All Titles

Railroads and steel helped build the towns of Mahoningtown and New Castle, and then became a leading producer of tinplate and fireworks.

Founded in 1798, New Castle was a small borough located at the confluence of the Shenango River and Neshannock Creek. Mahoningtown, a small borough located just south of New Castle, was a thriving community founded in 1836. The two towns boasted flourishing industries, and in 1896, a trolley line was created to run between them. In 1898, Mahoningtown officially became the seventh ward of New Castle. By that time, New Castle was a third-class city, and railroads and steel were the area's major industries. Eventually many important products were manufactured here, including both Castleton and Shenango China, which were used in the White House. New Castle became known first as the tinplate capital of the world and, later, as the fireworks capital of the world. The stunning postcards featured in New Castle and Mahoningtown document the fusion of these two communities. Among the memorable views are the diverse scenery and amusements of Cascade Park and the parade for baseball manager Chuck Tanner, who led the Pittsburgh Pirates to their fifth World Series.

Philadelphia Neighborhoods is a compendium of historic views of the major residential sections of Philadelphia.

This book presents a snapshot into the past when old neighborhoods were not so old and when currently established ones were as yet new construction. Through the medium of postcards, readers are invited back to an era before automobiles dominated the streets, before many city roads were paved, and when the local grocery store was not located in a mall. Using chapters divided into subsections that detail the various regions of North, South, Southwest, and West Philadelphia, as well as the ""new"" Northeast Philadelphia, the author chronicles the vibrant, diverse communities that have helped shape the city's rich history.

Until the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825, Buffalo was a sleepy town. Access to an abundant supply of fresh water led to a thriving farming industry, provided a means of transportation, and powered mills and factories.

Adding to the hustle and bustle of the city's busy new harbor was Joseph Dart's local invention of the grain elevator. Buffalo's location on Lake Erie, and its growth during the second industrial revolution, helped the city become the eighth largest in America and established it as the Queen City. It has been home to future presidents and inventors who have influenced millions. The city's original radial street design, the layout of its parks, and its majestic architecture make Buffalo fascinating and unique.

Kennett Square features vintage photographs which document the history of this Baltimore community.

Kennett Square, the mushroom capital of the world, began its long history as a mere crossroads on the Philadelphia to Baltimore road in the early 18th century. With the arrival of the railroad in 1859, the area grew to become a major agricultural and manufacturing center. It also produced some noteworthy individuals, including author Bayard Taylor, New York Yankee Herb Pennock, and several inventors. Kennett Square highlights many postcard and photographic images from the period 1890 to 1930. Many of the buildings shown are now gone, but thanks to the golden age of postcards, Kennett Square's historic scenes can still be enjoyed.

From 1631 to the present, Old Orchard Beach has had a singularly rich history among New England's summer communities.

Old Orchard was originally a small seacoast farming community nestled on the shore of Saco Bay. When the railroad came in 1873, the coast exploded into one of the grandest Victorian settings in Maine. It boasted famous religious camp meetings, transatlantic flights, big bands, big fires, harness racing, and automobile racing on the beach. The Kennedy family, Bette Davis, Fred Allen, Rosa and Carmen Ponselle, Pierre Trudeau, and Charles Lindbergh all rejuvenated themselves in this community. Old Orchard Beach is still a vacation mecca, and residents and visitors alike will find enjoyment and education within these pages.

Author Daniel E. Blaney was born in Old Orchard Beach and still lives in the house he was born in. He has been a member of the Old Orchard Beach Historical Society since 1970 and has served as its president, vice president, trustee, and historian.

Sharing its name with a notorious ancient city, Babylon village has been the home harbor of Long Island baymen, a post–World War II suburban boomtown, and the birthplace of the nation's first professional black baseball team.

The modern village is well known for its picturesque Argyle Park and flourishing downtown, but it was once revered as a vacation resort destination for those near and far. The community has evolved from decades of residents, visitors, and experiences that have contributed to and created the history of Babylon village, one of the oldest established communities on the South Shore of Long Island.

Discover the history of these beautiful islands on the Gulf Coast and how they became the eminent destination for shell seekers worldwide.

Sanibel Island was opened to homesteading in 1888, four years after the Sanibel Island Light Station was completed, and boats ranging from steamers to schooners were drawn to the islands. The islands' prairie-like savannahs, where the threat of freeze was rare, were perfect for farming. Inns and hotels appeared to service newcomers who came to stake a homesteading claim, fish for silver king tarpon, or explore the tropical frontier. Others came seeking seashells, as Sanibel and Captiva Islands were legendary among shell collectors everywhere.

Postcard images from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century show historic scenes of the first city established in Pennsylvania.

From the late 19th century until the mid-20th century, Chester was a bustling hub of industry, historic sites, tourist attractions, and entertainment. The first city established in Pennsylvania, Chester was famous for its many mills. The area was also home to a major shipbuilding center, the Sun Ship Corporation, as well as other industries, including the Chester Brewery and Blue Naphtha brand soap. The postcards in Chester showcase historic scenes of the city and highlight the long history of this dynamic community.

The Chain O' Lakes has been one of Chicago's premier vacation spots since the 1880s. Witness its rich history in this collection of vintage postcards.

The nine major lake basins that make up the Chain O' Lakes region - Catherine, Channel, Grass, Bluff, Marie, Fox, Nippersink, Petite, and Pistakee - are all connected by the Fox River waterway and have, for over 100 years, been northern Illinois's leading destination for inland boaters, fishermen, picnickers, or those just hoping to relax and play at the beach. Luxurious mansions and swank resorts once dotted the more than 6,000 acres of shoreline. Many are gone today; some remain but have been vastly changed, but none are forgotten.

Captured here in over 200 vintage postcards are scenes from the chain's heyday, scenes that will seem at once faraway and familiar to the water-skiers, windsurfers, and other outdoor recreationists who populate the Chain O' Lakes today.

In its very early years, Butler County was a vast wilderness of untamed forests. The fi rst pioneers suffered insurmountable odds while scratching out an existence in this frontier west of the Allegheny River. With determination, they succeeded, and the 1800s brought the development of many towns from the scant settlements. Butler City, the county seat, was laid out in 1800, and many smaller towns followed suit. With the arrival of oil after the Civil War, the county grew. The railroads and trolley lines that expanded into the area furthered the growth and helped industries prosper. Butler County Revisited celebrates the history of the area with 200 postcards, including scenes of the Chicora Whip Factory, a Memorial Day parade in Evans City, the Buhl Trolley Trestle over Connoquenessing Creek, and a large bear wrestling his trainer on Bruin Street.

With a collection of nearly 240 vintage postcards, Rockford: 1920 and Beyond captures this dynamic, ever-changing era.

Rockford's economic boom of the early twentieth century continued into the Roaring Twenties, when Rockford's newly-erected skyscrapers symbolized the city's sky's the limit ambitions. But the good times came to a crashing halt with the arrival of the Great Depression in October 1929. With its longstanding blue collar industrial roots, Rockford would enjoy renewed and even greater prosperity as it readily capitalized on the World War II war effort and the post-war economic boom years. With a collection of nearly 240 vintage postcards, Rockford: 1920 and Beyond captures this dynamic, ever-changing era as Rockford transformed into Illinois' Second City. Inside, see now-familiar skyscrapers like the Rockford News Tower, Talcott Building, and Faust Hotel enliven Rockford's downtown skyline. Take a nostalgic trip to the Blackhawk Park Zoo and the Central Park and Kiddieland amusement parks. Watch post-war car culture change the face of the city with its drive-ins, shopping centers, and expressways. Witness the World War II revival of Rockford's storied Camp Grant. See the famed Wagon Wheel Resort in its high-flying, star-studded Hollywood heydays. Marvel at the destructive power of Rockford's deadly Cyclone of '28.

When Rome, Georgia, was founded in 1834, Col. Daniel R. Mitchell suggested the name because of the surrounding hills, much like those of ancient Rome.

Known today as ""The City of Seven Hills,"" Rome has been voted one of the most livable cities in the South. It is the medical center of Northwest Georgia with a population of over 30,000, and a thriving community with abundant opportunities for business, education, and recreation. Historic views of Rome, seen through the eyes of the traveling postcard photographer, fill the pages of this engaging volume. Longtime residents of the community will delight in remembering area landmarks, including the old Clock Tower, Shorter College, Berry College, Myrtle Hill Cemetery, the downtown business section of Broad Street, and the neighboring communities of Lindale and Cave Spring.

VIew images of a quintessential American town in this treasure trove of Cuyahoga, OH postcards.

Welcome to Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, a small American town that epitomizes America itself. With a history dating back to the rough decades when the land was a deep wilderness inhabited by natives and adventure-seeking Europeans, the town grew into an industrial juggernaut, weathered disasters, embraced inventiveness, and spearheaded progress. Between these covers readers will find a treasure trove of postcards from a colorful past. From grand old buildings and daily town life to the natural beauty and resources of the Cuyahoga River, the images in Postcard History Series: Cuyahoga Falls reflect memories of Americana and times long since past.

A fascinating journey through the history of Jacksonville, Florida with postcard images and anecdotes from the locals who experienced it.

Jacksonville's Consolidation of 1967marked the end of individual towns in Duval County, but it established Jacksonville, all 840 square miles of it, as the largest city in the continental United States.

Collectors and authors Andrew Bachmann and Maria E. Mediavilla, with the help of the historical society's Emily Lisska and local historian Dr. Wayne Wood, share their personal postcard collections and take readers on a captivating journey through Jacksonville's history. Featured are postcards that show the 1920s real estate boom and transportation across the St. Johns River. View postcards that document the ever-changing Hemming Plaza, a metamorphosis that continues even today. This second volume of vintage postcard images will give readers a deeper insight into Jacksonville's past and the great importance of historic preservation.

Jacksonville Revisitedis a visual and written documentation of how the city has grown and developed since the introduction of postcard communication. The changes in commerce and landscape are illustrated and preserved through postcards.

The Erie Canal was completed in 1825 and became the backbone of an economic and cultural explosion that defined the image of New York.

The canal's development spurred successful industry and a booming economy, sparking massive urban growth in an area that was previously virtually unexplored wilderness. People poured west into this new space, drawn by the ability to ship goods along the canal to the Hudson River, New York City, and the world beyond. Erie Canal is a compilation of 200 vintage images from the Erie Canal Museum's documentary collection of New York's canal system. Vintage postcards depict life and industry along the canal, including not only the Erie itself but also the lateral and feeder canals that completed the state-wide system.

Since 1835, when Ziba Beardsley declared, "The water is as clear as crystal,'? generations of people have enjoyed this small Illinois city's spring-fed lake.

The pages of this book take readers on a trip back through time to learn more about the twin towns of Nunda and Crystal Lake, and their eventual union. Meet some of Crystal Lake's first settlers, and discovered how early townspeople shaped the community. Trace the development of both Virginia Street and the historic downtown district through vintage street scenes. Some of the buildings shown in Crystal Lakewere removed long ago, yet others are still standing to serve as silent reminders of the community's rich and proud heritage.

The bustling multicultural borough of Flushing, Queen's early history is shared in this volume of photos and remembrances.

In 1645, English immigrants settled in Vlissengen, an area of Queens now known as Flushing. After bitter disagreements with Governor Stuyvesant over the issue of religious freedom, they produced the Flushing Remonstrance, one of the first public statements defending the separation of church and state. The village of Flushing was incorporated into the larger New York City area in 1898, and the community soon became famous for its beautiful tree-lined streets, a reminder of its rich horticultural heritage. The Bowne House, the First Quaker Meetinghouse, Kingsland Homestead, Flushing Town Hall, and St. George's Church are a few of the buildings known for their architectural merit and historic significance.

Along the Perkiomen provides a glimpse of the Perkiomen region's rich an interesting history.

The Perkiomen Creek is a picturesque stream that drains a major portion of western Montgomery County. It begins just beyond the northern borders of the county and travels south. The creek empties into the Schuylkill River at the county's lower border. The old Perkiomen Railroad closely followed the same path. Along the Perkiomen showcases postcards of the Perkiomen Valley in Montgomery County as it existed during the first half of the twentieth century. Readers will visit the villages and towns along the creek and others nearby. This visual journey is intended to provide a glimpse of the Perkiomen region's rich history.

Explore the rich history of Danvers, Massachusetts through its' twentieth-century postcard heritage.

From their introduction in the late nineteenth century, picture postcards have been a souvenir staple in every American community. These practical, yet collectable mailers promote local businesses and tourism, and celebrate historic and scenic localities.

Danvers, known as Salem Village during the infamous 1692 witch-hunt, became an independent town in the 1750s. By the twentieth century, local boosters spotlighted the town's rich architectural heritage, local institutions, and vibrant business district by producing a variety of postcard views. Ancient saltbox houses associated with the witchcraft days, eighteenth-century gambrel-roofed dwellings that sheltered Revolutionary Warpatriots, the mansion occupied by famed poet John Greenleaf Whittier, and the Danvers Insane Asylum, a majestic state-operated facility, were frequent postcard subjects.

Richard B. Trask has served as archivist of the town of Danvers since 1972. His love of history has led to restoration of his seventeenth-century home, membership in an eighteenth-century militia reenactment group, and numerous appearances on television. An acknowledged expert on the interpretation of historic photography, Trask has authored six books.

Calvert County documents the fascinating history of this

From its early Piscataway heritage to the advanced research laboratories of today, from the tobacco farms to the sandy beaches, Calvert County has had a fascinating and diverse past. Established in 1654, Calvert played a role in both the American Revolution and the Civil War. Hosting decades of vacationing beachgoers, the region has also been called home by the many who, for centuries, have built their lives on the bounty of the Chesapeake Bay.

Though little more than an afterthought these days, from the 1890s through the 1920s, postcards were by far the most popular means of communication.

Many of the postcards produced during this "golden age'? can be considered works of art, when postcard photographers traveled the nation coast to coast snapping photographs of busy street scenes, documenting local landmarks, and taking photographic portraits of locals only too happy to pose for the camera. These images, printed as postcards and sold in general stores across the country, helped drive the Florida land boom of the early 20th century, with people all over the country seeing the sandy beaches and palm trees in the sun, and these surviving postcards can teach us important aspects of yesteryear that we may not find in history books.

The book also explores how postcard images helped create and perpetuate myths about the "Wild West," and how South Dakotans accepted and adapted those myths. Included are scenes of farming, ranching, industry, and small-town life from the early-1900s. While postcards pictured busy streets, town festivals, and new civic improvements, they also captured periodic disasters-natural and man made. Postcards show the development of important tourist sites from their earliest years, including the Black Hills, Badlands, Corn Palace and Mount Rushmore. Residents and tourists alike will enjoy seeing South Dakota before interstates and billboards took over.

Perkasie, named after William Penn's country manor in Upper Bucks County, was a boomtown that sprang up along the North Pennsylvania Railroad in the late 1870s.

From the 1880s to the 1920s, Perkasie grew rapidly, becoming a transportation and cultural center and drawing crowds with commerce, industry, summer retreats, and even an amusement park. Through nearly 200 vintage postcards, Perkasie chronicles the expansion of this once small town as well as its impact on neighboring rural communities such as Rockhill, Bedminster, and Silverdale. The postcards in this book re-create a visual memory of the economic and social changes that worked to shape this dynamic community.

Revealed in vintage postcards, this new book features a history of Fredericksburg, VA from 1728 to the present.

The city of Fredericksburg, situated on the Rappahannock River, was established in 1728 and was named for Prince Frederick of England. Today it is home to the University of Mary Washington, where civil rights leader James L. Farmer Jr. was a faculty member and Claudia Emerson, 2006 Pulitzer Prize winner for poetry, continues to be on the faculty. Though very much a modern urban city, Fredericksburg still has a historic downtown district and surrounding military parks that remind locals and visitors alike of its humble beginnings as a Colonial port town more than a century before it was ravaged during the Civil War.

Rare and vintage images act as postcards, telling the fascinating stories of Monmouth County, New Jersey.

From the 1890s through the 1930s, the postcard was an extraordinarily popular means of communication, and many of the postcards produced were works of art. Postcard photographers traveled the length and breadth of the nation snapping photos of busy street scenes, documenting local landmarks, and assembling crowds of local children only too happy to pose for a picture. These images, printed as postcards and sold in general stores across the country, survive as telling reminders of an important era in America's history. This fascinating new history of Monmouth County showcases more than two hundred of the best postcards available of this region of New Jersey.

Though little more than an afterthought these days, from the 1890s through the 1920s, postcards were by far the most popular means of communication.

Many of the postcards produced during this "golden age'? can be considered works of art, when postcard photographers traveled the nation coast to coast snapping photographs of busy street scenes, documenting local landmarks, and taking photographic portraits of locals only too happy to pose for the camera. This fascinating history of Northeast Georgia showcases more than 200 of the best vintage postcards available; these images, printed as postcards and sold in general stores across the country, can teach us important aspects of yesteryear that we may not find in history books.

Northern Chester County follows a path of progress and preservation in an area often referred to as "the New Main Line." Starting out in the late 19th century, vintage postcards illustrate the area's transformation from pastoral countryside to a much-sought-after suburban locale. Look through a window into the past and see Simpson's General Store in Lionville, the Paoli Inn on Lancaster Avenue, and the French Creek Falls Hotel in St. Peter's Village.

Shortly after settlement began along Chautauqua Lake, steamboats furnished transportation and the first hotel catered to visiting hunters and fishermen.

Families escaping the summers in the city soon followed to enjoy the cool, healthy air. Chautauqua Institution and Point Chautauqua both began as religious assembly grounds. Celoron Park, often called the ""Coney Island of the West,"" and later Midway Park provided entertainment for families and attracted thousands of visitors who traveled by trolley and steamboat in the summer. Local residents and visitors alike enjoyed the parks, picnic groves, and assorted resorts along the lake. A century later, fish are still caught, boats still ply the waters, and families continue to enjoy everything Chautauqua Lake has to offer.

This collection of vintage postcards of Kauai spans 100 years, beginning with Hawaii's annexation and Kauai's history as a tourist destination.

Postcards bring back the history of Kauai from the earliest visitors, arriving first by sailing vessel and then steamers to the infancy of air travel. Surely some of the people who saw these postcards for the first time thought there must be a good amount of artistic license being taken--surely this little slice of paradise was too good to be true! As droves of tourists descended upon the island from mainland United States and all across the world, they realized if anything, the postcards couldn't capture Hawaii's real beauty. Viewing these vintage postcards, the reader will be reminded of the glory years of the Kauai Surf, the Coco Palms, and the Hanalei Plantation, showing many other favorite landmarks that have been lost to time and Mother Nature.

Jersey City in Vintage Postcards features selected postcard images, some actual photographs, that depict Jersey City's early-twentieth-century rise.

Jersey City in Vintage Postcards features selected postcard images, some actual photographs, that depict Jersey City's early-twentieth-century rise as one of the Northeast's great urban areas. Many of the views seen here remained intact into the 1940s and 1950s. More than two hundred thirty postcards and photographs, organized geographically, also suggest an evolving Jersey City, while well researched captions describe the changing cityscape.

View the resort town of Hot Springs, Arkansas from 1900-1960 in postcard images.

From the 1890s to the 1920s, the postcard was an extraordinarily popular means of communication, and many of the postcards produced during this golden age can today be considered works of art. Early in the century, Hot Springs was among the most noted resorts in the nation. Its Victorian wonders drew thousands of visitors to partake in the hot mineral waters that bubbled from the earth. In the words written on one card in 1910, Many people of wealth are here from Chicago and New York. Uncle Billy went to the horse show ball at the Eastman Hotel with an ex-wife of a millionaire. Andrew Carnegie and young Jay Gould were at the ball.  Showcased in this fascinating collection are over two hundred postcards from 1900 to 1960. The images are accompanied by the actual penned messages of visitors and extensively researched historical facts.

Vintage and historical postcards document the fascinating history of South Central Kentucky.

Postcards from the early twentieth century reveal much about America's past, portraying almost every subject imaginable and offering modern readers a snapshot glimpse of life in days gone by. The collection within these pages explores the history of Adair, Barren, Green, Hart, and Taylor Counties, documenting the people and places, the lifestyles and landmarks of the South Central region of the Bluegrass State. From the evolution of transportation in Kentucky to such varied activities as wheat threshing, molasses production, and even ""moonshining,"" the images captured on these cards are of great social and historical significance. Rare glimpses of churches, schools, hotels, and businesses that no longer stand make this a must-see for present-day residents of the area.

View evocative and historical images in postcards from the early days of Detroit.

Postcard photographers traveled the length and breadth of the nation snapping photographs of busy street scenes, documenting local landmarks, and assembling crowds of neighborhood children only too happy to pose for a picture. These images, printed as postcards and sold in general stores across the country, survive as telling reminders of an important era in America's history.

McKeesport documents the rich and interesting history of this unique community.

McKeesport's location at the junction of the Youghiogheny and Monongahela Rivers facilitated shipping and transportation for the early coal and steel industries. Multiple large manufacturers were located here, including the National Tube Works, the American Tin Plate Company, Firth Sterling, and the D.L. Clark Candy Company. McKeesport's downtown supported numerous theaters, banks, stores, schools, churches, and civic organizations. In the first half of the 20th century, the population increased dramatically, and McKeesport was a growing, thriving city.

Through vintage postcards, The Rockaways captures the history and charm of this seaside community.

The Rockaway Peninsula, also known as the Rockaways, is located off Long Island, within the borough of Queens. Its remoteness from Manhattan has made it a popular retreat and has provided an out-of-the-way area for families looking to relocate and live by the sea. The Rockaway's became a popular area for seaside hotels beginning in the 1830s, and its popularity grew with the coming of the Long Island Rail Road in the 1880s. In 1893, Hog Island, a resort known for entertaining Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall, sank into the sea. Located a few miles east of Breezy Point, and also known as Rockaway Island, the entire island disappeared during a storm. The Rockaways was also the home of Rockaway's Playland, a world renowned amusement park from 1901 to 1985. Through vintage postcards, The Rockaways captures the history and charm of this seaside community.

Take a fascinating journey through the history of Clinton County, New York with more than 200 vintage photographs and anecdotes from the locals who experienced it.

Situated south of Montreal and north of the Adirondacks, Clinton County boasts beautiful lake and mountain vistas.

Residents of the county, through 13 history museums and historical associations, celebrate their heritage, taking particular care to note early settlers who came south from Canada and north from the capital region. The county's history includes a long military tradition with a citizen's military training camp and Plattsburgh Air Force Base; an active industrial culture that started with iron ore production and continued with the making of various consumer products, such as automobiles, boats, train cars, and paper products; and a vibrant agricultural heritage based on dairy farming, apple orchards, and maple syrup production. Tourism joined industry and agriculture as a significant economic factor in the county's life.

Anastasia L. Pratt is a mentor at SUNY Empire State College and the Clinton County historian. Using images from the historian's office and from various local collections, she chose postcards that illustrate the county's varied work and home life, telling the story of a county that is incredibly interested and invested in its history.