Name: Legendary Locals of Bay City
Brand: Ron Bloomfield
SKU: 9781467100199
Price: 24.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Legendary Locals of Bay City

9781467100199

$24.99

Who would have thought a city would one day stand where there was nothing but swamp, with long grass--where there was scarcely an opening in the woods, and in which the wolves made plenty of howling. This observation was made by Leon Trombley, one of the first to try to settle in this part of the Michigan "frontier" in the early 1800s. His nephews, Mader and Joseph, would soon follow and ultimately become noted among the area's first permanent residents. The residents of Bay City have always aspired to be legendary, whether by design, accident, or sheer determination. Annie Edson Taylor, the area schoolteacher turned daredevil who would ride her Bay City-built barrel over Niagara Falls (and survive!), is only one among a large group of local legends that includes Olympic champions, community leaders, artists, musicians, scholars, philosophers, and historians.

Legendary Locals of Bay City book cover featuring a collage of black and white portraits.

Legendary Locals of Grosse Pointe

9781467100939

$24.99

Grosse Pointe is a community of many transformations. Today, it is known as an affluent suburb of Detroit, but Native Americans were the first inhabitants of this haven on the water. In the late 1600s, the fertile land, rich forests, and easy access to water attracted Europeans settlers to the region. And, as neighboring Detroit began to prosper, the allure of Grosse Pointe's lakefront drew weekend pleasure-seekers, then summer vacationers, and later permanent residents who wanted to live on the shores of Lake St. Clair. Throughout this diverse, fascinating history, one thing has remained constant: the character of the people who call Grosse Pointe home. Hardworking, civic-minded, and devoted to family and friends, these individuals embody the spirit of Grosse Pointe, a unique community where generation after generation keeps coming back to live and play.

Front cover of Legendary Locals of Grosse Pointe with a collage of portrait photos on a gold background

Legendary Locals of Chicago Lawn and West Lawn

9781467102155

$24.99

Nestled in the middle of the southwest side of Chicago are the neighborhoods of Chicago Lawn, West Lawn, and Marquette Manor. All three border picturesque Marquette Park, which intertwines their histories. The pages of Legendary Locals of Chicago Lawn and West Lawn are filled with tales of people who make up the story, or, in some cases, add spice to the story of this section of the city of Chicago. Highlighted locals include the lady known as the Witch of Wall Street and the Roman Catholic priest who took her to court to save his parishioners from deadly disease, the gentlemen known as the Dean of 63rd Street and the Mayor of 69th Street, as well as the Polka King and the Father of Little League. Through their actions, the people featured have impacted the neighborhood. It may be due to acts of kindness or dedication to a cause; they might be builders; they might be gangsters; they might be store owners, but they are all interesting figures.

Cover image for Legendary Locals of Chicago Lawn and West Lawn, isbn: 9781467102155

Legendary Locals of Hamtramck

9781467100175

$24.99

Fueled by phenomenal growth in the early part of the 20th century, Hamtramck went from being a farming community to a major industrial city in the space of a decade. Thousands of immigrants flooded into the city to work in the new auto factories. Each one had a special story to tell, but some stood above the rest. Maurice Keyworth developed a public

school code in 1927 that was so innovative it was copied by schools across the nation. Gail Kobe acted in and produced popular TV shows, and Rudy Tomjanovich thrilled crowds around the basketball court. Still others made their mark in more modest, yet meaningful ways, like business owner Dave Stober, who sent local kids to camp. Their stories, and those of many more who made Hamtramck what it is today, are here. Each made a special

contribution to the story of Hamtramck.

Cover of Legendary Locals of Hamtramck by Greg Kowalski featuring a collage of black and white portraits

Legendary Locals of Lake Forest

9781467102148

$24.99

Since the 1850s, Lake Forest, located 30 miles north of Chicago on Lake Michigan, has been a distinctive suburb. It has been a retreat from the diseases, public accessibility, rougher elements, soot, stockyard smells, and general density of bustling city life. For at least five generations, it has been the retreat for Chicago's leading New England-descended families, such as the Farwells, Swifts, and Armours. And for over 150 years, Lake Forest has been the home for a community of educators, merchants, artisans, designers, and a wide variety of estate specialists, the latter from pre-Civil War escaped slaves and Scots and Irish immigrants to today's notable garden and interior artists. Legendary Locals of Lake Forest draws on rare archival images from local and Chicago public and private sources.

Legendary Locals of Lake Forest cover featuring a collage of vintage photos on an olive background

Legendary Locals of Ann Arbor

9781467116848

$24.99

Graced by the Huron River with an abundance of parks, Ann Arbor offers residents and visitors entertainment, sports, shopping, dining, and of course, the University of Michigan. Legendary Locals of Ann Arbor celebrates its citizens. Some of those who make up Ann Arbor are creative artists, inspiring educators, dedicated public servants, and determined business owners. With the exception of Lewis the cat, who reigned at Downtown Home and Garden, this book is filled with stories about people who have made and are making Ann Arbor one of the best places to live in the United States. Within its pages lie the stories of who chose maize and blue as the University of Michigan's colors; who was the first Ann Arborite to race in the Indy 500; and who sold Tom Monaghan, founder of Domino's, his first pizzeria. Inside are photographs and descriptions of the legendary people of the past and the present, as well as those who are on their way to becoming the legends of the future.

Cover image for Legendary Locals of Ann Arbor, isbn: 9781467116848

Legendary Locals of Lansing

9781467100311

$24.99

Lansing was settled in the 1840s by German and Dutch immigrants. Farming, then the railroad, played major roles in the growth of the village. The brickyards left a lasting impact on the community, as did Henry Ford's airport hangar, which still stands today. The schools produced figures who have become well known outside Lansing, such as Major League Baseball outfielder Curtis Granderson, who has won a Silver Slugger award and joined baseball's elite 20-20-20-20 club. The community has been blessed with caring and dedicated educators like Hal Gronewald and Durward Shuetz, whose reach extended beyond the classroom. Lansing has also raised war heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country--men like August Olsen and Philip Martini. Many other heroes have served and protected at home, including Kenneth Novak Jr., Lansing's only police officer to die in the line of duty.

Cover of Legendary Locals of Lansing showing a grid of black and white portraits on a gold background.

Legendary Locals of Fort Wayne

9781467102100

$24.99

Fort Wayne sits astride the confluence where the St. Joseph and St. Mary's Rivers form the Maumee River. Though occupied for over 10,000 years, its modern history begins just over 200 years ago with Gen. Anthony Wayne and his Miami nemesis, Chief Little Turtle. The pageant of Fort Wayne's history includes traders, industrialists, politicians, athletes, and movie stars. Included here are such notables as Hollywood's Carole Lombard and Shelley Long, Ian Rolland of Lincoln Life, Big Boy's Alex Azar, gangster Homer Van Meter, football's Rod Woodson, inventor Philo Farnsworth, and over 150 more.

Cover image for Legendary Locals of Fort Wayne, isbn: 9781467102100

Legendary Locals of Columbus

9781467100885

$24.99

Columbus, Indiana, is a vibrant small city known for its modern architecture and for housing the world headquarters of Cummins, Inc., a global manufacturer of engines and engine components. Since its founding in 1821, Columbus transformed from a mostly agricultural town into a center of manufacturing and commerce, unusual for a town its size. Along the way, many colorful individuals played significant roles in the city's history. Names of early settlers—including Irwin, Perry, Marr, Glick, and Crump—formed the backbone of a growing community. As industry expanded throughout the county in the 19th century, names of enterprising individuals included Mooney, Lincoln, Brown, and Reeves. After the turn of the 20th century, some businesses faded away as new ones appeared and new names such as Cummins, Noblitt, and Hamilton emerged. Over the years, the Irwin-Sweeney-Miller family played a large role in Columbus's development as a livable city. Numerous others also left their marks in big and small ways creating a unique place that has been labeled by various national publications as safe, playful, beautiful, historic, and architecturally significant.

Cover image for Legendary Locals of Columbus, isbn: 9781467100885

Legendary Locals of Hamilton

9781467100694

$24.99

Going back to its roots in 1791, Hamilton has been populated by exceptional and dynamic personalities who created a truly unique city. The people who contributed to the city's growth included authors Robert McCloskey, Fanny Hurst, and William Dean Howells; developer of the "Hollow Earth Theory" John Cleves Symmes; major-league pitcher Joe Nuxhall; folk artist Nan Phelps; orator and Chautauqua speaker Lou Jenks Beauchamps; world-class archer Darrell Pace; Frederick Brant Rentschler, founder of the world's largest aircraft company; teacher and aeronautical engineer Raymond L. Bisplinghoff; Frank Clair, coach and member of the Canadian Football League Hall of Fame; Rear Adm. Donald Wulzen; and Shuler and Joseph Doran, two brothers who pioneered early wireless radio in America. Hamilton has also benefited from business leaders, educators, political figures, philanthropists, city officials, and fascinating characters and citizens who have made the city an interesting community.

Cover of Legendary Locals of Hamilton with a grid of historic portraits.

Legendary Locals of Moline

9781467102353

$24.99

David Benton Sears could be considered the father of Moline, Illinois. It was upon his land that Moline was platted in 1843. It was because of his brush dam on the Mississippi River between the Moline shore and Rock Island—known today as Arsenal Island—that significant industry began to develop. Grain and lumber mills were the first, but farm implement and related factories soon found prominence after John Deere moved his plow-making business here in 1848. It would not be long before immigrants, particularly the Swedish, Belgian, and German, were drawn to Moline for the jobs and opportunities and added to the growing and prosperous population. Legendary Locals of Moline tells the known and not-so-well-known stories of many of the early and the more-recent individuals who have contributed to the fabric of the community, both locally and nationally. Historical and current photographs illustrate those who affected business and industry, culture, academia, public service, organizations and philanthropies, and sports and entertainment.

Cover image for Legendary Locals of Moline, isbn: 9781467102353

Legendary Locals of North Ridgeville

9781467101448

$24.99

It was 1810 when a group of men from Connecticut roved west to Ohio, establishing the first permanent settlement in what became North Ridgeville. Led by David Beebe Sr., they foraged for food and shelter. The pioneer spirit of the aggregation sustained them and others who followed. Farming provided sustenance and many farms including those owned by the Solomons, Gerharts, and others have continued the tradition. Education was greatly respected and 10 school districts became part of the community's landscape. An early school still stands on Jaycox Road, where retired teachers Julie Bajda and Barb Sutton reenacted the roles of teachers from earlier times. The former Buffalo Trail became Center Ridge Road, the city's main thoroughfare, and, in 1960, the township developed into a city governed by a mayor, council, and various department heads. Businesses, such as Buescher's Hardware and the Bogner Funeral Home opened and remain today. Groups of residents cultivated interests into organizations with a goal of working together seamlessly for the good of the community.

Legendary Locals of Cheboygan

9781467101615

$24.99

Founded as a lumbering town in the mid-1800s, Cheboygan has transformed over the years to be something much less simplistic and much more dynamic; so, too, have its people. While some of Cheboygan's residents played important roles in business or commerce, others made their mark through philanthropic work, service to the community, or just by their demeanor. History is as much about people as it is about events--people like Gordon "Scoop" Turner, who came to Cheboygan for a few months but ended up staying for a lifetime. There are businessmen like Millard D. Olds, who became one of the most successful lumbermen at a time when others were leaving town, and George M. Humphrey, the 55th treasurer of the United States. An eye towards the community has also made some residents legendary, such as Joyce and Quincy Leslie. And, of course, there are those whose history is shrouded in controversy, including Sheriff Fred Ming, under whose authority a Native American village was burned to the ground. Whatever their story, these locals have contributed to the character and history of Cheboygan.

Cover of Legendary Locals of Cheboygan featuring a collage of archival photographs.

Legendary Locals of Grand Rapids

9781467100236

$24.99

Grand Rapids began as an Indian trading post. Louis Campau became the first permanent white settler in 1826. Today, the city on the Grand River is Michigan's second largest with a population of nearly 200,000, more than triple when adding the surrounding metropolitan area. Though best known as the hometown of President Gerald Ford and First Lady Betty Ford, the city lays claim to others who are, or have been, in the national spotlight as well. These include astronauts Roger Chaffee and Jack Lousma; sports figures Stan Ketchel, Dave Rozema, Mickey Stanley, and Chris Kaman; screenwriter and director Paul Schrader; actors Lorna Gray and Dick York; writers Meindert DeJong, Chris Van Allsburg, and Bich Ngyuen, to name just a few. In these pages are legends named Meijer, Van Andel, De Vos, Trotter, Belknap, Hekman, and Wege. Others are lesser known, or even unknown, but their heartwarming stories make them equally worthy of legendary status.

Cover image for Legendary Locals of Grand Rapids, isbn: 9781467100236

Legendary Locals of Peoria

9781467101738

$24.99

Peoria harkens back to the 1670s glory days of the French voyageurs and became the now-familiar face of Americana—its townsfolk have touched every aspect of national and international life, often significantly. In comedy, Fibber McGee and Molly, Charles Correll, Richard Pryor, Sam Kinison, and even Bishop Sheen with his witty homilies have made Peoria the Habitat of Humor. Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique jump-started the 1960s feminist movement, while Philip José Farmer's The Lovers rocked the 1950s sci-fi universe. Dr. C.T. Vivian, Dr. Romeo Garrett, and John Gwynn Jr. held the frontline against racism. Representing the best of society's core values, Barb and Dick Hammond founded Friends of the Children of Haiti, a medical organization tending to the year-round needs of the earth's poorest. And unheralded Bill Noel has shouldered the sorrows and burdens of others who have leaned on him for decades. When it comes to all the legendary locals, they play in Peoria . . . and the world.

Cover image for Legendary Locals of Peoria, isbn: 9781467101738

Legendary Locals of Toledo

9781467101790

$24.99

While 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.

Cover image for Legendary Locals of Toledo, isbn: 9781467101790

Legendary Locals of St. Joseph and Benton Harbor

9781467125161

$24.99

A 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.

Cover image for Legendary Locals of St. Joseph and Benton Harbor, isbn: 9781467125161

Legendary Locals of Auburn

9781467101097

$24.99

Sweet Auburn! The loveliest village of the plain. This line from an Oliver Goldsmith poem is believed to have inspired the naming of Auburn, Indiana. Known as The Home of the Classics in honor of the Auburn, Cord, and Duesenberg automobiles built by citizens of the city from the early 1900s through 1937, this classic theme runs deep within the people who shaped the very fabric of the community. These locals—like Martha the Popcorn Lady Falka, Glenn T. Rieke, Charles Eckhart, William McIntosh, Dr. Bonnell Souder, Irene Bisel, Rollie Muhn, John Martin Smith, and others—dedicated themselves to Auburn Forever with Honest Endeavor. They advanced a legacy first envisioned for the loveliest village of the plain and nurtured its vibrant heritage. Legendary Locals of Auburn explores the stories of these men and women and offers an insightful look into Auburn's remarkable contributions to American culture.

Cover image for Legendary Locals of Auburn, isbn: 9781467101097

Legendary Locals of Carmel

9781467102162

$24.99

Early Carmel settlers Silas Moffitt and William Kinzer found the area to be abundant for hunting and the soil rich for farming. Quaker in origin, the town's quest for importance in education was forefront and remains so today. With other dedicated leaders through a time of rapid growth in the mid-20th century, Robert Hartman and Dale Graham set the standard to make Carmel High School a respected rival in academic, sports, and extracurricular competitions. Beautiful art galleries, anchored by the Evan Lurie Building, dot the rejuvenated downtown Arts & Design District where Colonel Trester's blacksmith shop and O.W. Nutt's hardware store once stood. A far cry from tented summer church revivals, world-class musicians and performers now take the stage of the Palladium, an acoustically perfect and visually magnificent performing arts center. Visionary mayor James Brainard seeks a sixth term and hopes to continue on the same path of growth and renewal. The city has been voted one of America's best places to live, and Carmel's varied and colorful residents have been proving this since the 1830s.

Cover image for Legendary Locals of Carmel, isbn: 9781467102162

Legendary Locals of Saginaw

9781467101110

$24.99

Saginaw's river system was important to settlement in the area. The Shiawassee, Tittabawassee, and Saginaw Rivers converge at a place called Green Point. It was here that Native Americans lived long before the first white man came. Louis Campau was the first permanent white settler. Later, Gen. Louis Cass arrived and was commissioned to negotiate a treaty with the Indians for the purpose of acquiring a large portion of their lands. Settlers began to arrive, along with trappers and fur traders, but the city did not begin to grow until men from the East found that a fortune could be made in lumbering white pine trees. Men such as Curtis Emerson, Norman Little, Jesse Hoyt, Wellington R. Burt, and Little Jake Seligman prospered because of the lumber boom. When lumbering waned, many of the lumber barons remained in Saginaw and established new businesses. Saginaw has legendary leaders and heroes in the areas of medicine, education, agriculture, business, and industry. Many are highlighted throughout the chapters of this book.

Legendary Locals of Saginaw cover with a collage of portraits

Legendary Locals of Decatur

9781467101691

$24.99

A working-class city of 75,000 people on the banks of the Sangamon River and its largest lake, Decatur has a reputation for outstanding individuals with a strong community spirit and an unashamed sense of patriotism. To borrow a phrase from Adm. Chester Nimitz, in Decatur, uncommon dedication is a common virtue. Harold Miller fought at Iwo Jima with a Marine tank battalion, before serving 32 years on the Decatur Police Department. Wayne and Leslie Kent, ministers at First Christian Church, risked their freedom to bring music and encouragement to oppressed believers in the Soviet Union while they were in college. George Halas, a Navy veteran, was player-coach for the Decatur Staleys football team (later the Chicago Bears), a charter franchise in the professional association that would become the NFL. Bob Fallstrom, a World War II soldier before working as a newspaper reporter and editor in Decatur for more than 65 years, has promoted numerous community causes. Legendary Locals of Decatur pays tribute to those who have made this community truly unique.

Collage style book cover for Legendary Locals of Decatur with vintage photos of community members

Legendary Locals of Sedalia

9781467100403

$24.99

George R. Smith borrowed money to buy 337 acres of treeless prairie in 1856, never dreaming the central Missouri town he founded would become the "Queen of the Prairie." He did not foresee his "Sedville," now Sedalia, attracting thousands of tourists through the annual Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival and the Missouri State Fair. Smith did envision another type of visitor--steam engines that streamed through town daily. Smith's passion for the railroad launched Sedalia, and two major railroad shops sustained the city for more than a century. They provided the base for the now flourishing seat of Pettis County. Since Sedalia's official beginning in 1860, countless people have furthered Smith's vision by leaving their distinctive mark on the community. This book celebrates their contributions and shares their stories through more than 225 photographs, many previously unpublished.

Book cover for Legendary Locals of Sedalia featuring a collage of historic portraits and author Rebecca Carr Imhauser

Legendary Locals of Cincinnati

9781467100021

$24.99

Founded in 1788 along the Ohio River, Cincinnati was the major city in the Northwest Territory for several decades. As it has developed into its third century, Cincinnati's innovations, service, manufacturing, arts, and athletics mark it as a place with a vibrant and varied heritage. The contributions of interesting and unique personalities add to the city's dynamism: William Holmes McGuffey and his creation of a nation's textbooks; civil rights activists Ted Berry, Fred Shuttlesworth, and Marian Berry; iconic personalities like baseball star Pete Rose and silent film actress Theda Bara; grocery entrepreneur Barney Kroger; cooperative education creator Herman Schneider; polio vaccine pioneer Albert Sabin; Joseph Strauss, the design engineer of the Golden Gate Bridge; Paul Brown, one of the NFL's greatest coaches; Henry Heimlich, whose Heimlich maneuver has saved countless lives; and Benadryl inventor George Rieveschl. But it is also the philanthropists and business leaders; the cultural and political figures; the teachers and community workers; and even the intriguing characters and everyday citizens who make Cincinnati an interesting place on the map. This book tells their stories.

Legendary Locals of Cincinnati book cover featuring a collage of historical Cincinnati figures

Legendary Locals of Dover

9781467100991

$24.99

In 1807, Dover's founders, Christian Deardorff and Jesse Slingluff, carved their dream out of Ohio's rugged wilderness. Their choice of location on the Tuscarawas River would prove wise as local industry benefited from the proximity to a water source. Progress was slow at first, but the advent of the Ohio and Erie Canal in 1827 and the steel industry, helped the small town on the river grow into a thriving city. Over time, the city developed its own niche with an opera house, community theater, great museums, and wonderful schools. Out of this uniquely American setting came a cast of interesting and enterprising characters. These include industrialist Jeremiah Reeves, Rear Adm. Herald Stout, Broadway actors Elliot and J.C. Nugent, and Pixar Animation Studios writer and director Bob Peterson. Inspired, yet not defined by their small-town roots, the men and women chronicled in this book represent true Americana and the American dream realized.

Cover of Legendary Locals of Dover featuring a collage of vintage photos

Legendary Locals of Crookston

9781467101578

$24.99

Crookston is in the heart of the fertile Red River Valley. Railroad baron James J. Hill positioned the city to be a hub of transportation, so Civil War veterans and railroad workers settled Crookston first. At Hill's behest, a long tradition of learning how to "farm smart" started with the Northwest School of Agriculture in 1906. Facing a short growing season, farmers stayed close to the soil and invented better implements to harvest the area's bounty. The tradition of improving technology continues from the century-old practices begun at the Experiment Station. Currently, precision agriculture is taught at the University of Minnesota, Crookston's "laptop university." Familiar family names from Crookston's retail sector have prevailed throughout the farmers' cycle of boom and bust. Many other talented personalities shine through, especially those skilled in sports and music. Also included in this volume are unsung heroes for their acts of kindness and volunteerism.

Legendary Locals of Crookston book cover featuring a collage of historic black and white photographs

Legendary Locals of Aurora

9781467100359

$24.99

Joseph G. Stolp settled in Aurora on June 12, 1837, when there were 33 residents in the pioneer village. Stolp's vision helped shape the city's destiny. The Aurora Electric Light and Power Company used 2,000-candlepower electric lamps for the first streetlights in 1881. Today, the "City of Lights" is home to 200,000 residents and a diverse population with 42 percent of Hispanic heritage. The character of her people made Aurora an enterprising city. Notable residents include Maud Powell, violin virtuoso, and Harry C. Murphy, president of the Burlington Railroad. Profiles of Greek immigrant George Andrews and Aurora-born artist Wendell Minor, as well as Polish leader Bruno Bartoszek, color these pages with biographies of greatness. Astute business leaders include Robert Bonifas, Ken Nagel, Louis Leonardi, and Frank C. Schaefer. Dr. Stephanie Pace Marshall, Dr. Christine Sobek, and Dick Schindel give testament to adroit educational leadership. Legendary Locals of Aurora chronicles how the city's history has been blessed with noble and innovative leaders.

Cover of Legendary Locals of Aurora featuring a collage of black and white portraits

Legendary Locals of Oak Park

9781467100861

$24.99

Founded in the 1830s by Joseph and Betty Kettlestrings, an intrepid young couple from Yorkshire, England, the small settlement of Oak Park grew slowly until the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Before the ashes had cooled, Oak Park's population boomed as displaced families relocated into the community on the west edge of Chicago. By the turn of the 20th century, this thriving village became a magnet attracting ever-larger numbers of prosperous, progressive people to settle in what many referred to as the finest of the streetcar suburbs. In the 1960s and 1970s, Oak Park became widely recognized for encouraging racial and ethnic diversity. Though best known for such residents as architect Frank Lloyd Wright and novelist Ernest Hemingway, Oak Park also lays claim to scores of others who have shone brightly in the national spotlight, as well as current folks who are passionate, daring, and dynamic. More than 100 noteworthy Oak Parkers— past and present—are featured in this volume, from writers and restaurateurs to mobsters and movie stars.

Cover image for Legendary Locals of Oak Park, isbn: 9781467100861

Legendary Locals of Aurora

9781467100571

$24.99

Aurora, just 20 miles south of Cincinnati, is located at a north-south bend in the Ohio River in Dearborn County. The first settlers, Revolutionary War veterans Isaac Morrison, Adam Flake, and George Cheek, arrived in the 1790s looking for a new start for their families. The history of the city was shaped by the Ohio River, as well as industrial leaders like Thomas Gaff, Peter Williams, and O.P. Cobb and city leaders such as Watchdog of the Treasury representative William S. Holman, his partner Judge John D. Haynes, and Dr. John Sutton and his tireless work to cure cholera. Today, Aurora is known for its picturesque historic downtown and churches. Volunteers like the Turner family, the Charlotte (Peters) Hastings family, and the Aurora Lions Club work to keep the town beautiful.

Cover image for Legendary Locals of Aurora, isbn: 9781467100571

Legendary Locals of Eastpointe

9781467100410

$24.99

Eastpointe was first settled in the early 1800s by Irish and German immigrants, who had traveled to a new country to find a better life. The inherent values of strong education, hard work, and love of home and family have continued throughout the city's history into modern times. In the past 200 years, many locals have become legendary as they strived in various ways to pursue excellence. As notable as the achievements of hometown hero astronaut Jerry Leninger and the athletic power of All-American Ron Kramer, there are also the stories of unsung heroes, which are now told.

Cover image for Legendary Locals of Eastpointe, isbn: 9781467100410

Legendary Locals of Wheaton

9781467100113

$24.99

A city is not merely its structures but also its citizens, the men and women working hard and raising families, aspiring to ideals or lofty dreams. Since its founding as a farm community by tough New England sodbusters, Wheaton has provided residency for an amazing array of personalities, from ex-slave William Osborne to astronaut Shannon Lucid, from sculptors to preachers, from intensely focused athletes to ordinary citizens performing extraordinary, selfless acts. As Carl Sandburg, poet laureate of Illinois, mused, These are the people, with flaws and failings, with patience, sacrifice, devotion, the people. Portraying glimpses of their humor, insight, dedication, and ability, this book seeks to celebrate only a fraction of these fascinating individuals, the true heart and soul of the city—and the nation.

Cover image for Legendary Locals of Wheaton, isbn: 9781467100113

Legendary Locals of Cleveland

9781467100298

$24.99

In 1796, when Gen. Moses Cleaveland founded the settlement on Lake Erie's shores that would become the city of Cleveland, he opened the way for many dynamic, visionary, and diverse individuals who would not only help Cleveland prosper as one of the greatest cities in the Midwest, but also give the city its unique character. Mobster Danny Greene's fate was sealed by a car bomb and his life was later immortalized in film. Vernon Stouffer helped revolutionize the frozen food industry and the way Americans eat. Almeda Adams refused to let her disability keep her from making contributions in education and music. And Zelma Watson George found success in theater and, later, politics as a goodwill ambassador and a delegate to the United Nations. Legendary Locals of Cleveland chronicles the fascinating stories of citizens who have impacted the city in political, social, philanthropic, business, educational, scientific/medical, entertainment, and even criminal areas.

Book cover Legendary Locals of Cleveland with a collage of black and white portraits.

Legendary Locals of Berea

9781467100151

$24.99

A diverse immigrant population that arrived to work in Berea's sandstone quarries, plus the academic atmosphere of a liberal arts college, provided a distinct cultural heritage uncommon in American suburbia. The town has inherited a strong work ethic and deep spiritual values from early Bereans. Consider Dr. William Pierce, first resident pastor, who gave the town "a stamp of culture." Capt. Edward Kennedy, Civil War veteran and survivor of the tragic Sultana explosion, served Berea in nearly every elected capacity. Mary Elmore, elected to the Berea school board years before the 19th Amendment passed. Modern-day Berea has its legends, too, like Arthur Bassett, NASA astronaut; Daisy G. Collins, federal administrative law judge; John-Michael Tebelak, creator of Godspell; Frances Millward, known as the "Mother Teresa of Berea"; and dozens more.

Legendary Locals of Berea cover with a tan background and a collage of historic portraits.

Legendary Locals of St. Charles

9781467102315

$24.99

Today's citizens of St. Charles will recognize the names of many early settlers and residents, such as Louis Blanchette, who founded the settlement that would later become St. Charles; St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, who helped found the first school of the Society of the Sacred Heart in America; and Lewis and Clark, who began their expedition here to explore the Louisiana Purchase territory. Later came photographer Rudolph Goebel, who chronicled St. Charles's history for more than 50 years; Jane Crider, advocate for adults with disabilities and cofounder of Boone Center Inc.; and Archie Scott, known as "Mr. Main Street" for his years of dedication to the preservation of the historic district. Included in Legendary Locals of St. Charles are businesspeople, local personalities, authors, and entertainers, and while some of them may not yet be legendary, all of them are notable for their contributions to the St. Charles community and beyond.

Legendary Locals of St. Charles cover featuring a collage of portrait photos

Legendary Locals of Mount Clemens

9781467100120

$24.99

Judge Christian Clemens founded Mount Clemens in 1818 and established it as the seat of justice for Macomb County when Michigan was yet a territory. While the town prospered on the strength of its strategic location on the Clinton River and proximity to Lake St. Clair, it was the mineral water beneath the citizens' feet that would propel Mount Clemens to national prominence as a health resort. As it grew, the "Bath City of America" attracted the likes of stage actress Sadie Hasson, the Nelson family of circus performers, and baseball all-star Vic Wertz. Numerous visitors who came seeking a cure--or to find work in the hospitality industry--stayed to call Mount Clemens home, adding their own peculiar brand of warp and weft to the town's rich historical tapestry.

Cover of Legendary Locals of Mount Clemens featuring a grid of historic black and white portraits.

Legendary Locals of Plymouth

9781467100373

$24.99

Plymouth, a charming town 40 miles west of Detroit, is rich with history and interesting people. Though the community has undergone many changes and much growth throughout the years, it maintains a small, stylish downtown feel. Much of that can be attributed to the town's residents--dedicated folks who take pride in their community and aim to make it stronger and better, year after year. The Houghs helped put Plymouth on the map when they mass-produced the Daisy BB gun, employing hundreds of residents; Debra Madonna is a promoter of arts and education who is devoted to children with special needs; Phoebe Patterson helped pave the way for women's rights; Margaret Dunning's generosity and vision have provided special buildings for education; and museum volunteer Sanford Burr, whose family history runs deep in Plymouth, loves sharing the community's heritage. Whether through industry, education, volunteer work, the arts, or philanthropy, the people in Legendary Locals of Plymouth saw a need and acted on it, helping make Plymouth what it is today.

Book cover Legendary Locals of Plymouth with a grid of historic portraits.

Legendary Locals of Prairie du Chien

9781467101936

$24.99

From the day Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet entered the Mississippi River in 1673, fur traders, and then settlers, were drawn to Prairie du Chien. Red Bird and Black Hawk opposed American expansionism, while Zachary Taylor enforced the change. John Muir admired the majesty of the Mississippi River, and John Lawler accepted the challenge to bridge the waters. As people came to Prairie du Chien, generations worked to form a small, cohesive community. Some, like George and Dorothy Jeffers, Ralph and Albina Kozelka, Henry Howe, and Frank Stark, began businesses that descendants continue to operate. John Peacock and Mike Valley found a livelihood from the river. Art Frydenlund, Jim Bittner, and Fred LaPointe promoted and encouraged all to come. B.A. Kennedy and Jack Mulrooney created an outstanding educational and sports program. Peter Scanlan and Cal Peters recorded the rich history. Roy and Geraldine George established the George Family Foundation, and Morris MacFarlane led a movement to create scholarships. Lori Knapp helped disabled people without realizing her impact. Politician Patrick Lucey and cowgirl Elaine Kramer gained national recognition. All these people and others, like Dr. T.F. Farrell and Robert Garrity, were neighbors. Their stories fill these pages.

Cover of Legendary Locals of Prairie du Chien with a collage of portraits on a tan background

Legendary Locals of Pine City

9781467101196

$24.99

Throughout the history of Pine City, individuals have dreamed, struggled, and created a remarkable place of American culture. Legendary Locals of Pine City represents an amazing mix of talents and activities, sometimes with far-reaching effects. The Pine City story is told here in the faces of its people: the innovators who brought industry and commerce; generous people and institutions who have given back to the community in a variety of ways; participants in Pine City's thriving cultural life embracing a spectrum of interests and enthusiasms; and ordinary people living everyday lives who have done extraordinary things or had remarkable experiences. This book honors such individuals as the renowned Karla Nelsen, the world's most muscular woman; Anna Dickey Olesen, the first woman to break the glass ceiling and run for US Senate; and Shane Bauer's mom, Cindy Hickey, who worked diligently for more than two years to free her son from captivity in Iran, along with many other memorable people.

Cover image for Legendary Locals of Pine City, isbn: 9781467101196

Legendary Locals of Tippecanoe to Tipp City

9781467101592

$24.99

Lock 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.

Cover image for Legendary Locals of Tippecanoe to Tipp City, isbn: 9781467101592

Legendary Locals of Detroit

9781467100427

$24.99

Detroit sports a very uneven background. The city dates from 1701, when Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac planted the flag of New France, some 75 years before America became a nation. Almost two-thirds of Detroit's history was spent as little more than a frontier military outpost--home to French farmers and fur traders who shared the quarters with the soldiers. But as the 20th century arrived, the impact of the automobile roused the city from its slumber. Within a century's time, the industry set in motion by Henry Ford produced a skyrocketing population, a diverse mosaic of ethnic groups, and levels of culture and affluence rivaled by few other places. The literature of Joyce Carol Oates, the architecture of Albert Kahn, and the music fostered by Berry Gordy enriched life and created the "Paris of the Midwest." But growing pains were inevitable: growing racial instability culminated in the insurrection of 1967, inflicting deep wounds yet creating new opportunities for harmony and justice that were capitalized on by Rev. William Cunningham. Today, efforts continue to remove the tarnish from this corner of the "Rust Belt."