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For over one hundred years people have been coming to Atlantic City to swim in the ocean, walk on the boardwalk, and get away from their day-to-day lives.....

Return to the halcyon days of the sand and sun as local writers and long-time locals present stories from Atlantic City's heartwarming past.

Ghosts are everywhere… if you know how to look.

Originally published in 1864, Spectropia is a science-based, time-honored guide to seeing ghosts, ghouls, spirits, skeletons, and witches—no graveyard loitering necessary.

Simply stare at the sixteen color plates inside this book for twenty seconds and you will see colorful spooky specters, life-sized or colossal. Whether a true believer or a skeptic, anyone can experience the paranormal with Spectropia.

But Speedway is more than a town that surrounds the most famous automobile racing track in the world. The city is proud of its quality schools, and residents have prospered from the businesses in the area. Civic pride runs strong through this community where generations of families have remained in the same neighborhoods, and sometimes in the same house.

Spencer draws on a rich photographic record spanning the late nineteenth century to the present. This visual archive documents Spencer's transformation from a rural manufacturing and farming community of three thousand people to a diverse modern town of over twelve thousand residents. One of the oldest agricultural fairs in the country, the Spencer Fair is shown at its beginning before it attracted thousands to town for an annual Labor Day celebration. Spencer also chronicles the important and groundbreaking inventions of the Howe family, from the spring bed to the lockstitch sewing machine.

Milwaukee, the Beer Capital of the World, has a long and spirited history.

Crack open the first complete history of Brew City booze. Discover how Milwaukee's rum holes weathered Prohibition and which Jones Island barkeep owned the longest mustaches. Copy down the best recipe involving Sprecher Special Amber, Rainbow Trout and sauerkraut. Sample the rich heritage of Pabst, Schlitz, Gettleman and Miller: the folk who turned Milwaukee into the Beer Capital of the World. And save some room for the more recent contributions of distillers and craft-brewers that continue to make the city an exciting place for the thoughtful drinker.

The breathtaking scenery of the Pacific Northwest hides a myriad of dark secrets.

From sightings of the Columbia River Sea Serpent, nicknamed “Colossal Claude,” to tales of Bigfoot encounters dating back to 1865, strange creatures lurk both on land and at sea. Shipwrecks, drownings, shanghaiing, and nautical superstitions abound. The restless settler spirits of those who lived and died on the Oregon Trail are said to linger alongside apparitions of adventurers and soldiers, while others, including the 1920’s-era ghost of a woman in white and a man in top hat haunt places like the Columbia Gorge Hotel.

Join author Ira Wesley Kitmacher as he takes you on a journey through one of the most haunted regions in America.

Fans will recognize names like Ernie Nevers, a football hero at Santa Rosa High School, and track giant Ralph Rose of Healdsburg, a major Olympian who was struck down by tragedy early in the 20th century. Captured here is the famous upset when the Bonecrushers and Leghorns met in 1948, the short-lived but glorious years of an ice hockey team imported from Canada, the local enthusiasts who enjoyed hunting and fishing, the early female athletes of the region from the 1850s to 1952, and several legendary heroes of their times, including Helen Wightman, Smith Robinson, and Joe DeMaggio (before he was DiMaggio.)

Experience Spotswood through a century's worth of photographs and stories about this small New Jersey borough.

From a summer resort area to a thriving World War II-era commercial center and finally to the modern bedroom community that it is today, Images of America: Spotswoodis an essential collection of the history of a small New Jersey community. Included are images of historic tobacco mills and the 1890s Carriage House, which still stands today. Vintage photographs of early townspeople and industries are seen, along with the borough's first school--a 1901 four-room building that became the Margaretta M. Birchall School, which closed its doors in 1979.

The area was first settled in the 1850s by pioneers like James Smith, who, inspired by the landscape, named the place Spring Grove. Smith was followed by the likes of "Big" Ole Gulbransgutton, who chased crooked land surveyors out of town with his bare fist; by the innovative Mons Fladager, whose business acumen earned him the title of "Father of Spring Grove"; and by the 20th-century cartoonist Peter J. Rosendahl, whose work gave a comical voice to the challenges of cultural assimilation. Spring Grove: Minnesota's First Norwegian Settlement also conveys the universality of the Norwegian immigrant experience, and anyone with Norwegian roots who desires to learn more about their ancestors will find it an enjoyable read.

Over 200 photographs document the history of the Spring Lake community.

Spring Lake, an oceanfront community bounded on the south by Wreck Pond and on the north by Lake Como, was named after a spring-fed body of water that spawned the town's settlement in the 1870s. The development of the area was accelerated by the advent of the railroad, which brought building activity to the locale. Eventually, Monmouth Avenue and the lakefront became very desirable locations for seasonal homes. Once promoted as New Jersey's ""garden spot,"" Spring Lake came to contain several private landscape showplaces, exquisite public grounds, and a legendary non-commercial boardwalk. This photographic record of Spring Lake's development illustrates the remarkable architectural tradition whose legacy remains evident in this elegant resort today. From Ballingarry and the Casino to the churches and the New Monmouth Hotel, Spring Lake's stunning built environment is vividly displayed in over two hundred photographs contained in this volume.

Springdale: The Courage of Shiloh not only explores the extraordinary history of the city, but also highlights the lives of the families who survived the hardships of immigration and homesteading, the horrors of the Civil War, and the reconstruction and progress of Springdale. From John Holcombe, the founder of Shiloh, who envisioned a city growing from the springs surrounding his church, to the birth of the Frisco Railroad, which turned a small farming community into the Fruit Center of Arkansas, this amusing and enlightening tale traces a city's continuing evolution.

Volume II takes readers on a journey through the business, transportation and sports history of the ""City of Firsts.""

Images of America: Springfield Volume I gave readers a photographic history of the city's ethnic populations and religions. It also told the story of education and public service in the ""City of Firsts."" In Springfield Volume II, author Ginger Zabecki Cruickshank takes readers on a second journey through the past to the origins of the city's many businesses, transportation systems, and social agencies, such as the YMCA and local hospitals that have served the people of Springfield, as well as some of the best sports stories in the city's history. The stories and early photographs of well-known companies including Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, Friendly's Ice Cream Corporation, and Merriam-Webster are shown in this striking volume. All have roots in Springfield, as do Milton Bradley and Smith & Wesson. The famous Knox automobiles and the Peter Pan Bus Company are brought to life with other stories in the fascinating development of transportation in the area. As the city has adapted and grown with the population and changing economic times, it has built a tradition of citizens succeeding despite great obstacles. It is that tradition that has made the city what it is today.

After undergoing periods of dormancy, neglect, and occasional attempts at revitalization, Springfield’s downtown area is currently experiencing a resurgence of change and growth.

This appreciation of Springfield’s historic architecture is evident in the restoration of once-neglected historic buildings that are now restaurants, businesses, and lofts. This renaissance extends from the public square to what was once North Springfield and beyond.

Connie Yen is an author, historian, and archivist. She has lived in Springfield most of her life and has a passion for local history.

Springfield, the first of a two-volume set, is a collection of many never-before-seen photographs that tell the story of this city's exciting history.

Situated at the crossroads of New England, Springfield, Massachusetts, was founded in 1636 by twelve families led by William Pynchon, who named the settlement after his birthplace in England. This book, the first of a two-volume set, is a collection of many never-before-seen photographs that tell the story of this city's history. Springfield is a city of ""firsts."" The first successful gasoline-powered engine was built by the Duryea brothers here; the first U.S. musket was made at the Springfield Armory; and in 1891, resident Dr. James Naismith invented the game of basketball. The city's ties to the U.S. military are illustrated here, as are its many religious and ethnic communities. Within these pages, we can see images of a very different Springfield, including buildings much changed or long gone, and people remembered now in family albums.

Springfield chronicles the town's history from 1890 to the present with over two hundred historic photographs collected by author Harry Laybourne over the past 43 years.

Referred to as ""Champion City,"" ""Home City,"" and ""City of Roses,"" Springfield's diversity andpride inspires various nicknames from its residents.First settled in 1799, Springfield quickly grew tobecome one of Ohio's most important industrial towns, the products of its great factories encirclingthe globe. Laybourne gives the reader a chance to experience what Springfield was like in the Good Old Days with fascinating scenes of its people and places--the lively downtown area, its beautiful parks, theaters and opera houses, swimming beaches, universities, bustling factories and businesses, as well as views of several buildings that no longer line the streets of downtown Springfield.

Pres. George Washington authorized Springfield Armory to begin manufacturing small arms for the US military in 1794.

Over nearly two centuries until its closure in 1968, the government armory at Springfield, Massachusetts, became legendary, not only for the arms provided to soldiers during conflicts such as the War of 1812, the Civil War, and World War II, but also for the way in which those arms were crafted. The drive to produce firearms of high quality and quantity for the nation's military created a need to improve manufacturing methods and machinery. Armory advancements, such as the interchangeability of parts, helped lay the groundwork of the American Industrial Revolution. Because of these efforts, Springfield Armory is recognized not only as a first-rate government arms manufacturer, but also as a hub of industry, attracting thousands of skilled men and women from around the world.

Springfield Township documents the area's transformation into a modern town rich with amenities and community organizations.

Carved out of the wilderness in the 1680s, Springfield Township was formed as Quaker families seeking religious freedom settled the area. In a region roughly bounded by Darby Creek to the east and Crum Creek to the west, the early settlers shared forests with the native Lenni Lenape tribe. Just nine miles west of the port of Philadelphia, Springfield harnessed tumbling creeks with mills during the industrial revolution and provided the growing commonwealth with edge tools from Beatty Ax Works and fabric from Victoria Plush Mill. Builders used abundant stone quarries to construct grand homes, including that of the Pennsylvania Railroad's first chief engineer, J. Edgar Thomson, who laid out the famous Horseshoe Curve and Main Line to Pittsburgh. The construction of the Media Shortline Trolley helped Springfield grow, as did the Saxon Avenue Shops and unique developments such as Windsor Circle and Rolling Road.

In a town famous for its politics, one local favorite moves unchallenged across party lines. Sample secret recipes while delving in to the history of the Horseshoe Sandwich.

Open-faced, piled high with fries and slathered in cheese sauce, the Horseshoe Sandwich has represented Springfield cuisine since 1928. Tour the restaurants that have kept the tradition alive for almost a century, including bygone eateries like The Mill and contemporary stalwarts like Darcy’s Pint. From the “Clydesdale Challenge” to the biggest and strangest incarnations of the ’shoe, Carolyn Harmon and Tony Leone provide a comprehensive history of this delicious dish.

Originally settled by James Demint in 1801, Springfield, Ohio, boasts a history marked by rich agrarian roots and striking industrial advances.

The full range is chronicled here in a second Images of America volume, featuring over one hundred archival photographs alongside the captions that illuminate them. Those familiar with author Harry Laybourne's first volume on Springfield, or those encountering its history for the very first time, will undertake a journey that deepens an understanding of this fascinating city. Home to Wittenberg University, the Clark County Historical Society, and the Westcott Home built by Frank Lloyd Wright, Springfield has undergone numerous changes in its remarkable 200 year history. Laybourne invites the reader to witness these changes as they unfold. Join him on a fascinating exploration of Springfield, and discover its thriving downtown district, distinctive cultural arena, adaptation to rail and aviation, and perhaps most notably, the many faces who helped to build the city's identity and profile.

The Squirrel Hill Historical Society and editor Helen Wilson explore the fascinating history of one of Pittsburgh's historic neighborhoods.

Pittsburgh's Squirrel Hill neighborhood began on the frontier of western Pennsylvania 250 years ago and developed into a vibrant urban community. Early settler John Turner, half-brother of renegade Simon Girty, survived capture by Native Americans and experienced firsthand the change from dangerous wilderness to established farming community. As Squirrel Hill developed, the landscape dotted with farms and cottages, inns and taverns, and little shops, over time Pittsburgh's elite began to build mansions in the area, especially after the Civil War; one of these stately manors even became the Pennsylvania Female College in 1869, today known as Chatham University. Wealthy landowners Henry Clay Frick and Mary Schenley bestowed Squirrel Hill its grand public parks . Hyman Little, Herman Kamin and countless others moved to the hill and made it Pittsburgh's premier Jewish community, with a tight knit cluster of synagogues, temples and a thriving business district. Today, Squirrel Hill is still one of the most beautiful and exclusive neighborhoods in Pittsburgh.

As colonial New Yorkers expanded their housing and employment options beyond Lower Manhattan and Brooklyn, southeast Queens became a destination for Dutch and English families who wanted more land and a better life.

Beyond the confines of the village of Jamaica in Queens emerged a community of strivers - farmers and entrepreneurs - who founded St. Albans in 1899. A housing boom in the 1920s and 1930s in Queens brought more residents with European heritage to St. Albans. Yankee slugger Babe Ruth spent so much time at the St. Albans Golf and Country Club that many area residents thought he lived there. Meanwhile, a racial covenant in Addisleigh Park, an affluent section of St. Albans, threatened to keep African Americans out of the neighborhood until the federal government outlawed the practice in 1948. Over time, many African American jazz musicians and entertainers along with middle- and working-class families have called St. Albans home. Today, St. Albans is a predominantly middle-class African American and Caribbean American neighborhood that continues to embrace its ambitious past through strong connections to business, civic, political, and religious groups.

St. Augustine conjures up images of Spanish architecture, a massive fort, splashes of color against a backdrop of river and ocean, and always, always the omnipresent tourist.

This ancient town, established along the banks of the Matanzas River in 1565, is the oldest city in America. Founded to protect Spain's trade route from South and Central America to Europe, this colorful community was thriving years before the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock and decades before Jamestown was settled. No other place in the United States embodies more charm than this hallowed city. Within these pages, images taken from the St. Augustine Historical Society's archives will educate, enthrall, and entice history buffs, tourists, and residents alike. These vintage photographs will link readers to the past and transform them into more than mere spectators visiting a popular tourist attraction. Rediscover the Spanish connection and see how early settlers built their homes, harvested their crops, educated their children, and protected their land. Walk the same worn and winding paths that the town's forefathers trod and acknowledge both the good and the bad times of life before modernday conveniences.

The Spanish landed in Florida in 1513 and established St. Augustine in 1565, over four decades before the Virginia Company settled Jamestown and five decades before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock.

Henry Flagler transformed the sleepy port into a winter resort for the affluent, and the quaint college town still displays some of the nation's oldest and most beautiful architecture.

The Great Depression came early to St. Augustine with the end of the Florida land boom in 1926, followed by the stock market collapse in 1929.

Hotels closed, a major bank failed, subdivisions folded, and tourism was reduced to a trickle. The city’s main employer, the Florida East Coast Railway, went into receivership in 1931, and public works projects sought to bring relief to the unemployed. The economy slowly improved toward the end of the 1930s, but it was World War II that brought economic recovery to the town. Local hotels were taken over for military training, and servicemen on leave from nearby military bases flooded the town, bringing prosperity once again to the Ancient City.

St. Augustine was more than three centuries old when tourism awakened the sleepy Spanish village.

Soon after Standard Oil's Henry Flagler brought the railroad to town in the 1880s, well-heeled visitors began flocking to Flagler's luxury hotels as St. Augustine became known as the ""American Riviera."" Tourists walked the quaint, narrow streets and visited the historical attractions such as the old city gate, the long-abandoned Spanish fort, the alligator farm, the Fountain of Youth, and the four houses that all claim to be the oldest in the country.Postcard History Series: St. Augustine in the Gilded Agedepicts the oldest city in the United States from the golden age of postcards. The volume presents more than 200 images from the archives of the St. Augustine Historical Society and the author's personal collection.

The 1920s was a time of unprecedented growth in the nation's oldest city.

Fueled by a land boom that began in South Florida, St. Augustine was inundated with land speculators and new subdivisions, many only supported by a wing and a prayer. The city floated a million-dollar bond issue to construct the Bridge of Lions, and D.P. Davis filled in an entire marshland to build his magnificent subdivision of Davis Shores. When a new coastal highway linked the town with beached to the north and south and opened up St. Augustine’s beautiful shoreline for development, tourists began flocking to the city in droves. All of this activity halted, however, when the land boom collapsed in the late 1920s, along with rest of the U.S. economy at that time.St. Augustine in the Roaring Twentiesdetails the roller-coaster events of the city in this exciting decade.

This collection of over 200 images chronicles the life and times of this once fledgling township established in 1843, to its incorporation as a city in 1951, and on to its present day prosperity.

During the late 19th century, a small group of Frenchmen from the fort at Detroit settled north along the shore of Lake St. Clair at the mouth of the Milk River. Originally known as L'anse Creuse, this tiny settlement soon grew into a bustling farming community. Historian Arthur M. Woodford has compiled maps, photographs, and drawings to tell the story of this ""Village on the Lake."" Here the reader will find views of Lake St. Clair, the Milk River, and the many 19th century families and farms that fostered the growth of the area. Included are the stories of the infamous Blossom Heath Inn, Jefferson Beach Amusement Park, the grand Masonic Country Club, and the Interurban railway. Following World War Two, St. Clair Shores grew as part of the population boom of southeastern Michigan, and this once quiet village is now a modern suburban community of over 66,ooo residents.

Celebrate the athletes of St. Edwards University. Competitive sports have crowned the St. Edward’s University hilltop from the very beginning. Early on-campus games and intramurals in the late 19th century evolved into the first organized sport of baseball, followed by a period of excellence during the 1920s and 30s, most notably in football. The 1970s were marked by the advent and growth of athletic programs for women and a gradual ascendency to a strong and regionally competitive National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics [NAIA] program. Even as the school transitioned to a top-tier NCAA Division II program, it could look back on more than a century of athletic achievement. Author John Knorr remembers the key figures and fascinating stories of St. Edward’s athletics.

Built by the City of Los Angeles' Bureau of Water Works and Supply, the failure of the St. Francis Dam on its first filling was the greatest American civil engineering failure of the 20th century. Beginning at dawn on the morning after the disaster, stunned local residents picked up their cameras to record the path of destruction, and professional photographers moved in to take images of the washed-out bridges, destroyed homes and buildings, Red Cross workers giving aid, and the massive clean-up that followed. The event was one of the worst disasters in California's history, second only to the San Francisco Earthquake and Fire.

Through captivating images and narrative, read why the historic St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church has endured for 150 years as a source of service and faith-based community in the small town of Marion, Massachusetts.