Name: Legendary Locals of Grand Rapids
Brand: Norma Lewis
SKU: 9781467100236
Price: 24.99 USD
Availability: InStock

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

Holt and Delhi Township

9781467110099

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

The history of Delhi Charter Township and the unincorporated community of Holt is remembered with historical photographs that show the changes over the years. Holt once seemed like a country town, as farmland and woodlots separated it from Lansing; however, many current residents may not recall that era. North Cemetery on Miller Road was annexed by the City of Lansing in the early 1960s. Heavy development changed the land along Cedar Street, and even the expansive Kahres farm with the best corn growing land succumbed to commercialism. Even businesses changed, with the loss of the Hartley Grocery and the delightful Country Kitchen Restaurant. Much of the forgotten history of the area, including Miller Road and Maple Grove, can be found in the attics or boxes of longtime residents. Images of America: Holt and Delhi Township showcases many fine photographs for readers to enjoy.

Cover image for Holt and Delhi Township, isbn: 9781467110099

Soaring and Gliding

9780738540719

$24.99

To fly as the hawk and eagle has been mankind's dream for centuries.
Modern sailplanes make soaring and gliding flight possible, and with them, humans can fly higher, faster, and farther than the greatest of birds, using only an invisible force of nature to stay aloft. The terms soaring and gliding are used interchangeably, and the sport is appealing to pilot and spectator alike. Sailplane enthusiasts have always been explorers, always looking for a more ideal site that will provide the intellectual challenges of soaring as well as the sheer beauty and relaxation the sport can offer. Michigan-based glider pilots and designers found their soaring paradise in the early 1930s when they ventured north to the Sleeping Bear Dunes area. The explorers began to promote the sport to national and international prominence, and many came to make up a veritable who's who of American aeronautics. Over a century after Octave Chanute discovered motorless flight on the Lake Michigan dunes, sailplanes, hang gliders, and paragliders still fill the skies.

Saginaw

9780738561196

$24.99

Saginaw is the hub of mid-Michigan and had its beginnings in the 1820s with the establishment of Fort Saginaw near present-day Court and Hamilton Streets. Owing to the lumber industry, two separate cities developed along the banks of the Saginaw River: the west side city of Saginaw and East Saginaw. Intense rivalry resulted in rapid population growth and many civic improvements for both. Consolidation of the Saginaws occurred in 1890, and continued prosperity followed the ebb and flow of the lumber and automotive industries.

Fenton

9780738560755

$24.99

The idea of a postcard book illustrating the history of Fenton was conceived as a fitting way to celebrate Fenton's 175th anniversary in 2009. Clark Dibble came to the area in 1834 and called his settlement Dibbleville. Dibble later sold his share in the community to William Fenton and Robert Leroy, but the historical district has since been called Dibbleville and is still known as such today. Fenton boasts many historical homes, churches, and businesses. Fenton was home to the first aviation school in Michigan and was the headquarters for the Portland Cement Company. Andrew Jackson Phillips built his factory in Fenton, as well as four homes along Shiawassee Avenue. Phillips left his office to the city for use as a library.

Otsego

9780738561615

$24.99

Otsego has a rich and storied past as one of the earliest settlements in southwest Michigan. Founded in 1831, its character has been shaped by a history filled with agriculture, tourism, fascinating people, and remarkable commerce--particularly the manufacturing of paper. Otsego has seen the rise and fall and recent rebirth of the local papermaking industry, and it is now poised to progress through the 21st century with a renewed sense of vigor.

Detroit's Historic Water Works Park

9780738593630

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Detroit's Historic Water Works Park takes the reader on a nostalgic trip back to when it was possible to see beyond the horizon from the top of the tallest freestanding structure in the Americas. At one time, Water Works Park's colorful, stunningly beautiful, and varied floral displays were reason enough for thousands of people to travel hundreds of miles or more to Detroit. In addition to its primary function as a source of high-quality drinking water for Detroit and neighboring communities since 1879, Water Works Park was a popular place of rest, reflection, and recreation. At one time, its popularity among Detroiters and visitors to the city was exceeded only by Belle Isle, the city's big island playground in the Detroit River.

Newaygo County

9780738541150

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Pioneers in Newaygo County were motivated by the call of adventure and a chance to make a fortune in the vast wilderness. The first settlers came to lumber the virgin white pine that grew in the Newaygo forests. The Muskegon River flowed through the region and, along with the White River and many creeks and lakes, offered a major waterway to float logs to Lake Michigan. As early as 1837, Newaygo loggers were floating logs to market, becoming large contributors to the lumbering industry. Lumber from Newaygo County was used to rebuild Chicago after the Great Fire of 1871. In 1851, legislature gave Newaygo independence to form a county and Newaygo County entered a growth spurt that continues to this day. With the coming of the railroad in 1872 and a rapid increase in population, small settlements started popping up. As areas became logged out, many of these settlements died and have been long forgotten; many others remained and thrive today. Newaygo County: 1850-1920 preserves the history of these settlements and the people who built them.

Cover image for Newaygo County, isbn: 9780738541150

Copper Country Streetcars

9780738599861

$24.99

During the early 1900s, copper mining was at its peak in the Copper Country of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Numerous communities sprang up throughout the region, but travel between towns was difficult as the roads were not paved and became impassable during the winter months when over 200 inches of snow would inundate the area. The poor travel conditions and boom period in the Copper Country were instrumental factors that resulted in the construction of a streetcar line to serve the area. Service began in 1900, and the network was extended several times over the next few years. Ridership peaked in 1910, when over six million passengers rode the system; however, it declined in the 1920s as automobiles became more popular, roads were improved, and the copper boom subsided. Service finally ended in 1932. It is a fascinating history that surprises many of today's residents that streetcars operated in the area.

Cover image for Copper Country Streetcars, isbn: 9780738599861

Maltese in Detroit

9780738583372

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Most Maltese immigrants came to the United States during the first decades of the 20th century after the discharge of skilled workers from the Royal British Dockyard in 1919 following the end of World War I. More than 1,300 Maltese came to the United States in the first quarter of 1920. Many people found work in the automobile industry, and with about 5,000 residents, Detroit had the largest Maltese population in the United States. Maltese in Detroit focuses on the many people of Maltese descent who made their homes in Detroit's Corktown area. By the mid-1920s, it is believed that more than 15,000 Maltese had settled in the United States. After World War II , the Maltese government launched a program to pay passage for Maltese willing to immigrate and remain abroad for at least two years. By the mid-1990s, an estimated more than 70,000 Maltese immigrants and descendants were living in the United States, with the largest single community in Detroit and its surrounding suburbs.

Electric Trolleys of Washtenaw County

9780738561363

$24.99

Electric streetcars and interurbans appeared in Washtenaw County in the 1890s. Evolved from horse-drawn streetcars, electric cars were ideal for public transportation. They were cheap, fast, and went to plenty of places. The system developed around Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, branching out to Detroit to the east and Jackson to the west. Bigger and better equipment was added, and larger companies took over the small ones. In western Washtenaw County, two interurban railways engaged in a struggle for survival. Occasionally the interurbans crashed into buildings or one another, with disastrous results. Electric Trolleys of Washtenaw County explains how electric mass transportation flourished starting in the 1890s, why it bloomed, and why it suddenly became extinct after only a few decades.

Cover image for Electric Trolleys of Washtenaw County, isbn: 9780738561363

Metro Detroit Boxing

9780738518879

$24.99

Boxing seemed to spring up in Detroit as early as 1900: heavyweight champ Jim Jeffries and future heavyweight champ Tommy Burns fought that year. With the emergence of Joe Louis in the 1930s and Thomas Mearns in the late 1970s, Motown enjoyed surges of interest in the sport. At the dawn of a new millenium, the presence of three casinos has given the sport another revival of interest in the city.

Metro Detroit Boxing showcases over 180 photographs that reveal not only the personalities who have enlivened the sport in the Detroit area, but also the places in which boxers, trainers, managers, and promoters fought, trained, lived, worked, and recreated. Photographs include where Joe Louis went to school, trained, and fought. Various boxing celebrities, including Muhammad Ali, are caught for the camera, socializing with eminent politicians and other figures of the day.

Cover image for Metro Detroit Boxing, isbn: 9780738518879

Kalamazoo

9781467113779

$24.99

Kalamazoo experienced a dramatic transformation during the first decades of the 20th century. Its factories churned out a wide variety of products, and the downtown area was being rapidly transformed by the addition of new skyscraper office buildings, hotels, department stores, theaters, parks, and government buildings. These turn-of-the-century developments coincided with the popularity of picture postcards. Not only did postcards offer a convenient way to send brief messages across the country, they also provided a means to show off the city and its landmarks. When viewed today, they offer a valuable record of the city's built environment.

Cover image for Kalamazoo, isbn: 9781467113779

Chaldean Iraqi American Association of Michigan

9781467127622

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The Chaldean Iraqi American Association of Michigan, more commonly known as CIAAM, was not simply an association of just a group of early immigrants who escaped prosecution or were merely looking for better life for their family and loved ones. They were indeed good-hearted individuals who strived to build a solid foundation for a well-rounded community in this new land for the immigrants, the United States of America. The CIAAM exemplifies the success of immigrants that have migrated to Detroit from Iraq, providing a place for social gatherings, community discussions, family celebrations, and education to those yearning to learn more about the Chaldeans of Mesopotamia, their successful migration to America, and the contributions they are making in Michigan. Today, CIAAM has more than 900 active families as members, strengthening the recreational, social, and business bonds among the large family of Michigan Chaldeans.

Cover image for Chaldean Iraqi American Association of Michigan, isbn: 9781467127622

Western Michigan Football

9780738540887

$24.99

From its beginnings as a small teaching college in Kalamazoo to becoming a major program in a state full of major college football programs, Western Michigan University boasts a unique and storied gridiron history. Celebrating 100 years of football action, the Western Michigan University Broncos have faced some of the greatest names in sports, including the Four Horsemen of Notre Dame, the Michigan Wolverines, and their arch nemesis from Central Michigan. Year after year, the Broncos have risen to the challenge. Starting life as the Hilltoppers, Western Michigan University saw many great moments, including a record-setting 62-yard fi eld goal by the legendary George Gipp. The powerful 1922 team went undefeated and unscored upon. As the program grew, they put many celebrated players of their own into national prominence, including Jason Babin, Pro Bowl star John Offerdahl, and Super Bowl player Tom Nutten.

Cover image for Western Michigan Football, isbn: 9780738540887

The Original Battle Creek Crime King

9781467119290

$21.99

Adam Pump Arnold was both feared and regaled in Victorian- era Battle Creek. He was a bootlegger and a pimp, a robber and a con artist, an arsonist and a loan shark and even an assassin. Arnold faced off with the city over illegal liquor sales and flaunted his victory with a life-size statue of the mayor dressed as a hobo. Called the greatest criminal in the history of Battle Creek, Arnold was convicted in a captivating public trial for the murder of his own son. Join authors Blaine Pardoe and Victoria Hester as they explore the life and misdeeds of the unabashed criminal mastermind who rocked Battle Creek to its core.

Cover image for The Original Battle Creek Crime King, isbn: 9781467119290

Detroit's Mexicantown

9780738578026

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Detroit's Mexicantown offers readers a glimpse into this rich and cultural community's beginnings.

Mexican immigrants began to settle in Detroit at the beginning of the 20th century. They were attracted by the jobs available in the automobile industry and the rest of the rapidly expanding industrial base. Like other immigrant ethnic groups, Mexicans came to Detroit intent on providing a better life, and future, for their families. They opened businesses like specialty grocery and retail stores, barbershops, and restaurants. They bought homes, educated their children, served in all branches of the military, and became model Americans. What they brought to Detroit were family values, faith, and a strong work ethic. Detroit's Mexicantown offers a glimpse into when and where the community started.

Dutch Heritage in Kent and Ottawa Counties

9780738560281

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

On February 9, 1847, Rev. Albertus C. Van Raalte chose a site on Michigan's Black River and founded what became Holland. Motivated in part by a potato famine and crop failures, the settlers also sought religious freedom. Other countrymen followed, leaving an indelible mark on the character of southwest Michigan. Jan Douma and Matteus Notier, Union soldiers from Graafschap, guarded the bier of slain president Abraham Lincoln. Newbery Medal-winning children's author Meindert DeJong came from Grand Rapids, as did Caldecott Medalist Chris Van Allsburg. The legacy includes Hope, Calvin, and Kuyper Colleges, the world-class Fredrik Meijer Gardens and Sculpture Park, the Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center at Spectrum Hospital, DeVos Performance Hall, Van Andel Arena, the DeGraaf Nature Center, Windmill Island, Dutch Village, and Veldheer's Tulip Gardens. The Dutch forefathers passed their values on to their progeny to make the area what it is today.

Dutch Heritage in Kent and Ottawa Counties

Plymouth's First Century

9780738519876

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

The year 2002 marks the 175th anniversary of the founding of Plymouth Township in Michigan Territory. The first settlers were true pioneers, carving a living out of the wilderness and working together to establish a community. Farms and farmers were the backbone of the community until after the Civil War when two railroads intersected in the Village of Plymouth. The railroads brought many opportunities to the area, and helped spread the products invented by an innovative population.

Plymouth, Michigan's First Century: Innovators and Industry contains more than 200 images from the Plymouth Historical Museum and from the collections of some of Plymouth's current residents. You'll see the township blossom from farms and mills to a cohesive community of inventors and patriots. Early images of the main business block of Plymouth Village are reminiscent of the Wild West; later images depict a vibrant community, as it remains today.

Cover image for Plymouth's First Century, isbn: 9780738519876

Cadillac Vintage Postcard Memories

9780738520032

$24.99

Embark upon a journey back in time to both memorable and forgotten scenes of Cadillac from the early 1900s to the 1950s. Enjoy a casual stroll down Mitchell Street, pause in front of elegant homes, and meander along the peaceful shores of Lake Cadillac and Lake Mitchell. This collection of over 220 postcards and images illustrates Cadillac's past as a once-booming lumber town and commercial center against the backdrop of the surrounding lakes and pine forests.

The Romeo Peach Festival

9780738540597

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In 1813, Michael Bowerman built a cabin two miles south of what later became Romeo. Bowerman carried a small number of peach pits from his father's farm in New York, introducing the popular fruit to Macomb County and establishing the roots of today's Westview Orchards. In 1931, hoping for an economic boost, area orchard managers convinced village president Edward Jacob to create a festival. Jacob embraced the idea and traveled to northern Michigan to study the Michigan Cherry Festival in Traverse City. Upon his return, the first annual peach festival was held with much success with the cooperation of local merchants. Held on Labor Day weekend in Romeo, and called the Romeo Peach Festival by the locals, the Michigan Peach Festival has been sponsored by the Lions Club since 1951 and is the second-oldest festival in the state. In honor of the 75th anniversary, a collection of over 200 photographs has been assembled, including images of Peach Queens, the Floral Parade, and the surrounding orchards.

Mount Clemens, Bath City U.S.A. in Vintage Postcards

9780738508290

$24.99

The "Bath Era" of Mount Clemens is but a memory; however, that rich history still lives through the images on vintage postcards. The fabulous Park, Medea, Arethusa, Colonial, Clementine, Olympia, Eureka, and St. Joseph are among the bath houses featured here with the hotels that catered to the needs of their bathers. Travel back to the days when sipping water at the Springs, enjoying the thrills of Leap the Dips, and cruising the local waterways were normal pastimes.

Mount Clemens, Bath City U.S.A. in Vintage Postcards

Algoma Township

9781467114165

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Algoma Township was established by the Michigan Legislature on March 15, 1849, and named in honor of the steamer Algoma, which ran a route on the nearby Grand River in 1848. The township's earliest settlers included the Lapham, Davis, Helsel, Morningstar, and Porter families, among others. Early residents logged and farmed the area's land; today, these traditions continue. The Powell and Bowler farms are just two local examples of Centennial Farms (farms that have been owned and operated by the same family for more than 100 years). Other groups—including the Algoma Grange No. 751, United Brethren Church, and small rural schools—helped to establish a community in Algoma even without it having an independent town center. As a result, Algoma grew beyond its humble beginnings and Native American name that translates to fields of wild roses. The treasured stories and images presented in this collection aim to highlight Algoma Township's development and the hardworking people who call the township home.

Cover image for Algoma Township, isbn: 9781467114165

Roseville

9781467114561

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Contrary to popular notion (and the city's street and welcome signs, which feature an iconic rose bloom), Roseville is not named after the flower but after Denison Rose, a hero of the War of 1812. His son William Rose was named the first postmaster in 1836. Roseville incorporated as a village in 1926 and as a city in 1958. Known as a bedroom community because of its location halfway between Detroit and Mount Clemens, the city reached its maximum population in 1970. Today, Roseville is experiencing a major commercial boom that includes a renovation of Macomb Mall, one of the first malls in the country.

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.

Eastpointe

9780738531755

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Known today as "A Family Town," the city of Eastpointe, Michigan possesses a vibrant history and a unique heritage. This book showcases over 220 historic images, including rare plat maps, to document Eastpointe's growth and development throughout the past two centuries. Eastpointe, Michigan serves as a visual tour of the area's rural roots and urban progress, from the 1830s, when immigrants began to settle in the region, through the present day, when it thrives as a multi-ethnic suburb of Detroit. In these pages, discover Eastpointe's founding families, its notable historic homes and businesses, and its evolution from an agricultural hamlet into a celebrated suburban community.

Plymouth

9780738560588

$24.99

As the home to Native American encounters, rugged pioneers, governors, state legislators, founders of political parties, landmark legal decisions, multimillionaires, scandals, patents, and the largest international business of its kind, Plymouth has certainly received its 15 minutes of fame. Yet most citizens of Plymouth today only know it as a wonderful community full of parks, subdivisions, and a quaint Norman Rockwell-like downtown.

Bedford Township

9780738534213

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Located in southeast Michigan, Bedford Township is Toledo, Ohio's largest suburb. It has been widely recognized as the garden spot of Monroe County and is a great place to raise children. Emerging out of Erie Township in 1836, Bedford Township grew from a group of 60 pioneering families, many of whom still have descendants in the area. Bedford encompasses the three unincorporated villages of Lambertville, Samaria, and Temperance. All have developed a strong sense of local pride, manifested in various annual events including homecomings, trade fairs, and school and family reunions. Bedfordians who have achieved wide recognition include ballplayer LeRoy "Bud" Parmelee, "Brighten the Corner" hymnist Ina Duley Ogdon, bus safety-mirror inventor Reid Stout, artist Howard J. Schuler, World War II hero Ensign Harry Lee Corl, and Sens. Norm Shinkle and Bev Hammerstrom. We invite you to browse these pages, noting family names--if your friends or relatives are mentioned, enjoy renewed acquaintances. Next time you are back home check out our Local History Room in the grand new Bedford Branch of the Monroe County Library, where you may find your ancestors on the shelves.

Livonia Preserved

9780738541136

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Livonia Preserved: Greenmead and Beyond tells the story of Greenmead and the Livonia Historical Village and other historic resources through photographs and other ephemera. The story begins with Livonia's earliest attempts to preserve its history at Quaker Acres, how it came into being, and the buildings that were moved to the site. These early efforts were expanded to a 100-acre farm complex-called Greenmead-acquired by the city in 1976. In addition to stories surrounding the Greenmead Historical Park, Livonia Preserved features other interesting structures and sites, such as Henry Ford's Newburg Mill, the Wilson Barn, the Felician Motherhouse, historic cemeteries, and private homes. Each of these represents a unique piece of Livonia history.

Salem Township

9780738577272

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Before white settlers came to the area that is now Salem Township, Potawatomi Indians hunted and fished in a forest filled with abundant wildlife. The settlers cleared the trees to work the land and built a lumber mill along Little Rabbit River. Salem was primarily a farming community carved out by hardworking pioneers. Four towns were established to serve this farming community: Diamond Springs to the south, New Salem to the north, and Burnips Corners and Salem Center (now known as Burnips) in the center. In 1855, Salem Township separated from Monterey Township; then, in the 1930s, the discovery of oil brought financial relief to Salem farm families who struggled to maintain their farms. A new wave of residents came to settle in the Salem area as men seeking work in the oil fields brought their families to the community.

Victory Township

9780738551425

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Founded two years after the end of the Civil War, the township's name heralded the Union victory. Blanketed with a variety of hardwoods and some white pine stands of timber, Victory Township was an untamed wilderness when the first settlers arrived. The first pioneers homesteaded in the southwest corner of the township near the Lincoln River. Soon the community of Victory Corners began to emerge and with its growth, aspiration to become the seat of government for Mason County. Until the railroad came to Ludington, this settlement was a legitimate contender. Immigrants, particularly Scandinavians, constituted a larger and next wave of settlers. These new residents tended to cluster, given their common culture and relationships. The Danish settlement became one of the most recognized places in the township. Farming became a way of life while ethnicity gave way to Americanization and Victory Township developed a strong sense of community. This illustrated history extends through the end of World War II when the boys came home and the forces of industrial growth reshaped the rural landscape. Each community had its unique character, yet this township is reflective of the experiences of many rural people in the Midwest.

Wayne Fire Department

9780738532783

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

The Wayne Fire Department was founded in 1911 as a volunteer fire department with 12 firemen. In 1928, the Village of Wayne purchased its first pumper and started a full-time fire department. The Wayne-Nankin Fire Department was formed in 1942, only to be divided again when the Village of Wayne became the City of Wayne in 1960. In all, this organization has served the community for 94 years. Through rare photographs and detailed historical information, this book documents nearly a century of the Wayne Fire Department's dedicated service.

Saginaw in Vintage Postcards

9780738532936

$24.99

Because of its excellent river system, Saginaw developed from an Indian village into a bustling lumber town. In its early days, investors came from eastern cities and became wealthy lumber barons. They built beautiful mansions, hotels, and public buildings while they also supported civic projects. Before consolidating, there were two cities: East Saginaw and Saginaw City, separated by the Saginaw River. Many German societies, schools, and churches were organized in the area, due to the large number of residents with a German heritage. The early residents survived fires, floods, and the end of the lumber boom. Other industries developed and the city continued to grow. The rare postcards that appear in this book depict many historical buildings, the two separate cities, the German influence, and the philanthropy of the lumber barons. Join author Roberta Morey on a journey through Saginaw's rich industrial and cultural history.

Westland

9780738532684

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

In May of 1825, Reverend Marcus Swift traveled along the middle branch of the Rouge River until he found a place he thought was close to heaven. Soon streets, homes, and businesses were established as more pioneers arrived in Nankin Township. In 1963, the J.L. Hudson Company chose Nankin Township as the site of a new shopping mall called Westland. When the mall became a target for annexation, residents joined forces to create their own city. Thus, the city of Westland was born. Through rare photographs drawn from various sources, this book takes readers on a journey through nearly 200 years of local history, from the death of Chief Tonquish to the present day.

Ecorse

9781467112093

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

French explorers called the Ecorse River the "river of bark," or Ecorces, because the Huron Indians who lived in the villages surrounding it wrapped their dead in the bark of the birch trees that grew along its banks. White pioneers settled on French ribbon farms along the Detroit River, and a small village called Grandport sprang up where the Ecorse River met the Detroit River. By 1836, Grandport, now known as Ecorse, had grown into a fishing and farming center, and, by the 1900s Ecorse had gained fame as a haven for bootleggers during Prohibition, an important shipbuilding center, and the home of several championship rowing teams.

Manistique

9780738560380

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Manistique, as with many towns in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, became a boomtown as interest in natural resources made its westward movement. The area was first populated by Native Americans and occasional fur traders. Fr. Frederic Baraga made his appearance in the early 1800s bringing Christianity, but development of the area did not begin until the latter part of the 1800s. With the eastern United States' timber gone, Manistique was discovered in the 1870s and the timber rush began. Until the early 1900s, Manistique was a boomtown with sawmills, subsidiary companies, and supporting merchants and services. Once the timber was cut, the companies moved westward to find more timber and Manistique was left behind. As time went along in the last century, Manistique retained a few industries, but its primary focus has become serving as a mecca for tourism.

Cover image for Manistique, isbn: 9780738560380

Jacktown

9781467135238

$21.99

Competing with the likes of Detroit and Ann Arbor, Jackson won the battle to build Michigan's first state prison in 1838. During the era of the Big House and industrial growth, the penitentiary's on-site factories and cheap inmate labor helped Jackson become a thriving manufacturing city. In contrast to Jacktown's beautiful Greco-Roman exterior, medieval punishments, a strict code of silence, no heat, no electricity and a lack of plumbing defined life on the inside. Author Judy Gail Krasnow shares the incredible stories of life at Jacktown, replete with sadistic wardens, crafty escapees, Prohibition's Purple Gang, a chaplain who ran a brothel and influential reformers.

Cover image for Jacktown, isbn: 9781467135238

Grand Rapids in Vintage Postcards

9780738539508

$24.99

Explore the rich history of Grand Rapids, Michigan through its' nineteenth and twentieth-century postcard heritage.

Grand Rapids, Michigan, began to take shape when settlers found power, transportation, and abundant natural resources on the banks of the Grand River.

A gateway to the settlement of western and northern Michigan in the mid- to late 19th century, Grand Rapids became home to a fledgling cottage industry in the manufacture of furniture. In the decades that followed, the furniture industry brought employment and prosperity to the city, and significantly influenced its physical landscape and character.

The history of Grand Rapids during the late 19th and early 20th centuries has been documented in the postcards of the period. Hundreds of scenes of buildings and institutions, and the people who lived, worked, and played here were recorded on these cards.

Milan

9780738577012

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

John Marvin started the town of Milan in 1831 by placing a two-story log building beside a dirt Native American trail. The Saline River was just a few steps away. About that time, Native Americans were either moving to reservations west of Michigan or blending in with the melting pot. Milan and its neighboring communities, such as Azalia, Paint Creek, and Mooreville, grew quickly with the influx of settlers from out East. Shoemakers arrived, along with grocers, flour mills, and even cheese factories. The Milan Area Historical Society holds a treasure trove of photographs, maps, and drawings showing the heritage in and around Milan. One of its citizens was nationally known for his scale inventions. Other citizens achieved notoriety for pulling off a stock scam in New York promoting the Electric Sugar Refining Company. Two magnificent homes near Milan were built with sugar money.

Cover image for Milan, isbn: 9780738577012

Hamtramck

9780738577357

$24.99

Few towns in America have undergone a transformation like Hamtramck. From a farming community of 3,500 people in 1910, it became an industrial powerhouse of 48,000 by 1920. Much of that early history is gone, but much remains-some remnants of an age of iron and smoke and some transformed into buildings with a functional modern use.

Baseball at the University of Michigan

9780738532219

$24.99

Baseball at the University of Michigan has had a long and rich tradition. Base ball, to use the contemporary vernacular, began as a club sport during the 1860s. By the dawn of the 20th century, the sport had evolved into the most popular spring leisure event in which students participated. Crowds of greater than 500 were not unusual, at a time when enrollment at the university was approximately 2500 students. Each class and college fielded a team. Prominent names in UM baseball history include the legendary Walker brothers, the first African Americans to play major league baseball, and Branch Rickey, who developed the powerful Dodger teams of the 1940s and integrated baseball with the signing of Jackie Robinson. George Sisler, among the greatest in the National Baseball Hall of Fame, began his career as a Michigan pitcher. And of course there was Ray Fisher, who coached Michigan for 38 years. The end of the century was marked by scandal, but it also brought major league stars such as Hal Morris, Jim Abbot and Barry Larkin, as well as David Parrish and Jake Fox, potential stars of the future.

In the shadow of UM football and basketball, baseball is sometimes considered the "other" sport. But in terms of excitement and accessibility to the students, it is still "Number One."

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Isabella County

9780738561547

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Once an ancient revered hunting and gathering site for Chippewa Indians, Isabella County today is home to one of the nation's largest Native American tribal-owned casino/resort complexes.

Incorporated in 1859, during the turbulent times just ahead of the Civil War and birth year of the United States oil industry, the area became a modern-day commerce center. A rough-and-tumble timbering center saw Michigan's first lumber millionaire plat a town, and hardworking immigrants carved farms, villages, and towns from the timbered-out wilderness near the center of the Michigan Lower Peninsula. From harvesting lumber above the ground to harvesting petroleum below the ground, the area ushers in an oil boom just in time to be saved from the financial tribulations of the Great Depression. Today, thousands of young people flock to the area each year to attend Michigan's fourth-largest university, Central Michigan University. This is the saga of Isabella County, told as the county celebrates 150 years of economic and cultural diversity.

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Eastpointe

9781467113250

$24.99

Located in southeast Michigan, Eastpointe is typical of many suburban cities of middle America. During its development phase, Eastpointe's businesses and residents became involved in work or services related to the automotive industry. Structural changes occurred at a rapid rate as population density and diversity, technology, and economic changes impacted the community in rapid succession. When the automotive industry slowed, the income to Eastpointe residents, schools, and the city also slowed, yet the resiliency of the community allowed the city to survive.

Hamtramck

9781467113519

$24.99

Fueled by a massive immigrant influx in the early 20th century, Hamtramck went from being a small farming village to a major industrial town in the space of 10 years. This phenomenal growth attracted national attention and set the city on a sometimes precarious path toward the future. Despite often teetering on financial ruin, the city has always managed to right itself. Once predominantly Polish, Hamtramck has recently turned in a new direction to become one of the most diverse cities in the nation. This human tapestry--intertwining memorable people, places, and events of the past and present--is woven with the many colors that are so richly evident on these pages.

Hamtramck:

9780738523804

$24.99

Surrounded completely by the city of Detroit, Hamtramck is today home to 24,000 residents, but its small size-just 2.1 square miles-belies its expansive history and the influence this remarkable community has had far beyond its borders.

Founded as a township in 1798, Hamtramck remained primarily a rural area until the early twentieth century, when auto pioneers John and Horace Dodge opened a factory on the south end of town. In just 20 years, the city's population increased by a staggering 1,600 percent. The majority of these newest residents were Polish immigrants, who brought with them a strong work ethic, a rich culture, a genuine joy for living, and an intense appreciation for democracy. Legendary to this day for its fiery politics, the solidly Democratic Hamtramck openly flaunted Prohibition, received a visit from President Franklin D. Roosevelt, strongly supported the early labor unions, and even served as a key headquarters for the Communist Party in North America. In Hamtramck: The Driven City, an engaging narrative combined with more than 100 black-and-white images will take readers on a fascinating journey into the past and breathe new life into the memorable characters and events, the conflicts and scandals that formed the city's distinctive identity.

Cover image for Hamtramck:, isbn: 9780738523804

Historic Saginaw Club

9781467104111

$23.99 $16.79 Save 30%

On April 18, 1889, a meeting was held for the purpose of organizing a social club for the local businessmen in Saginaw, Michigan.

The organization was named the East Saginaw Club, and stock was sold at $100 a share. Bids were then submitted for property on which to build the clubhouse, and a site on Washington Avenue in downtown Saginaw was selected. The three-story building was to be an elegant setting for functions, with beautiful surroundings and walls that displayed wonderful and valuable artwork. In 1919, the original charter expired, the new articles of association were ratified, and a new name was chosen: the Saginaw Club. Today, the Saginaw Club has over 300 members and is known for its many traditions, particularly the club’s annual toast to the office of the president of the United States.

Roberta Morey, a retired elementary school teacher, has written four previous books for Arcadia Publishing dealing with postcards of Saginaw and interesting local people. John Morey, a Saginaw Club member, is an owner of a surveying and engineering business in Saginaw. He is a former president of Saginaw’s Fordney Club, and he writes a flashback article dealing with Saginaw history for the Saginaw Club’s monthly newsletter.

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Marshall

9780738552347

$24.99

Since losing its bid to become the state capital of Michigan in 1847, Marshall has won many awards and accolades. Home to the largest national historic landmark district in the country in the small urban category, Marshall has been called a "textbook of American architecture" by the National Parks Service. Marshall was one of the first four Michigan Main Street Communities and is the site of the oldest county fair in the state. In recent years, the community has been named one of the "dozen distinctive destinations" by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The Village of Grosse Pointe Shores

9781467112994

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

The Village of Grosse Pointe Shores, nestled along the shore of Lake St. Clair just north of Detroit, is the smallest of the five Grosse Pointe communities. After the settlement of Detroit in 1701, the area that would become Grosse Pointe Shores saw the arrival of French habitants who built their ribbon farms. Beginning in the 1860s, the area began to change as well-to-do Detroiters erected summer homes on the lakeshore. The Village of Grosse Pointe Shores was formally established in 1911, and the community grew as great mansions were built along Lake Shore Road. Following World War II, the community evolved yet again as the grand mansions disappeared and properties were subdivided. By the end of the 20th century, the village had grown into an established community of comfortable, well-maintained homes. In 2011, these residents gathered together to celebrate the 100th anniversary of their community.

Cover image for The Village of Grosse Pointe Shores, isbn: 9781467112994

Northville, Michigan

9780738523590

$24.99

Located only a short distance from the cacophony and activity of Detroit's metro area, Northville has maintained its unique small-town charm and identity across the passing decades. Even before the town's official incorporation in 1955, Northville's citizens worked tirelessly to preserve their picturesque setting in rural western Wayne County, to maintain the elegant Victorian architecture in their homes and businesses, and to carve out a prosperous community, marked by excellent schools and a high quality of life. Northville, Michigan brings to life, through word and image, the different events and eras that shaped this small town's history and recalls the area's notable personalities and influences, such as auto industry legend Henry Ford, aviation pioneer Eddie Stinson, and Wayne County Road Commissioner Edward Hines, and their impact on the general character of the community. Most importantly, this volume highlights the everyday person's existence in the Northville of yesteryear, providing today's readers a rare opportunity to glimpse into the lives and worlds of their ancestors and to experience firsthand how they worked, how they worshiped, and how they played.

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Bay City and Beyond in Vintage Postcards

9780738523484

$24.99

Throughout its history, the Bay City area has been a fascinating place to explore. Its early 20th century role as a lumber and shipping center helped it develop into a charming place to live, work, and raise a family. While thriving industry contributed to the development of Bay City itself, neighboring communities like Auburn, Essexville, Kawkawlin, Linwood, and Pinconning were developing into smaller agricultural and residential villages.

This book, a companion to Bay City: 1900-1940 in Vintage Postcards, uses archival postcards to document the progress and growth that have taken place in Bay City and its surroundings. Bay City and Beyond takes readers on a captivating tour of the streets, businesses, schools, homes, people, and events that have shaped the Bay City area as it is known today.

Bay City and Beyond in Vintage Postcards

Fifty Years of Meadow Brook Theatre

9781467114202

$24.99

Meadow Brook Theatre (MBT) began in 1966 as part of a strategy to associate professional music and theatre with Oakland University's academic programs. The theater became a reality when John Fernald, an internationally acclaimed director and head of London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, accepted Chancellor D.B. Varner's invitation to establish a resident professional theatre company on the university's campus. In January 1967, the curtain rose; nearly five decades later, MBT remains a key element of Oakland County's cultural fabric. Many famous actors--including William Hurt, Curtis Armstrong, and Cindy Williams--have appeared on its stage.

Emmett Township

9780738588698

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Through collections of images spanning across centuries, discover the hidden history of Emmett Township.

On February 19, 1850, the land that would be called Emmett Township was taken from the township of Clyde by an act of the Michigan Legislature. The town was not officially organized until years later when the name was changed to Emmett on April 21, 1883. The founding fathers named the area, the township and the village, after the person they considered to be a true Irish hero: Robert Emmett. The first land purchasers in Emmett were thought to have been Patrick and Bridget Keough Dunigan and their friend Michael Harrington. Much of the land was still inhabited by Native Americans, mostly from the Chippewa tribe. White settlers told stories about Indians coming into the cabins and sleeping by the fire on nights when the temperature was below zero. To pay for the night's lodging, rabbits and other small offerings might be found on the roof of the cabin in the morning. (Why the roof? To keep the meat away from wolves.)

Bay City 1900-1940 in Vintage Postcards

9780738519739

$24.99

At the beginning of the 20th century, Bay City was the third biggest city in Michigan, after Detroit and Grand Rapids. Lumber and sawmills were a big part of that success. The wealth amassed by its lumber barons built a vibrant downtown and mansions along its main streets. Add industry, shipping, sugar beets, schools, and churches to the mix, and you have the pictures in this book.

These postcards show you how Bay City looked at its peak in the very early 1900s until about 1940-a time when people were glad they had reached their destinations and happy to send a postcard when they arrived.

Saline

9780738531915

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Since settlers first arrived in the early 1800s, the city of Saline has developed into a strong community with deep cultural roots. This informative book documents Saline's development and progress, exploring settlement, transportation, agriculture, architecture, business, and education through rare archival photographs. Author Susan Kosky takes readers on a detailed visual tour of Saline's rich history, revealing the remarkable people, places, and events that have shaped the area and made it what it is today.

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.

Albion in the 20th Century

9780738519814

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

The Albion Malleable Iron Company was the major influence in bringing hundreds of workers from eastern and southern Europe, and from southern U.S. states to Albion, Michigan, in the early 20th century. These workers established their families and lived their lives in this industrial town, which grew to become a true "melting pot" of ethnic diversity in the 20th century.

Albion in the 20th Century features more than 225 photographs from the personal collection of Albion historian Frank Passic, which chronologically show the changes in the community. The book focuses on everyday workers (including union officials and factory workers) and ball teams-plus "famous" people such as wildlife artist Lynn Bogue Hunt and writer-photographer Gwen Dew. Notable events chronicled include the capture of the Purple Gang car, the 1994 NCAA Division III Albion College Britons national football championship, and the Cardboard Classic sled race.

Cover image for Albion in the 20th Century, isbn: 9780738519814

Battle Creek

9780738577241

$24.99

Founded in 1831, Battle Creek has transformed itself with a rapidly changing world-from agrarian milling community to manufacturing center to the current morph into a food health research center. For 100 years, "Cereal City" has been connected to ready-to-eat breakfast foods, home to the Post Division of General Foods, Ralston Foods, and the Kellogg Company, making it the largest cereal-producing city in the world. Visitors and residents alike have enjoyed mailing postcards of this dynamic community to friends and family all over the world.

Albion

9781467110822

$24.99

Albion was settled in the 1830s at "The Forks" of the Kalamazoo River in Calhoun County. It is home to Albion College, founded in 1835, and Starr Commonwealth Schools, founded in 1913 by Floyd Starr. Two famous songs were written in Albion: "The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi," in 1911, and "The Old Rugged Cross," in 1912. As Albion prospered in the 20th century, postcard photographers captured a variety of images highlighting landmarks and streetscapes throughout the city.

Saginaw

9780738540436

$24.99

Saginaw boasts a rich and colorful history. After the early explorers and small Native American villages came the lumbermen, shanty boys, and a bustling commercial center. Later the coal, salt, and sugar beet industries replaced lumbering in the economy. Many of Saginaw's businesses were known worldwide and are still important after more than 100 years. Saginaw was home to a bevy of famous and infamous characters. Among the early ruffians were Fabian Fournier (Saginaw's Paul Bunyan), Silver Jack Driscoll, and the Opera House Rogue, Warren Bordwell. Saginaw's more illustrious residents include "King Clothier," Little Jake Seligman, educator Alice Freeman Palmer, boxer George "Kid" Lavigne, and many others. Many of the postcards in this book represent the businesses and personalities that made Saginaw's distinctive character what it is today.

Battle Creek

9781467111577

$24.99

In the 1960s, Battle Creek was a successful industrial town known around the world as the Cereal City due to the area's largest employers, the ready-to-eat breakfast food companies of Ralston Foods, the Kellogg Company, and the Post division of General Foods. As these long-established businesses began to downsize, automate, and relocate, the community met the new economic and social challenges by developing a downtown pedestrian mall, converting a former military base into a vibrant industrial park, and merging two municipalities into the third-largest city (by area) in Michigan. These changes, along with many others, have continued to guide this Midwestern community into the 21st century.

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Spring Arbor University

9781467109314

$23.99

In 1873, Spring Arbor Seminary, founded by early pioneers of the Free Methodist Church, opened to meet a distinct need for a school that would teach sound Christian doctrine. Students that attended this school were enriched by the values of the Free Methodist Church. Originally, Spring Arbor Seminary was a private school for elementary and secondary students. In the 1920s, Spring Arbor Seminary added a junior college. In 1963, Spring Arbor High School and Junior College became Spring Arbor College, which attained university status in 2001. One hundred fifty years after the school's original conception, Spring Arbor University maintains its original dedication to impart the sound Christian doctrine of the Free Methodist Church to its students. This dedication is embodied by the university's mission statement, which is better known as "the Concept."

313

9781609494902

$24.99

Since 2007, John Carlisle has fascinated readers with his untold stories of Detroit in his "Detroitblogger John" column for the Metro Times. His words and photographs shed light on the overlooked and forgotten while bringing life to neglected, far-flung neighborhoods. The Detroit chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists named Carlisle the 2011 Journalist of the Year for his work on the city. This collection features dozens of his previously unpublished photographs and forty-two of his most unforgettable stories, including a man who has a strip club in his living room, a bar in a ghost town, a coffee shop for the city's homeless, an art gallery in a mattress store and an old-fashioned debutante ball in the unlikeliest of places.

Iconic Restaurants of Ann Arbor

9781467117333

$24.99

This collection of Ann Arbor's most iconic local eateries from college hangouts to elegant eateries is sure to satisfy.

What is an iconic Ann Arbor restaurant? Ask anyone who has ever spent time there as a student, traveler, or townie, and they are likely to name several favorites in an instant. From debating the best place to celebrate or console on football Saturdays to deciding where to eat after the bars close, the choices have always sparked passionate conversation. In Ann Arbor, people are known to have strong feelings about the best places for pizza, coffee, beer, burgers, noodles, and burritos. Although many of the go-to hangouts are long gone, a surprising number still thrive. And there are always a few newcomers coming along to win the hearts of the next generation of diners, nibblers, and noshers. Some are fine restaurants and taverns, and others are lunch counters, diners, carry-outs, and drive-ins—but in each and every case, they are unique and together make up a collection of iconic local eateries.

Cover image for Iconic Restaurants of Ann Arbor, isbn: 9781467117333

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.

20th-Century Retailing in Downtown Grand Rapids

9781467112567

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Grand Rapids, Michigan was the center for shopping in western Michigan with department stores, five-and-dimes and more, until the advent of the shopping mall.

For decades, downtown Grand Rapids enjoyed a long run in the limelight as the epicenter of shopping in western Michigan. The vibrant Monroe Avenue corridor included three homegrown department stores, several chain department stores, five-and-dime stores, and scores of clothing and specialty retailers. It weathered mother nature, wars, the Great Depression, the advent of neighborhood shopping centers, and civil disturbances--but the one change it could not overcome was the regional shopping mall.

20th-Century Retailing in Downtown Grand Rapids

Maritime South Haven

9780738533148

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Explore the period between 1900 and 1950 when South Haven, Michigan transformed from a rough commercial port into a beautiful tourist attraction.

Although South Haven is now entirely a recreational harbor, this compilation of archival photographs provides a glimpse of an earlier time when shipments of coal, stone, pig iron, paper pulp, and clay came to port instead of pleasure boaters.

Showcasing the remarkable photography of Roy S. McCrimmon, Maritime South Haven: 1900-1950documents South Haven's nautical heritage with images of large foreign freighters, hardy fish tugs, bustling passenger steamers, carefree pleasure cruisers, and sprightly sailboats.

Camp Maqua

9781467114912

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

The Bay City, Michigan, YWCA camp began as a small gathering of 65 women during the summer of 1916 at a rental cottage in Killarney. The second site, selected two years later, was on Aplin Beach near Saginaw Bay. In 1924, the YWCA purchased the Camp Maqua property in Hale, on the shores of Loon Lake, with a solitary farmhouse, and numerous cabins were then completed. After the YWCA sold the property to a private owner in 1979, it was subdivided into 10 parcels. In 1987, the Baker/Starks families purchased the lodge and 14 acres. Ten families continue to keep the spirit of Maqua alive through an association dedicated to retaining the historical integrity of the land and remaining buildings.

Pontiac, Michigan

9780738507149

$24.99

"I am sending you this so you won't forget Pontiac." This is the sentiment inscribed on one of the postcards included in this collection. Pontiac, Michigan: A Postcard Album brings to life the history of this uniquely American city. The postcard has always been a very popular means of communication, and now as a historical document, it offers us a fascinating insight into the times and places of the past. Like many cities, Pontiac has passed through many phases, from agricultural center to auto manufacturer--through good times and bad. These postcards capture the people and places of Pontiac, and remind us of the courageous people who built this country.

Kentwood

9780738540184

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

In 1836, pioneers settled in a fertile, gently rolling land south of Grand Rapids. Although surveyors said the area was "not destined to amount to much," the hard-working farmers who settled Kentwood, then known as Paris Township, created a quiet, affable community where life focused on farming, family, and friends. By the 20th century, the strength of the township had attracted thousands. Whether they were fleeing city life in Grand Rapids or emigrating from other countries, everyone longed to share in the prosperity the area offered. Kentwood captures the evolution of this community as it blossomed from a rural farming area into a flourishing city. Images of farms, homes, businesses, and people document the history of a remarkable, ever-changing community.

Wicked Ypsilanti

9781626193352

$21.99

People know Ypsilanti as a warm and friendly family city, but local historian James Thomas Mann reveals an unsavory history behind the pleasant new veneer. An offshoot of the Hell's Angels motorcycle gang called God's Children, also known as the Huns of Detroit, once ran armed and naked through the streets. A lady managed to cheat death from a bullet, thanks to her steel corset. And a crooked cop managed to collect paychecks under different names multiple times. Discover these and more fascinatingly sordid stories buried in this quiet community's seemingly innocent past.

Cover image for Wicked Ypsilanti, isbn: 9781626193352

A History of Alma College

9781626193321

$21.99

Come along with authors Gordon Beld and David McMacken on a trip down memory lane to Alma College, a mid-Michigan school with a fascinating past, rich heritage and impressive influence. Look on as thousands of spectators flock to the campus for the annual Highland festival. Sit in the front row while a yet unknown young performer introduces you to a new song, Take Me Home, Country Roads. Peek into a voting booth to see the ballot listing two former Alma students who are candidates for the U.S. vice presidency--in the same election. Learn how Alma students reached out to make a difference here at home and around the world..

Cover image for A History of Alma College, isbn: 9781626193321

Wicked Washtenaw County

9781596299122

$21.99

Washtenaw County has a dark and sordid history, filled with unexplained murders and vicious crimes. Venture into the dead of night with medical students from the University of Michigan as they snatch bodies from fresh graves. Discover how Irene Walling Smith, born and raised in Ypsilanti, became known as the Bandit Queen of the despicable Kozak Gang. Head back to Ann Arbor in 1878, when Howard Williams was found dead in his home with an empty bottle of morphine by his sidewas it murder, suicide or overdose? Revisit the puzzling details of the unsolved 1913 murder of seventy-three-year-old Elizabeth Stapish, something of an eccentric in Chelsea, who was strangled and buried under a pile of cornhusks in her barn. Join local history author and columnist James Mann as he reveals the enigmatic history of this Michigan county.

Cover image for Wicked Washtenaw County, isbn: 9781596299122

A Camp Story

9781609493455

$21.99

Who could have foreseen the impact of opening a summer camp in southwestern Michigan? Certainly not Louis and Florence Greenberg way back in 1935. Today, nearly 80 years later, people from around the world consider their summers spent at Lake of the Woods and Greenwoods Camps the very best time of their lives. A Camp Story is the tale of a legacy left by an orphan. It's a story of boys and girls in bathing suits and bug spray as they sail about, sneak out, fall in love, and find themselves, summer after summer. A Camp Story is a poignant and hilarious account about the ultimate camp experience how it touches so many people, how it continues to shape so many lives.

Cover image for A Camp Story, isbn: 9781609493455

Oakland University

9781467126342

$24.99

Oakland University was founded in 1957 when Alfred Wilson and Matilda Dodge Wilson donated $2 million and their 1,400-acre estate to Michigan State University to begin a new college in Oakland County. In 1959, the first students enrolled at Michigan State University–Oakland, and the university officially changed its name to Oakland University in 1963. From these beginnings, Oakland University has emphasized academic quality, concentrating on providing a dynamic, student-focused learning environment with integration of liberal and professional studies by a faculty of dedicated scholar-teachers. The natural beauty of the campus is enhanced by comprehensive recreational facilities and modern buildings that house the university's many academic and student service programs as well as a growing population of residential students. From spirited Division I athletic events to visually engaging artistic performances and everything in between, OU allows students to engage with and discover a wide range of organizations and activities on campus.

Cover image for Oakland University, isbn: 9781467126342

Grand Rapids Beer

9781626195585

$21.99

In the nineteenth century, dozens of local breweries worked tirelessly to slake the thirst of the rapidly growing city of Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids Brewing Company, along with other savvy barley merchants, established a beer culture that would dominate western Michigan until Prohibition turned off the spigots. After the repeal of the Noble Experiment, gigantic national brands stunted the growth of area breweries for decades, but the contemporary craft brew renaissance turned Furniture City back into Beer City, USA. Tour local operations like Founders and HopCat with veteran hophead Patrick Evans and enjoy the rich heritage of Grand Rapids beer.

Cover image for Grand Rapids Beer, isbn: 9781626195585

Gladwin County

9780738552477

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Gladwin County, named after a British commander of Fort Detroit, is situated in upper mid-Michigan. Settled at the beginnings of the Civil War, this area has been blessed with the ability to survive and thrive from its natural resources and the hardy pioneer and entrepreneurial spirit of its people. The white pine forests provided much of the wood for homes downstate, and the railroads brought in the people to fill lumber camps and towns with names like Cedar (now the city of Gladwin) or Grand Forks (now known as Beaverton) and long-lost crossroads such as Lyle, Hard Luck, and Podunk. As the lumbering era came to a close, the rails brought in farmers to replace the woodsmen. The horses came out of the woods to plow the fields. When the tractor replaced the horse, oil was discovered and a new boom began. But that soon went bust, and Gladwin once again reinvented itself by becoming the thermoforming capital of the world. The area is ripe with waterways, rivers, and lakes, both natural and man-made. Once clogged with logs and now bulging with watercraft, many of the lumber camps from a century ago today have become new recreational settlements.

Grosse Pointe War Memorial

9780738577463

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

In many ways, the story of the 1910 mansion The Moorings tells the story of one segment of life in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. For more than two decades, the home represented life on the lake for a typical wealthy family. It was built by Russell A. Alger Jr., the lumber baron and industrialist who cofounded the Packard Motor Car Company and helped the Wright brothers finance their first company. What makes the story of the home complete is what happened when the family no longer lived there. After 12 years as a branch of the Detroit Institute of Arts, the home fulfilled its destiny as a memorial to veterans and a center for arts and education: the Grosse Pointe War Memorial. Today it is truly a hub of activity for Grosse Pointe and the surrounding communities. Guests can still enjoy the beautiful design of the home while attending a memorial service, lecture, stage production, luncheon, or summer concert outside on the lawn. The Grosse Pointe War Memorial today is a testament to the generosity of its original owners and their desire to share the beauty of their home with generations to come.

Wicked Ann Arbor

9781609493431

$21.99

Ann Arbor is known as a center of culture and education, but that hasn't prevented various tyrants and scoundrels from sullying the sophistication with base and murderous deeds. Revisit the case of Jacke the Hugger, a turn-of-the-century deviant who routinely accosted and squeezed the women of Ann Arbor. In an effort to lure him from hiding, young men dressed as women and walked city streets. In 1903, UM student Albert Patterson disappeared in what was compared to a dime novel manner. Was he kidnapped by the Mexican Mafia? Carried off in a flying machine? Or did he flee because he was promised to marry two women at the same time? The first panty raid is said to have been carried out at the University of Michigan in March of 1952, starting the fad of the 1950's. It even made the cover of Life magazine. This is only a hint of the wickedness to be found in the history of Ann Arbor.

Cover image for Wicked Ann Arbor, isbn: 9781609493431

Michigan Memorial Park

9780738551593

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

In 1926, a former two-time University of Michigan All-American football hero decided that a pastoral area of Huron Township could be transformed into a cemetery. Two years later, Michigan Memorial Park opened its gates to begin serving the needs of this growing community tucked away in a corner of the township located southwest of Detroit. Bordering on the peaceful Huron River, this former home to the Wyandott tribe and later French settlers has become a sprawling 300-acre parcel of land still surrounded by woods and farmland. It is Michigan's largest nondenominational cemetery whose ownership has remained in the same family for four generations. Thousands of trees, a plethora of sculptures and fountains, and swan-filled ponds adorn the gardenlike grounds adding to the tranquility experienced by all those who visit. Michigan Memorial Park has remained one of the pillars of the community, not only providing a resting place for many thousands who have passed away but also giving back to the community through its involvement in civic activities.

Wicked Grand Rapids

9781626192966

$21.99

Investigate the citizens of Grand Rapids, even those above suspicion, with author and local history enthusiast Amberrose Hammond as she uncovers a seedy cast of characters from the city's past. Meet career criminals like Clem Blood, who tore off all his clothes during sentencing, only to be presented with a new suit at public expense. Open a love letter from Grand Rapids' own Lonely Hearts killer, who lured his victims by direct mail. Unseal the habeas corpus proceedings for the gruesome details of what the Grand Rapids Press called the most cold blooded crime in the history of the city. Stay out of the shadows, keep your doors locked and enjoy delving into the wicked side of the Furniture City.

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Ann Arbor Beer

9781626191563

$21.99

Ann Arbor has always been a beer-loving town. From the establishment of the first commercial brewery in 1838 through a century of German immigration down to today's local craft brew boom, the amber liquid looms large in Tree Town's quirky past and present. Find out how beer helped a former University of Michigan professor win a Nobel Prize. Discover the Ann Arbor doctor whose nationally bestselling home remedy book featured ale recipes. Learn which Michigan football legend pounded brewskis as part of his training regimen. Covering the exploits of famous poets, performers and prohibitionists, local author David Bardallis pops the cap off the big beer history of this little college town and leads readers to the best beer you can drink in Ann Arbor today.

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Grand Rapids Food

9781609497316

$21.99

Grand Rapids' food scene is bursting with local flavor. Farmers, teachers, chefs and activists are taking back their foodways and serving up the fresh, healthful fruits of their labor. Author Lisa Rose Starner captures the essence of the growing food movement in Grand Rapids and the rugged individuals who are tilling the soil, growing food and launching successful food businesses while powering community change--one garden, one backyard, one block, one store, one plate of food, cup of coffee and mug of beer at a time.

Grand Times in Grand Rapids

9781609496296

$21.99

Join longtime journalist Gordon Beld on a historical tour of the Furniture City. Gleaned from the best of Beld's work for Grand Rapids Magazine, this collection weaves together intriguing vignettes highlighting the unique character of the Grand Rapids people and their community. Get a glimpse into the lives of famous leaders Gerald Ford and Arthur Vandenberg and marvel at Harry Human Fly" Gardiner, who scaled the buildings of downtown Grand Rapids. Take a nostalgic trip down to Reed's Lake, where the streetcars will drop you off at Ramona Gardens to dance the night away. Find the grand in Grand Rapids just don't get lost in Saddlebag Swamp on the way."

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Grand Rapids in Stereographs

9780738551227

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Beginning around 1865, as the fledgling art and science of photography began to appear in cities and towns across the United States, a small group of photographers, using new methods and equipment developed a few years before in Europe, began producing and offering for sale stereographic views of the people, places, and events that made up daily life in the then nearly 40-year-old city of Grand Rapids. These photographic views were unlike others
that had preceded them and when viewed using a special device, they presented a detailed, three-dimensional portrait of the young city. Once introduced, stereographic views of the city, alongside those of more distant lands, became wildly popular and soon graced the homes of many in this city and elsewhere. The stereographic cards themselves today offer a rare and detailed glimpse of
the city, its residents, and some of the special and unusual events that occurred nearly 150 years ago.

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The Works Progress Administration in Detroit

9780738551814

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

In the midst of the Depression, a government agency was created that changed the lives of thousands of Americans. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was more than a program that put the unemployed to work, it was a revolutionary concept that sought to improve the lives of Americans through the physical improvement of their surroundings and the physical and intellectual improvement of themselves. For the people of Detroit, the WPA built schools and libraries, provided clothing and shelter, and enriched their lives through literacy, health, and educational programs. It brought art, theater, and music to the masses through groundbreaking cultural programs and created the infrastructure necessary to allow Detroit to blossom into the "Arsenal of Democracy" and one of America's greatest cities.

The Works Progress Administration in Detroit

Detroit's Delectable Past

9781609496364

$21.99

Join local food aficionado Bill Loomis on a look back at the appetites, tastes, kitchens, parties, holidays and everyday meals that defined eating in Detroit, from the earliest days as a French village to the start of the twentieth century. Whether it's at a frontier farmers' market, a Victorian twelve-course children's birthday party replete with tongue sandwiches or a five-cent-lunch diner, food is a main ingredient in a community's identity and history. While showcasing favorite fare of the day, this book also explores historic foodways--how locals fished the Detroit River, banished flies from kitchens without screens and harvested frog legs with miniscule shotguns. Wedding feasts, pioneer grub, cooking classes and the thriftless '20s are all on the menu, too.

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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."

Presque Isle County

9780738599779

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

Norman Rockwell would have found no shortage of subjects for his paintings in any of the small communities in Presque Isle County. It is an idyllic region in Michigan's northeastern Lower Peninsula with more than 50 miles of Lake Huron shoreline, dozens of inland lakes and streams, and sprawling forests of pines and hardwoods. It was probably those attributes that attracted Native Americans to the region about 8,000 years ago. Shortly after the Civil War, the Indians were joined by throngs of European immigrants who found jobs in lumber camps and sawmills or homesteaded farms. The region's lumber boom was followed by a limestone boom in the early 20th century, and it created hundreds of jobs in the quarries and on ships that carried the stone to markets around the Great Lakes. The boom years are just a memory now, but the natural attributes of the county attract tourists and modern settlers seeking a more serene experience than can be found in the tourist meccas on Michigan's west coast.

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Capitol Park

9781626193741

$21.99

Capitol Park is the only city park in America where a state's first governor is buried. It's the birthplace of democracy in Michigan. Underground Railroad site. Streetcar and transit hub. Urban canyon. A block north of Detroit's iconic Coney Island restaurants. A symbol of the city's late twentieth-century decay, now a key part of its revitalization in a new millennium. Jack Dempsey, award-winning author of Michigan and the Civil War and president of the Michigan Historical Commission, uncovers tales of a uniquely inspirational public space that epitomizes the ups and downs of Detroit's three centuries.

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Detroit's Holy Cross Cemetery

9780738577036

$24.99 $17.49 Save 30%

In the early hours before dawn on October 6, 1907, a raging fire illuminated the sky as the historic chapel that stood on the cemetery grounds for over half a century reduced to a pile of cinders and ash. Lit by sparks from a nearby barn ablaze from an act of arson, the fire destroyed priceless paintings, relics, statues, and artifacts that held sacrament to the area's earliest settlers. So ended the era of the cemetery's obscure past and launched a new era for the little mission?turned?graveyard nestled southwest of Detroit. Detroit's Holy Cross Cemetery is a collage of persons whose immigrant dreams landed them in an area budding with industry. The cemetery's evolution reflects the waves of immigration, from the early French to the Irish, Germans, Hungarians, Poles, and Hispanics. From its 1838 2-acre roots to its current 65-acre span, Holy Cross Cemetery filled the need for a Catholic cemetery on Detroit's west side.

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Wicked Bay City, Michigan

9781467135542

$21.99

Join author Tim Younkman for a wild ride into Bay City’s wicked side.

From unscrupulous lumber barons to Hell's Half Mile, Bay City history casts a sinister shadow. Pope Leo XIII was forced to intervene when rioting Catholic immigrants seized St. Stanislaus Catholic Church and battled one another in the city's streets. The police discovered prostitute Lou Hall nearly beaten to death in the Block of Blazes. And respected publishing mogul Edwin T. Bennett's secret life led to the death of a young woman in a Bay City hotel room.

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The National Cherry Festival in Traverse City

9781626194267

$21.99

The National Cherry Festival is northern Michigan's most popular event. It turns Traverse City, a beach town of thirty thousand, into a thriving city of nearly one million. Begun almost a century ago, the festival started out as a small, neighborhood affair and grew into an international phenomenon that draws in visitors from all over the globe. Twist and pop a pit of Cherry Festival history with author and Traverse City native Brooks Vanderbush as he recounts the festival's growth and its queens and courts, governing bodies, past personalities and other memorable stories that have made it such an essential part of this vacation paradise.

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Michigan Literary Luminaries:

9781626199378

$21.99

From Ernest Hemingway's rural adventures to the gritty fiction of Joyce Carol Oates, the landscape of the "Third Coast" has inspired generations of the nation's greatest storytellers. Michigan Literary Luminaries shines a spotlight on this rich heritage of the Great Lakes State. Discover how Saginaw greenhouses shaped the life of Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Theodore Roethke. Compare the common traits of Detroit crime writers like Elmore Leonard and Donald Goines. Learn how Dudley Randall revolutionized American literature by doing for poets what Motown Records did for musicians. Join author Anna Clark as she unveils Michigan's extraordinary written culture with a mixture of history, literary criticism and original reporting.