadia Publishing is releasing today in anticipation of the town's upcoming 275th anniversary.

Just 150 short years ago, sheriff's posses rode tall in the saddle, galloping after outlaws to bring law and order to the wild frontier of San Bernardino County.

David McGee has always been a fan of racing. As a young man, he covered local races at a small track in Kentucky, and his love of the sport ultimately led him to undertake the challenge of telling the story of the Bristol Motor Speedway—in pictures and words. The book he co-authored with Sonya Haskins is titled Bristol Motor Speedway and is an entry in Arcadia Publishing Company’s Images in Sports series.

In the sweet by and by, the Great Smoky Mountains were a vast, remote assembly of resolute people and rippling peaks.

Larry McGehee, professor emeritus at Wofford College and a frequent columnist for The Times, wrote in a May 2006 article, “People and places may change, but not as long as we have memory. In the scrapbooks of the mind, everything and everyone are right where we pasted them, omnipresent.”

Debra Colleen Daggett, a Lisbon native and member of the Lisbon Historical Society, has released a pictorial history book titled "Images of America: Lisbon."

By far the most common questions called into the archives department at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville relate to the Mississippi River Festival. There’s not even a close second.

DE'ONNE SCOTT will sign copies of her new local history book, "Fredericks- burg," today at Belmont, Gari Melchers Home and Studio at 224 Washington St. in Falmouth.

When he moved from Westlake Village to the San Francisco Bay area in 2004, retired Rabbi Edward Zerin worried about being a stranger there. So he hopped onto public transit and started making get-acquainted calls on "my colleagues in the community."

This question has been raised anew by the publication of a paperback book tracing the fascinating history of the one-time resort 14 miles northwest of Tracy.

CUMBERLAND — Author and award-winning historian Albert Feldstein has published a new book, a collection of postcard views of Allegany County.

The authors of Railroads of Los Gatos, Edward Kelley and Peggy Conaway, threw a party to announce their new book, and people came by the carload. As many as 200 railfans and historians packed the Council Chambers Thursday night for a book signing, slide show of historic photographs, and to ask questions of a distinguished panel of participants.

When Jim Tompkins was a boy growing up in the 1950s, he heard first-hand stories of the Oregon Trail.

Alexandria is known for many things, like being the home town of George Washington and Robert E. Lee. And what longtime resident or football fan doesn't remember the Titans?

Arcadia Publishing, a leading publisher of local and regional history books, initiated in the spring of 2006 a new pocket-size collection of previously published works that had been best sellers in regions across America.

Incapable of imaging life without the written word, I became fascinated by the history-preserving powers of oral traditions long before I began to stumble through Homer. Joyce Coakley has spent many years listening to the oral history of her people, the sweetgrass basket makers of the Phillips community of Christ Church Parish.

COMMUTING has changed. In a delightful photograph from the new book Railroads of Los Gatos, the Los Gatos Commuter's Club hosts its 1941 Christmas party aboard the Friday train from San Francisco. Holly boughs deck the railcar while Santa hands out, according to a 1939 poster for the event, "a present for each and every one." Despite the looming war, the Dec. 22 event attracted a festive crowd, judging from the balloons and party hats. Just try that on Caltrain—Santa would probably get run over at an unguarded crossing.

Sylvania, an historic narrative complete with hundreds of photographs, has just been released. Authors and Sylvania residents Gaye Gindy and Trini Wenninger will be signing the book at the Sylvania Heritage Center Museum, 5717 N. Main St., Dec 7, 14 and 21 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Two books by Dr. Charles Williams, chair of the biology department at Clarion University, were reviewed on the “Bookmark” book review show on WPSU radio.

The Chicago Great Western was one of the Midwest’s “granger roads” serving Chicago, Kansas City, Omaha, and Minneapolis. Tracing its roots back to 1854 and the Minnesota & Northwestern Railroad, the colorful history of the CGW ends in 1968, when it was acquired by the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad. In this latest offering from Acadia Publishing, author David J. Fiore, Sr. recounts the working history of this line.

The Chicago Great Western was one of the Midwest’s “granger roads” serving Chicago, Kansas City, Omaha, and Minneapolis. Tracing its roots back to 1854 and the Minnesota & Northwestern Railroad, the colorful history of the CGW ends in 1968, when it was acquired by the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad.

Judson Pierce has developed a love for the smell of community theaters during the 50 or more shows he has performed in.

From the age of 11 until recently Mike Smith lived in the East Mountains, in an area called Canoncito that was on the east side of Cedar Crest.

Ever since he was a little boy, Nick Cataldo has been intrigued with the legend of Wyatt Earp.

During 38 years as a photographer for the Winston-Salem Journal and the Twin City Sentinel, Frank Jones shot thousands of pictures around town. In 1942, he took pictures of Little Theatre actors showing people how to put on a gas mask. In January 1951, he shot actress Ava Gardner visiting her niece's fourth-grade class. And, in March 1955, he was there when a mother showed Girl Scouts how to wash a baby in a tub.

In the early 1800s, an earthquake altered a spring in Muddy Fork Creek forming a Cerulean blue sulfur water source. Cabins and a hotel were built around the spring and the health resort known as Cerulean Springs opened.

A new pictorial history book about the Gogebic Range reflects the author's belief that interesting material should be made accessible.Matthew Liesch, 23, is the author of "Ironwood, Hurley, and the Gogebic Range," released Oct. 30th.

Was it good investigative journalism or karmic coincidence that brought a S. Chandler man virtually face to face with a long-lost relative from Arizona?

Ceil Wendt Jensen grew up in Detroit within blocks of grandparents and cousins, with at least 30 people attending family get-togethers. But for being surrounded by so much family, the Rochester Hills resident – who’s since become a genealogist – says she knew very little about them.

DURHAM - A Chico resident and retired logger and sheriff's deputy, who owns a large photography collection, was asked by Arcadia Publishing to write a small book on Red Bluff, and the book is now available in stores across the north state.

Maria Brower, the author of "Gold Rush Towns of Nevada County," part of the "Images of America" series, is giving talks at three venues, starting with the Nevada County Historical Society tonight at its monthly meeting. She then moves on to Brigadoon Books at Toad Hall Bookshop Saturday afternoon and finishes at The Book Seller on Sunday.

There were three professional football teams in Cincinnati before the current Bengals became a permanent fixture in the city. The Cincinnati Celts, Reds, and an earlier Bengals team (formed in 1937) all had short appearances in leagues that soon folded. It was not until 1967 that the football gods again smiled on Cincinnati.

Transplants to our fair city won’t remember the winding traffic of a pre-megalith Independence, nor the quaint and stylish houses that lined the boulevard until it became a massive highway wonder.

From railroads and steamboats to racecars and bathing beauties, Scenes of America: Daytona Beach showcases...

The Lincoln Highway crosses the country from New York City to San Francisco, and although every state it touches has something to offer, Pennslyvania's route is particularly and uniquely beautiful.

Delve deeper into the history of Smith & Wesson and discover...

Around Watkins Glen is part of the “Images of America” series produced by Arcadia Publishing, a company that specializes in local and regional photographic histories. Photographs that would otherwise be seen only in private collections or the archives at the local historical society are organized with identifying captions.

A new book about Orangevale will be available December 4th, 2006. In this collection of vintage images, coauthors Paul J.P. Sandul and Tory D. Swim have uncovered a wealth of images with the cooperation of local residents, the Sacramento Archives and Museum Collections Center, and other local organizations.