All Non-Digital Titles

U.S. Route 44 stretches across New England from Massachusetts to Connecticut before completing its circuit in New York State, 237 miles later. Along the way, travelers may encounter the infamous Bridgewater Triangle, take a haunted tour of Plymouth, or see the ghosts of Chepachet.

Follow in the footsteps of famous science fiction horror writer Howard Phillips Lovecraft from Providence to Glocester, Rhode Island. Follow the road through small towns and dark forests where sightings of UFOs and cryptids have surprised travelers for years.

Join authors Tom D’Agostino and Arlene Nicholson as they explore the dark corners of New England’s most haunted highway.

With more than two hundred stunning views, New Hartford brings the early settlement into perspective. Many of the images are from original tintypes, smoked glass, and cardboard-backed portraits. They show courageous pioneers, some Native American families who lived in town, tall churches, small one-room schoolhouses, and the original homelot houses. The last chapter focuses on the ingenuity of the Victorian era, showing ways that hardworking people accomplished life-sustaining chores before the dawn of technology.

In never-before-published photographs from the archives of the New Haven Colony Historical Society, New Haven: Reshaping the City, 1900-1980 portrays the twentieth-century changes that altered the face of a major Connecticut port.

New Haven, as its name implies, has always strived to be a place of betterment for its citizens. Its Puritan founders wanted to make it a religious utopia. Its Colonial leaders transformed its shallow harbor into a shipping port and worked to bring Yale University to town. Nineteenth-century entrepreneurs won industrial fame for the city with the manufacturing of arms, hardware, and carriages. By 1900, New Haven was home to thousands of new immigrants seeking a better life. It is no surprise, then, that as the century proceeded, local leaders tried to create a ""model city."" This time, however, the tools of progress were the bulldozer, the wrecking ball, and millions of dollars from the U.S. government. It was called urban redevelopment. In never-before-published photographs from the archives of the New Haven Colony Historical Society, New Haven: Reshaping the City, 1900-1980 portrays the twentieth-century changes that altered the face of a major Connecticut port. The book spotlights the bustling shops of downtown, the crowded flea markets on Oak Street, and the other neighborhoods that lost and gained most during this period of swift and remarkable change: State Street, Church and Chapel Streets, Wooster Square, Long Wharf, Dixwell and Newhallville, Fair Haven, the Hill, and Dwight Street, among others.

Home to Yale University and once inhabited by Native Americans and settlers, New Haven has a long and fascinating history.

Originally inhabited by the native Quinnipiac, the Puritans traded blankets and wares in 1638 to acquire land destined to be a prosperous mercantile port. New Haven became a manufacturing center and was the carriage and corset capital of the world, while also being a leader in clocks, firearms, hardware, and oyster harvesting. Charles Goodyear and George W. Bush once called this city home, and Yale has attracted famous people such as Eli Whitney and Bill and Hillary Clinton. Within New Haven, antique and modern views are juxtaposed and vividly display the effects of mass redevelopment and industrial decline in the Elm City, while showing the development of community and economic prosperity in the 21st century.

New Haven's population more than quadrupled between 1861 and 1948, and the city became Connecticut's largest manufacturing center. Street railways made it possible to reach both residential and manufacturing areas. New Haven Streetcars illustrates the essential role played by streetcars in the transformation of the city, with images from each of the six groups of lines that served the New Haven area, including the Yale Bowl open cars, the universal dump cars, the safety cars, and the horse-drawn cars.

This volume spans 65 years of life in New London: from the 1850s, when the Whaling City earned its reputation, to the days before World War I, when the last whaler had departed and the first submarine was about to arrive

Home to whaling ships, privateers, and submarines, New London has been at the heart of some of America's most exciting seafaring history. Through these pages, you will walk the city's unpaved streets to forgotten places like Bacon's Hotel and the Old Yellow Building, ride the trolley up State Street, and see Ocean Beach as it was before the 1938 hurricane swept it away. New London also gives special attention to the fashionable Pequot Colony, the trains and steamboats that traveled to and from the city, and familiar landmarks such as Union Station, the Nathan Hale Schoolhouse, and the Olde Town Mill.

Historic photographs tell the story of the illustrious New London Police Department from 1868 to today.

New London, Connecticut, established its first permanent police force in 1868 when a nightwatch and police station were approved by city council. In the late 1800s and into the early 1900s, the busy port of New London doubled in population, reaching almost 20,000 by 1910 with just 17 patrolmen keeping order. In January 1924, the council approved the hiring of a woman as a police officer. In the early 1960s, a police union was formed by members of the Patrolmen's Benevolent Association to provide better working conditions. By the early 1990s, the department had moved into its current building and updated its computer-aided dispatch, added mobile computers in police cars, digitized its maps, and created a new records management system. The current department chief's office overlooks a bus and train depot, a busy deepwater port, and a city that draws thousands of people every summer.

New Milford is located in western Connecticut, and an ideal example of small-town New England life.

The original inhabitants of the area were the Potatuck; at the beginning of the 18th century, the land that later became New Milford was purchased from the indigenous people, and the first settler, John Noble, arrived from Massachusetts to build his home in 1707. As the centuries progressed, so did the town, and New Milford became a business center with many mills, shops, taverns, and other services. In stunning images and with a clear narrative, New Milfordtraces the history not only of the town itself, but also of many of the families whose names are an integral part of the community, including the Bostwicks, the Heacocks, and the Kings. The book follows the development of the town--its industry, such as New Milford Pottery, its education facilities, such as Canterbury School, and its familiar landmarks, such as the Wayside Inn.

In vivid historical images, step into Norwalk's past and discover a new part of Long Island history

Located on the shores of Long Island Sound, Norwalk's close proximity to New York City prompted the building of many summer residences and guest cottages along its coast. In the summer, steamships and trolleys arrived with passengers looking to enjoy the local amusement park, Roton Point. Norwalk's earliest industries included farming as well as mills powered by its rivers. The area has been famous for its pottery, oystering, and hat manufacturing. Over time, this community has endured disasters; it was burned during the American Revolution, and the flood of 1955 wiped out much of the Wall Street area as well as several bridges on the Norwalk River. Norwalk shares vintage images from the mid-1800s through the 1960s, highlighting memorable sites such as Old MacDonald's Farm and the Melton Automobile Museum. The revitalization of Norwalk's downtown areas proves it is possible to respect the past and those that came before through the renewal of historical architecture.

In the years before the Revolutionary War, Norwich, Connecticut was a hotbed of radicalism. As a trade and transportation center, its merchants took a leading role in objecting to British taxes and laws that threatened their livelihood. Meet the Norwich men who risked everything in the cause of Liberty: Colonel John Durkee, the warrior; and Samuel Huntington, the statesman and signer of the Declaration of Independence. Other notable figures include Major General Jedidiah Huntington, merchant turned soldier; and Benedict Arnold, brilliant soldier turned traitor; Col. John Durkee, a commander at the Battle of Monmouth; and Dr. Philip Turner, who became staff surgeon for the Continental Army.  Local author and historian Patricia F. Staley tells the story of America’s War for Independence through the stories of those from Norwich who fought to create a new nation.

Norwich State Hospital (NSH), established in 1904, was more than just a series of mortar and brick buildings to house and treat persons suffering from mental illness.

For nearly 100 years, generations of people dedicated their careers and lives to developing NSH as a humanitarian community for mental illness rehabilitation. NSH gained international attention from some of the world's most renowned psychiatrists for being the first state hospital to boast a brand-new state-of-the-art building to house all occupational therapies under one roof. Although NSH closed in 1996, the structure has continued to be one of Connecticut's most notable historical landmarks, despite its ongoing demolition and redevelopment. Today, Norwich State Hospital is still alive in the timeless, emotional memories employees and family members share of what it was like to work and grow up in a place where employees were not just employees and patients were not just patients; they were family.

Old Lyme, Lyme, and Hadlyme is a compelling tribute to an area that is extraordinary in many ways.

Where the Connecticut River empties into Long Island Sound, a community that eventually became known as Lyme was settled in 1639. The community ran up the eastern riverbank to what is now East Haddam, along the Sound to Niantic, and into parts of Salem. In time, Lyme was divided into small towns and villages: Old Lyme, Lyme, Hadlyme, Hamburg, Sterling City, South Lyme, and the coastal communities. The area is notable due to its people, many of whom were attorneys, judges, legislators, and governors; for its commerce, which brought ships from up and down the East Coast and as far away as the West Indies; and for its beautiful homes, some of which survive today thanks to a strong preservation ethic.

This fascinating history of Old Saybrook, CT showcases more than two hundred of the best vintage postcards available.

Named Saybrook after two early patentees, Lord Saye and Sele and Lord Brook, the small community of Old Saybrook has been shaped by its notable history and distinct geographical location at the mouth of the Connecticut River. Deeply rooted in farming and fishing, the town became a summer resort and tourist destination by the 1900s. Through the years, Old Saybrook's residents have made important contributions in government, literature, film, architecture, education, science, and technology.

PEZ is an American classic and a staple of many childhood memories. Take an inside look, through words and vintage images of this iconic brand.

Yet it originated in Austria, where PEZ began in 1927 as compressed peppermint tablets marketed as an alternative to smoking. Upon arrival in the United States in 1952, PEZ quickly took a new direction, adding fruit flavors and three-dimensional character heads to top the dispensers. Now produced in Orange, Connecticut, the iconic PEZ brand is available in over eighty countries, selling more than sixty-five million dispensers annually and inspiring collectors and fans worldwide. Join the world's first and only official PEZ historian, Shawn Peterson, on a journey of sweet proportions for an inside look at the world's most cherished interactive candy.

A Town Like No Other

Once called the “wicked city of the Plain,” Plainville grew from underestimated beginnings to become a robust manufacturing center by the twentieth century. It is one of the United States’ earliest railroad junctions and was once a major port along the Farmington Canal. The town was home to unique characters and creations, including ornate carriages, a “Flying Governor” and the beginnings of ESPN. Discover the forgotten railroad feud that led to Plainville’s incorporation in 1869 and nearly united it as a single town with Forestville. Meet the people who have called this town home, including inventors, bootleggers and the Blue Devils. Remember lost town landmarks like Trask School, Appell Drug and Plainville Stadium.

Join local historian Todd Jones as he explores the rich history of this Connecticut town.

A portion of this book’s royalties will go to the Plainville Historical Society.

Connecticut radio stations and their charismatic disc jockeys played an integral role in the history of rock ‘n’ roll. They served as a vital connection between the music and their audience, providing listeners the one vehicle they most needed—a format for them to listen to their favorite songs. Learn about such memorable moments as the fierce rivalry between WDRC and WPOP, the zany antics of Joey Reynolds, and the on-air “death” of Lee “Baby” Simms. WPLR emerged as a “town hall meeting held in a frat house,” and colorful skits filled the airwaves. With in-depth interviews and timeless photos, author Tony Renzoni captures the spirit of the vibrant music scene and traces the important and influential role of past and present on-air personalities. 

Rocky Hill is a commercial center, and along with attractions like Dinosaur State Park and the nation's oldest ferry line, make it a popular New England tourist destination.

Any great civilization would say the secret to success is easy access to a river, and the town of Rocky Hill is no exception. East of the Connecticut River, the waterway made Rocky Hill an active maritime center during the age of sail. As steam replaced sail, Rocky Hill’s role as a river port diminished. Farms grew, and the town became a thriving agricultural center. In recent years, Rocky Hill has become a residential community. Modern highways and a central location have contributed to the town’s growth and made it a commercial center, along with attractions like Dinosaur State Park and the nation's oldest ferry line making it a popular New England tourist destination as well.

Highway historian and retired highway engineer Larry Larned, author of Traveling the Merritt Parkway, has appeared in television and radio interviews speaking about Route 15 and the nation's early roads. Route 15: The Road to Hartford presents images from his forty years of collecting and documenting Connecticut roadside culture, architecture, and engineering. His detailed account of the road to Hartford includes personal recollections of traveling Route 15 as a youngster and studying the details along the way-the tollbooths, the bow-tied gas station attendants, the families on picnics at rest stops.

The name Salem originates from the Hebrew word shalom, meaning peace. Salem life was traditionally rooted in agriculture, yet residents also respected Yankee ingenuity. This was reflected in the characters who lived in the town or migrated to its lush countryside. Prior to the Civil War, Salem had seven sawmills, two gristmills, six schools, four churches, a piano factory, an ink factory, and a cotton mill. Rosewood and mahogany pianos were made entirely by hand by the Whittlesey brothers, and Music Vale Seminary was the first music school in the country to confer teaching degrees. Salem also boasts writers, artists, an eccentric inventor who lit up part of Salem with his own rural electrification, a U.S. senator, an explorer who discovered Machu Picchu, and an honored Holocaust war hero. Though quiet and unobtrusive, Salem is blossoming with new citizenry, and it is still uncovering history with recent archaeological excavations. Mystery and untold history come together in Salem.

Shelton speaks of leisurely days on the shores of the Housatonic, the bustling traffic and thunderous factories along the canal, and the labor of the sturdy farmers of White Hills. It contains recollections of school days, legends about a self-professed conscientious objector, and memories of the best church picnic ever. The book's two hundred-plus images include many from the treasuries of the Beardsley, Brewster, Jones, and Wells families-generations of whom have lived in Shelton-as well as never-before-published images from the archives of the Shelton Historical Society.

When early photographers began recording scenes around Simsbury, the town was over 200 years old and changing with the times.

Photographs taken in 1885 during a mile-high balloon ride trace railroads, rather than the old canal, running through the town. Grand Victorian mansions, some of them summer residences, arose among cherished family homes on farms dating from colonial times. The mills in the Tariffville section and Toy, Bickford & Company near the center of town provided housing for workers who arrived from Europe. Townspeople sent their youngest children to one of 12 district schools. By 1917, the town could boast of a centrally located public high school as well as two private boarding schools. In Simsbury, images capture the mix of old and new until the advent of World War II.

In Somers, the unique history of this rural New England town is captured in photographs, postcards, and artists' renditions from the last half of the 1800s to the present. Each image is identified with extensively researched and informative captions. The chapters depict early homes and farms (many still in existence), families and individuals, businesses, schools, and churches. They show the transition from largely produce farms to horse farms and tree farms, and to residential developments, as well as the rescue from decay of the unique, century-old Free Public Library.

Founded in 1641, Stamford is one of the oldest towns in New England. The images in this book date from the Civil War through the end of World War I.

Founded in 1641, Stamford is one of the oldest towns in New England. The resulting influx of immigrants and industrial expansion that followed transformed Stamford from a rural community into a bustling city. Although once a stopping place on the stagecoach route between New York and Boston, Stamford remained largely agrarian until the coming of the railroad in 1848. The images in this book date from the Civil War through the end of World War I, from the earliest available photographs to the established use of the automobile. It is a time that saw the gristmills become factories and old frame trading posts be replaced by imposing brick structures. During these years the people of Stamford supported the Union Cause and voted for Grover Cleveland; they built new homes, churches, schools, and parks; they established a hospital and a library; they joined the YMCA, went yachting, and always turned out for a parade.

From 1837 to 1900 the tiny borough of Stonington, Connecticut was a major transportation hub on the route between New York and Boston. Steamboats leaving Manhattan followed Long Island Sound to Stonington Harbor where passengers boarded trains for the rest of the journey to Providence or Boston.

Stonington's Steamboat Hotel, built in 1838 near the piers and railroad yard, was home to saloons, restaurants, a pool hall, a cigar shop, a tailor and a barber shop. Merchants, hotel keepers and saloon workers passed through the building, each with their own unique story. Many of them were immigrants or first-generation Americans, and they are a window onto a late 19th-century class of merchants and service workers.

Join local author Stuart Vyse as he reveals a lively portrait of remarkable harmony in a small village that was far more diverse than it is today.

Victorian Era Treasures

Once the center of bolt manufacturing in the United States, Southington has been affectionately called Connecticut’s “City of Progress.” At the center of this progress was Amon Bradley, an industrialist and philanthropist whose family legacy remains intact inside the Barnes Museum. Beginning as a six-room Greek Revival–style home, the Barnes Museum was built in 1836 for Amon and Sylvia Bradley and was lived in by the family for 136 years. The opulent seventeen-room homestead remains fully staged with the family’s impressive collection of Victorian antiques and more than one thousand pressed-glass goblets. Author and museum curator Christina Volpe reveals their unique collection of Civil War letters, family diaries, photographs and other historic treasures.

Ghost stories from America’s Nutmeg State have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery!

Connecticut’s haunted history and local legends come to life—even when the main players are dead. Discover the headless horseman of Canton, learn about the witches of Nineveh Falls, and come see about a pirate’s curse. Dive into this spooky chapter book for suspenseful tales of bumps in the night, paranormal investigations, and the unexplained; just be sure to keep the light on.

Ghost stories from Connecticut’s spookiest seaport have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery!

Welcome to the spooky seaport of Mystic, Connecticut!  

Stay alert! Ghosts lurk around every corner. Even the most unexpected places might be haunted by wandering phantoms. 

Did you know that a friendly innkeeper still checks in on guests at the inn he owned…200 years ago? Or that there may be a fiery curse on Mystic dating back to colonial days? Can you believe the Mystic River may be home to a ghost ship? 

Pulled right from history, these ghostly tales will change the way you see Mystic, and have you sleeping with the light on! 

Author Christopher Pagliuco reveals the all-but-forgotten stories of these Connecticut heroes.

When Puritans Edward Whalley and William Goffe joined the parliamentary army against King Charles I in the English civil wars, they seized an opportunity to overthrow a tyrant. Yet when his son, Charles II, regained the throne, Whalley and Goffe were forced to flee to the New England colonies aboard the ship Prudent Mary--never to see their families or England again. Even with the help of New England's Puritan elite, including Reverend John Davenport, they struggled to stay ahead of the authorities in Boston, New Haven, and the outpost of Hadley, Massachusetts. Though forced to live out the rest of their lives fugitives, these former major generals survived frontier adventures in seventeenth-century New England, and became embedded in early United States history.

Through firsthand accounts, interviews with survivors and a gripping collection of vintage photographs, author Michael Skidgell attempts to make sense of one of Hartford's worst tragedies.

Almost 7,000 fans eagerly packed into the Ringling Brothers big top on July 6, 1944. With a single careless act, an afternoon at the Greatest Show on Earth quickly became one of terror and tragedy as the paraffin-coated circus tent caught fire. Panicked crowds rushed for the few exits, but in minutes, the tent collapsed on those still struggling to escape below. A total of 168 lives were lost, many of them children, with many more injured and forever scarred by the events. Hartford and the surrounding communities reeled in the aftermath as investigators searched for the source of the fire and the responsible parties.

The Hartford Whalers began their existence in Boston as the New England Whalers of the World Hockey Association (WHA).

The Whalers played in every season of the WHA's seven-year existence, even becoming the league's first champions. Although their games were well-attended in Boston, the upstart league was never serious competition for the powerhouse Bruins. In 1975, they moved to Hartford, and in 1979, along with Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Quebec, joined the National Hockey League. After a series of successes in the '80s, by the '90s a dissatisfied new owner, unhappy players, and diminishing returns all contributed to the team's move to North Carolina following the 1997 season and won the Stanley Cup as the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006.The Hartford Whalersis a pictorial tribute to this beloved and much-missed Hartford institution.