Fueled by phenomenal growth in the early part of the 20th century, Hamtramck went from being a farming community to a major industrial city in the space of a decade. Thousands of immigrants flooded into the city to work in the new auto factories. Each one had a special story to tell, but some stood above the rest. Maurice Keyworth developed a public
school code in 1927 that was so innovative it was copied by schools across the nation. Gail Kobe acted in and produced popular TV shows, and Rudy Tomjanovich thrilled crowds around the basketball court. Still others made their mark in more modest, yet meaningful ways, like business owner Dave Stober, who sent local kids to camp. Their stories, and those of many more who made Hamtramck what it is today, are here. Each made a special
contribution to the story of Hamtramck.
Legendary Locals of Harrisburg
9781467101547
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With images taken from the archives of the Dauphin County Historical Society, as well as family collections, Legendary Locals of Harrisburg encompasses biographical tributes that celebrate the deeds of actors, musicians, artists, teachers, athletes, humanitarians, politicians, veterans, firemen, and community leaders who have added a peculiar brand of Harrisburg's rich cultural tapestry. William Howard Day, an educator, and John Harris, who established Harrisburg, are two pioneers. Edward Stackpole, of Stackpole Books, and Theophilus Fenn, editor of the Telegraph, have forged the way for the city's writers. The first secretary of homeland security, Tom Ridge, and Simon Cameron, secretary of war under Lincoln, are among world-renowned politicians who have contributed to Harrisburg's valued reputation. From rival high school football coaches to dueling business owners, from civic leaders building an integrated city to aspiring young people embarking on independent journeys to the big screen, these profiles of real lives and real heroes show us that we all have contributed to the development of our own communities.
Legendary Locals of Haverhill
9781467100007
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Since Haverhill was first settled in 1640, its citizens have shown courage and determination to make it a better place to live. Many unique individuals have called Haverhill home, including Hannah Dustin, who was captured by and then avenged a group of Abenaki Indians; business pioneer Thomas Sanders, financial backer of Alexander Graham Bell; department store entrepreneur Rowland Macy; James Nichols, whose home Winnekenni Castle became one of Haverhill's most famous landmarks; baseball star Carlos Pena; Gerald Ashworth, Olympic gold medalist; literary greats John Greenleaf Whittier and Andre Dubus; Archie Comics artist Bob Montana; screenwriter Harold Livingston; and rising star Christopher Golden. Movie mogul Louis B. Mayer and television personalities Tom Bergeron and Frank Fontaine, along with gardening legend James Crocket, all began their careers here. And Haverhill's veterans who have gone into harm's way to defend our country are not to be forgotten. This book is a tribute to them and all of Haverhill's citizens boldly moving forward.
Legendary Locals of Hilton Head
9781467100465
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Before the Europeans came, Amerindians celebrated on Hilton Head Island with seasonal oyster feasts. Later, planters made fortunes here with Sea Island cotton. But the island came alive to the guns of the Union in 1861 and, for seven years, was host to the troops who helped former slaves even before the Emancipation Proclamation made freedom official. The forces left, and the island slept. In the pages of this book are some of the people who kept the Gullah sea island culture alive, a self-sustaining culture of mutual help and integrity, living off the sea and the land. This volume also includes some of the people who set a standard for development and made the island what it is today, unique visionaries who had a fierce devotion to preservation of the island's natural beauty, its flora, and its fauna.
Legendary Locals of Hoboken
9781467101059
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Street for street, Hoboken is as interesting as any city in America. Set just yards across the Hudson from Manhattan, the compact and dense city shelters 50,000 residents who share one square mile. Few square miles anywhere have given the world more. Hoboken's founding family helped win the Revolutionary War, designed the modern railroad, and started a top engineering college. Hoboken's Elysian Fields hosted the first recorded baseball game, its docks sent three million soldiers to Europe during World War I, and its gritty streets reared the famous Frank Sinatra. Formerly a hub of industry and international shipping, contemporary Hoboken is a lively and intimate mix of proud ethnic identities, young families escaping the suburbs, and active, attractive, and socially conscious professionals. Legendary Locals of Hoboken features residents such as Anthony "Stick" Romano, a retired police captain, bar owner, and county politician; Kathy Zucker, a social media wiz who won a Shorty Award for inspiring other mothers; and Jeff Kreisler, a nationally touring satirist, speechwriter, and lecturer.
Legendary Locals of Holyoke
9781467101813
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Holyoke is home to some of the most amazing and courageous individuals. In 1658, European pioneer John Riley, along with other early planters, was instrumental in establishing a community in the West Springfield area called Ireland Parish, which eventually became known as Holyoke. This tenacious man led the way for many other trailblazers, including George Ewing, who envisioned utilizing hydropower to operate factories and inspired town engineers to design one of the first planned cities in the United States. In 1898, the progressive Elizabeth Towne encouraged Holyoke residents and an international audience with her New Thought movement that advocated a healthy lifestyle. Another outstanding citizen, Timothy Alben, judiciously leads the Massachusetts State Police, while Holyoke's Henry Jennings honorably served his country in the armed forces, as a commander of the Holyoke War Memorial Building, and on the Holyoke City Council. Barbara Bernard has astutely kept residents informed about current events for the last 70 years. Legendary Locals of Holyoke chronicles the community's finest men and women who survived and prospered through harsh circumstances and against all odds.
Legendary Locals of Hudson
9781467101837
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When John T. Benson purchased land in Hudson in 1924, little did he know that Benson's Wild Animal Farm would make Hudson famous. For 60 years, "the Strangest Farm on Earth" became legendary. The former attraction is now a beautiful town park. Volunteers were key to the new Benson Park, just as volunteers have always made Hudson a wonderful place. These pages are filled with stories of many who gave of their time, talent, and treasure. Leonard Smith designed and helped build Central Fire Station. Shirley Nadeau is always ready to lend a hand. Leon Hammond cooked for countless bean suppers. Dr. Alfred Kimball Hills, Kimball Webster, G. Philip Rodgers, and Alvin Rodgers have been generous benefactors. The H in Hudson stands for "heart."
Legendary Locals of Huntington
9781467100335
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Founded in 1871 by Collis P. Huntington, the rail tycoon's namesake city thrived as a gateway to the coalfields of southern West Virginia. The city's earliest leaders included Mayor Rufus Switzer, who created one of the community's true jewels, Ritter Park, and John Hooe Russel, who opened the city's first bank and, when it was robbed, jumped on his horse and gave chase to the bandits. Over the years, Huntington has been home to such varied individuals as Carter Woodson, the father of Black History Month; Dr. Henry D. Hatfield, who was West Virginia governor but said he would rather be known as a "country doctor;" Dagmar, the blonde bombshell of 1950s television; basketball star Hal Greer; golfing great Bill Campbell; Stella Fuller, who spent her life ministering to Huntington's poor; and the spectacularly generous Joan Edwards, who gave away $65 million. Legendary Locals of Huntington captures their stories and many others in a striking panorama of a remarkable community.
Legendary Locals of Huntington Beach
9781467101868
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For over 100 years, Huntington Beach, a.k.a. "Surf City, USA," has come to represent the true beach culture of Southern California. Originally called Pacific City, it was when railroad magnate Henry Huntington first ran his train line down in 1904 from Los Angeles, approximately 40 miles north, that the then-quaint beach town took on the name that made it famous around the state and around the world. In 1914, the legendary George Freeth put on a surfing exhibition the day the city's vaunted concrete pier was opened, which christened Huntington Beach as a soon-to-be surfing mecca. It became a boomtown after oil was discovered in 1920 and, several decades later, morphed once again into a cradle of aerospace engineering when companies such as Boeing arrived. Throughout its tumultuous and dramatic history, Huntington Beach has always boasted a cast of colorful and profound characters. From the first mayor, Ed Manning, to Medal of Honor-recipient Chris Carr, from the Zamboni family (who invented the ice-cleaning machine) to baseball star Jeff Kent: the list is almost endless. But it is not just professional athletes, actors, and rock stars; it is the teachers, crossing guards, merchants, and activists that give Huntington Beach its well-earned reputation as one of the most interesting and charismatic cities in the state.
Legendary Locals of Huntsville
9781467102025
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First they came for the land, later they came for the stars and the moon; all found themselves against the glorious backdrop of the Tennessee Valley. Legendary Locals of Huntsville chronicles the story of Rocket City, a sleepy, Southern cotton town that weathered the Great Depression with its mill villages, gained national attention with Redstone Arsenal, blossomed into the center of aerospace development, and became the home of the largest arts center in the Southeast. Notables include pioneer John Hunt and founding father LeRoy Pope; aerospace engineer Wernher von Braun; world-renowned portrait artist and poet Howard Weeden and cobweb artist Anne Clopton; internationally known soprano Susanna Phillips; Professional Football Hall of Fame member John Stallworth; performing arts pioneers Helen Herriott and Loyd Tygett; and entrepreneur and philanthropist Mark C. Smith. The stories herein celebrate just a handful of the many people who have made a memorable impact on this community and who continue to propel Huntsville forward through leadership by example.
Legendary Locals of Idaho Falls
9781467101684
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In 1864, a stage line driver named Matt Taylor and two associates decided Black Rock Canyon was the place for a toll bridge to handle traffic to and from Montana. The following year, their bridge opened and a town called Eagle Rock took shape. With the coming of the railroad, trains brought everyone from saloon keeper Dick Chamberlain to temperance crusader Rebecca Mitchell. To project a more genteel air, Eagle Rock became Idaho Falls in 1891. Joseph Clark, the first mayor, and newspaper publisher William Wheeler were just two of the people who helped pave the streets and turn on the lights. After assiduous wooing by boosters such as Bill Holden, D.V. Groberg, and E.F. McDermott, the Atomic Energy Commission in 1949 chose Idaho Falls for the headquarters of its National Reactor Testing Station. Today, Idaho Falls is a vital trading and service center with two hospitals, a professional baseball team, symphony orchestra, and world-class museum. It is also the hometown of some remarkable people who have gone out in the world to make names for themselves.
Legendary Locals of Intown Atlanta
9781467101325
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When Hardy Ivy built his small cabin on a ridge in the North Georgia wilderness in 1833, no one could have imagined his property would grow to become the internationally recognized city Atlanta is today. Ivy is just one of those whose impact on Atlanta has earned him the right to be called a legendary local. This book includes those with international acclaim like Cable News Network founder and environmentalist Ted Turner, civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and former president Jimmy Carter. No less important, but lesser known, are former slave Carrie Steel Logan, who started the first orphanage for black children in Georgia, and May Belle Mitchell, the mother of Gone With the Wind author Margaret Mitchell. May Belle was a legend in her own right for leading the Atlanta women's Equal Suffrage League in the early 1900s. These stories span centuries, highlighting only some of the true legendary locals of Intown Atlanta.
Legendary Locals of Jacksonville
9781467101745
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Since Europeans first settled along Jacksonville's riverbanks in the 16th century, the area has been a diverse community that thrives not only on commerce, music, and the arts but also on the advantages of a subtropical climate and waterside lifestyle. The city grew up around a crossing point for cattle in the St. Johns River and first became known as Cowford. The Great Fire of 1901 left 10,000 people homeless but not defeated. The ashes gave birth to a new era with strong architecture and a new resolve. Considered a friendly town for African Americans, Jacksonville was home to Harlem Renaissance artists as well as civil rights leaders. A bit laid back, the city has still managed to be on the cutting edge--it was the home of the Navy's Blue Angels as well as Southern rock and one of the country's first skateboard parks.
Legendary Locals of Jamestown
9781467101301
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When Caleb Carr, one of the 101 men who purchased Conanicut and Dutch Islands in 1657, petitioned the General Assembly to incorporate Jamestown in 1678, the town had 150 inhabitants. The community thrived until the American Revolution, when the British occupation drove away many people. Nicholas Carr and John Eldred both remained, rebelling in their own ways. The town recovered slowly, and its character changed with modernized modes of transportation. Steam ferries, introduced in 1873, ushered in an era of resort hotels, affluent summer visitors, and a service economy. The West Passage bridge in 1940 brought permanent residents with off-island occupations and interests. The East Passage bridge (1969) and the replacement West Passage bridge (1992) created a suburban atmosphere enlivened by a continuing influx of summer vacationers. Most newcomers revel in the island's beauty and are intent on keeping Jamestown the peaceful haven that attracted them.
Legendary Locals of Jersey City
9781467100922
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From its primordial inception as a Dutch trading post on the left bank of the Hudson River to its late-19th-century reign as one of the world's great industrial centers and transportation termini, Jersey City has always been a city about people—the bold pioneers who reshaped its forested hills and elevated landscapes into a major municipality brimming with immigrant-filled neighborhoods, from which emerged even more distinct personalities. Legendary Locals of Jersey City highlights these timeless citizens, including Peter Stuyvesant, the director-general of New Netherland who rescued fledgeling settlements besieged by wars with the Lenni Lenape; Erminnie Smith, who launched an immensely popular intellectual society and salon in 1876; Hugh Roberts, the falsely accused over-spending architect of the majestic Hudson County Court House; Dr. Lena Edwards, winner of the 1964 Presidential Medal of Freedom; Helene Stapinski, national bestselling author; and Anthony Carrino and John Colaneri, stars of the hit HGTV series Kitchen Cousins and dedicated Jersey City developers.
Legendary Locals of Kearny
9781467102247
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Heroes lead, inspire, and perform memorable acts that shape the lives of others. In the pages of this book, readers will learn the stories behind Kearny's heroes--the people whose contributions made Kearny into the thriving, diverse community it is today. Ed Karolasz gave his life for his country during the war in Iraq. Councilman Norman Doyle helped a young girl get the medical attention she needed. College student Gabriela Salvador restores historic costumes for the town museum. Real estate developers Louis Lindblom and Edward Strong built the town's financial institutions and the Arlington section. Educators Peg Bixler and Barbara Toczko devoted themselves to their students. From the town known as Soccertown, USA, came John Harkes, Tony Meola, and Tab Ramos, who played on the United States team in the FIFA World Cup. But there was also Louis Eilshemius, the somewhat mad and reclusive artist, and Albert Gonzalez, a government informant and computer criminal. This "City of Opportunity" has produced more than its share of personalities that have created admirable and notorious international, national, and local legends.
Legendary Locals of Kent County
9781467102186
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Kent County, located on the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay, is noted for its farms, outdoor recreation, architecture, and its people. Legendary Locals of Kent County recognizes only a handful of the many Kent County people who deserve to be noted. Included are Tony Award nominee Mark Bramble, who is a director, author, and producer; controversial and colorful Evelyn Harris, also known as the Barter Lady, who gained fame during the Depression when she proposed a system of swapping to overcome the shortage of money; elected official, school principal, minister, and artist Clarence Hawkins; Sheriff Bartus O. Vickers, who earned the respect of prisoners, lawyers, other law enforcement officers, and citizens; game warden Bozy Robinson, friend of both the hunter and the hunted; and writer Gilbert Byron, who detailed life on the Chesapeake Bay throughout the 20th century.
Legendary Locals of Lake County
9781467100250
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Lake County has no shortage of characters—adventurous, altruistic, and notorious men and women drawn to an enchanted land of a thousand lakes and lush pine forests in the heart of the Sunshine State. In 1887, visionaries carved the new territory from neighboring Sumter and Orange Counties and boldly dreamed of moving the state capital to Tavares. More than a dozen communities sprang up, attracting people such as Walt Disney's parents and Wild West legend Annie Oakley. Notable residents through the years include astronaut David Walker, Olympic athlete Tyson Gay, bestselling author Kate DiCamillo, and archaeologist Edgar Banks, who served as the inspiration for Indiana Jones. Inspiring educators and coaches, along with caring doctors and ministers, devoted their lives to helping others. Business geniuses created the largest sawmill in the Southeast, promoted tourism, and built the first citrus juice plant in Florida.
Legendary Locals of Lake Forest
9781467102148
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Since the 1850s, Lake Forest, located 30 miles north of Chicago on Lake Michigan, has been a distinctive suburb. It has been a retreat from the diseases, public accessibility, rougher elements, soot, stockyard smells, and general density of bustling city life. For at least five generations, it has been the retreat for Chicago's leading New England-descended families, such as the Farwells, Swifts, and Armours. And for over 150 years, Lake Forest has been the home for a community of educators, merchants, artisans, designers, and a wide variety of estate specialists, the latter from pre-Civil War escaped slaves and Scots and Irish immigrants to today's notable garden and interior artists. Legendary Locals of Lake Forest draws on rare archival images from local and Chicago public and private sources.
Legendary Locals of Lake Worth
9781467101585
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During the early 1900s, a large reservoir built to provide water for Fort Worth, Texas, also opened up opportunities for businesses to develop. Casino Beach, Casino Ballroom, and a large bathhouse became popular spots for thousands. A nearby village, with increasing population, soon had a small school, churches, and other establishments. With nearby Jacksboro Highway running from downtown Fort Worth past the beach area, gambling increased, as did gangster activity. After a long while, with much intervention, these unlawful situations became history. Legendary Locals of Lake Worth spotlights the founders of the small village and features individuals who impacted the area--many for the better, others for the worst. Some may never have received proper recognition until this book's acknowledgment of them.
Legendary Locals of Lakewood
9781467101165
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Lakewood was a vibrant community long before it incorporated in 1996, though cityhood helped give the area one name and identity. In the mid-19th century, Lakewood was the site of British farms and the first US military base in Washington Territory. Men who became famous in the Civil War, such as George Pickett, served there. Native American leader Leschi, the victim of "judicial lynching" by civilians, spent his last days there. As Lakewood became a retreat for Puget Sound's rich and famous, names such as Carman and Alexander--as famous in their day as the name Weyerhaeuser was and is--settled here, leaving behind reminders like Lakewold Gardens. One of Lakewood's most famous residents was Ivan, a captive gorilla who captured the hearts of animal lovers worldwide.
Legendary Locals of Lansing
9781467100311
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Lansing was settled in the 1840s by German and Dutch immigrants. Farming, then the railroad, played major roles in the growth of the village. The brickyards left a lasting impact on the community, as did Henry Ford's airport hangar, which still stands today. The schools produced figures who have become well known outside Lansing, such as Major League Baseball outfielder Curtis Granderson, who has won a Silver Slugger award and joined baseball's elite 20-20-20-20 club. The community has been blessed with caring and dedicated educators like Hal Gronewald and Durward Shuetz, whose reach extended beyond the classroom. Lansing has also raised war heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country--men like August Olsen and Philip Martini. Many other heroes have served and protected at home, including Kenneth Novak Jr., Lansing's only police officer to die in the line of duty.
Legendary Locals of Las Cruces
9781467101332
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When Las Cruces was founded 164 years ago near a group of crosses marking the graves of travelers and soldiers, a rawhide rope separated acreage for a church, a cemetery, and family lots. That rawhide rope brought to Las Cruces a new era filled with the exhilaration of the Wild West and the people who molded "the City of the Crosses." Over the decades, the number of local men, women, and children who deserve recognition as heroes of history or champions of the present is infinite, including Dr. Nathan E. Boyd, entrepreneurial creator of the Boyd Sanitarium; Gov. Susana Martinez, the first female governor of New Mexico and the first female Hispanic governor in the United States; and Letticia Martinez, a legally blind swimmer who competed with the 2012 London Paralympics Swimming Team. Like thousands of others, theirs is a story of persistent hope, courage, and desire to make a difference.
Legendary Locals of Latrobe
9781467101844
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Located at the base of the rolling hills of the Laurel Highlands, Latrobe is best known as the birthplace of children's television pioneer Fred Rogers and golf legend Arnold Palmer. It is the home of Rolling Rock Beer, Pittsburgh Steelers training camp, and St. Vincent College. Latrobe has also been recognized for many famous firsts, like the first banana split, first all-professional football team, first Benedictine monastery in the United States, first nonstop airmail pickup, and first female nuclear scientist at Westinghouse Electric Company. It is a community of individuals who collectively exemplify the strong, hardworking culture of Western Pennsylvania--people like Oliver Barnes, a railroad engineer and Latrobe's founder; Philip Mowry McKenna, innovator in the machining of steel and father of "Kennametal" tools; Joseph E. Greubel, who transformed his family's ice cream-centered dairy stores into the thriving Valley Dairy Restaurants; Dr. Sara Carr McComb, a "legendary" librarian; and Robert Mendler, a Holocaust survivor who spent his life educating young people to respect one other. Legendary Locals of Latrobe celebrates these and nearly 200 other noteworthy figures and groups who have shaped and continue to shape the community.
Legendary Locals of Los Gatos
9781467101356
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In 1878, Charles Erskine Scott Wood, builder of the Cats Estate, wrote "Good citizens are the riches of a city." From its beginning, Los Gatos has suffered no shortage of hardworking, inventive, entrepreneurial, and gifted people. Early orchardists found the land unbelievably productive, but their crops were threatened with disease and pesky infestations of gophers. John Bean and Zephyr Macabee provided solutions. Louise Van Meter was an unconventional teacher who championed the new concept of kindergarten. Neta Snook Southern defied traditional female roles to become a pilot. She taught Amelia Earhart to fly before retiring to Los Gatos, where she raised prunes, apricots, and miniature horses. John Steinbeck wrote The Grapes of Wrath during one long, hot summer in town. Steve Wozniak settled in Los Gatos and donated computers to schools. The lives presented here have contributed to the sparkling legacy of the "Gem City of the Foothills."
Legendary Locals of Lowell
9781467100489
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When Nathan Appleton and his colleagues built their first textile mill on the banks of the Merrimack River in 1822, they were pursuing the vision of their departed mentor, Francis Cabot Lowell. The complex system of machinery, labor, management, and capital that resulted made the city that they named Lowell the centerpiece of America's Industrial Revolution. Changes in technology and commerce made the golden age of Lowell's mills short lived. Despite the success of businesses such as the patent medicine company of James C. Ayer, jobs remained scarce for decades. Hard times created strong leaders—people like Congresswoman Edith Nourse Rogers, who sponsored the G.I. Bill, and writer Jack Kerouac, who added a new voice to the country's literary mix. More recently, Paul Tsongas inspired a new generation to transform Lowell into one of the most exciting mid-sized cities in post-industrial America and a world model of urban revitalization. Legendary Locals of Lowell tells the city's story through pictures of its people.
Legendary Locals of Marana, Oro Valley, and Catalina
9781467100168
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Running west to east along the northern boundary of Tucson is a corridor of unique and inspiring communities. In Legendary Locals of Marana, Oro Valley, and Catalina, readers will discover the historical riches, courage, and determination of the Western spirit that shaped the state and the country. George Pusch was a member of the Arizona Territorial Legislature that guided Arizona from territory to statehood. Sam Chu, a Chinese immigrant, turned barren land into one of the most productive cotton farms in America. Sheriff John Nelson helped establish Arizona's reputation as cattle country. Under the guidance of Dick Eggerding, the public arts program made Oro Valley one of the best small towns in America. America's talented athletes have called the corridor home, including Hank Leiber, 1930s baseball star; Maren Seidler, Olympic shot-putter; and Sherry Cervi, barrel racing champion. In these communities, charity work, artistic talent, and military courage are found in abundance. If people make history, then the corridor is a treasure trove of the country's past and future.
Legendary Locals of McDowell County
9781467100366
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West Virginia's most impoverished county, McDowell County, is also its richest, with reserves of mineral wealth that continue to provide the framework for modern society from Panama and Toyko to New York and Chicago. With a history cratered by triumph and tragedy, the people of McDowell County have endured unspeakable hardships and near isolation but continue to excel in a myriad of unexpectedly surprising ways. Robert Morris, "the financier of the American Revolution," went to the poor house with the belief that McDowell's mineral wealth could fuel a new nation. Jedediah Hotchkiss, the mapmaker who charted the course for Gen. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson's valley campaign, resurrected Morris's dream to rebuild the South into an industrial giant on local coal. Men of vision and means like Frederick Kimball and J.P. Morgan built fortunes on McDowell County's mineral wealth. The musical Womack family, baseball manager Charlie Manuel, comedic genius Steve Harvey, writers Kermit Hunter and Jeannette Walls, and thousands who served in all ranks of the military, many making the supreme sacrifice, are among those who have made their mark on McDowell County.
Legendary Locals of McLean
9781467101905
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McLean, Virginia, a whistle stop along the Great Falls & Old Dominion Railroad, came about in 1910. It was named after John R. McLean, publisher of the Washington Post newspaper and an owner of the railroad. This was a farming community that never incorporated. A few of the families instrumental in the formation of the village that followed were Mackall, Laughlin, Storm, Carper, and Smoot. Because of its proximity to the nation's capital, McLean attracted people from all walks of life. But it was the arrival of the Kennedy families in the late 1950s that put McLean on the map. The thread that holds the community together is spirited volunteerism. This volume contains images of a few of the personalities who give McLean a sense of place. The majority of the photographs have been donated by individuals to ensure that history does not lose these significant personalities, past or present, who left an imprint on their community.
Legendary Locals of Meridian
9781467100793
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In 1831, Richard McLemore received a federal land grant of 2,000 acres located in the future Lauderdale County, Mississippi. He gave free land to those he considered good neighbors and built his home within the one square mile that would be incorporated as Meridian on February 10, 1860. On Valentine's Day 1864, Gen. W.T. Sherman's troops marched into the small railroad town. After burning the town, Sherman wrote in his journal, "Meridian . . . no longer exists." Meridian did survive and became Mississippi's largest city due to its railroad and timber industries and progressive settlers like the Weidmanns, Marks-Rothenbergs, Threefoots, Rushes, Rosenbaums, Rileys, Andersons, and others. Within these pages, meet the people who proved Sherman wrong and continue to influence the area today.
Legendary Locals of Metairie
9781467100601
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Metairie is often considered the dull stepchild of New Orleans--a concrete "Anywhere, USA" lined with shopping malls frequented by fast-food eating, drive-up-daiquiri-drinking, cultureless suburbanites. Despite stereotypical misconceptions, sons and daughters of New Orleans who call Metairie home are every bit as colorful, talented, devious, and gracious as their relatives in the city. Johnny Wiggs kept New Orleans jazz alive. Verne Tripp invented "perma-press" and pioneered use of the electron microscope. On Atherton Drive, David Ferrie plotted a Cuban coup. Peter Gennaro left his father's bar to become a Broadway star. Shirley Ann Grau raised her children here while writing novels. Al Scramuzza built a crawfish empire and coached Metairie children. Ellen Degeneres found national fame, while Becky Allen won our hearts at home. Those who may not be widely known but have impacted lives in the community and afar are also included in this book, which is a tribute to the people of Metairie.
Legendary Locals of Middletown
9781467101202
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Although the town benefits from a position on a major navigable waterway, Middletown's success is primarily due to the energy, creativity, and diversity of its people. These include James Riley, whose autobiography detailing his trials as a white slave in Northern Africa showed millions of Americans the evils of slavery; Max Corvo, who helped the World War II Italian underground defeat the fascist regime; and Christie Ellen McLeod, longtime chief pathologist at Middlesex Memorial Hospital. Middletown can boast of athletes such as Helen "Babe" Carlson, a tremendously strong competitor who participated on men's baseball teams; Willie Pep, who, while going for the world featherweight title, had a record of 134 wins and only one loss; and Corny Thompson, who sparked the University of Connecticut basketball program's rise to national prominence. More notables include Allie Wrubel, a prolific songwriter and Academy Award winner for his song "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah;" Vivian McRae Wesley, a teacher, reading director, and leader of Middletown's African American community; and Francesco Lentini, who was born with three legs and appeared in every major circus and carnival.
Legendary Locals of Mill Valley
9781467101288
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Since the 1800s, Mill Valley has attracted spirited freethinkers, entrepreneurs, nature lovers, rabble-rousers, and more than a few rock stars. Early Mill Valley booster Sidney Cushing encouraged tourism with a train up Mount Tamalpais called "the Crookedest Railroad in the World." Laura White, more concerned with protecting Mill Valley's natural beauty than attracting more people, brought the town its "Outdoor Art Club" and a tradition of conservationism. Vera Schultz broke the glass ceiling of local politics in 1946, and in 1973, 10-year-old Jenny Fulle's letter to President Nixon changed the future of America's female athletes. When an elementary school teacher named Rita Abrams wrote a song about why she loved Mill Valley, it became a national hit; so did a song about the heart of rock and roll, written by local boy Huey Lewis, who had attended that same school. The stories of Mill Valley's legendary locals--whether from 1890 or 1980--are sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes inspiring, often humorous, and always fascinating.
Legendary Locals of Moline
9781467102353
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David Benton Sears could be considered the father of Moline, Illinois. It was upon his land that Moline was platted in 1843. It was because of his brush dam on the Mississippi River between the Moline shore and Rock Island—known today as Arsenal Island—that significant industry began to develop. Grain and lumber mills were the first, but farm implement and related factories soon found prominence after John Deere moved his plow-making business here in 1848. It would not be long before immigrants, particularly the Swedish, Belgian, and German, were drawn to Moline for the jobs and opportunities and added to the growing and prosperous population. Legendary Locals of Moline tells the known and not-so-well-known stories of many of the early and the more-recent individuals who have contributed to the fabric of the community, both locally and nationally. Historical and current photographs illustrate those who affected business and industry, culture, academia, public service, organizations and philanthropies, and sports and entertainment.
Legendary Locals of Monroe
9781467101639
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Located at the center of the 12 rural parishes that comprise northeastern Louisiana, Monroe has long been a tiny metropolis offering its citizens a taste of the colorful politics and rich cultural history for which the Bayou State is known. Featuring the tales of the area's most prominent politicians, innovators, entrepreneurs, broadcasters, musicians, reality stars, athletes, educators, movers, shakers, and rabble-rousers, Legendary Locals of Monroe takes a look at the characters whose fascinating stories paint the vibrant history of this southern river city. Presented in a clear, concise format, this volume features biographical accounts that range from inspiring and captivating to shocking and tragic. Profiles include such notable locals as indie-film queen Parker Posey, Coca-Cola innovator Joseph Biedenharn, pizza restaurant dynamo Johnny Huntsman, Black Panther Party founder Huey P. Newton, baseball great Chuck Finley, country music superstar Andy Griggs, internationally renowned composer Frank Ticheli, flamboyant politician Shady Wall, and many more.
Legendary Locals of Montclair
9781467100533
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In the 1870s, railroads transformed Montclair from a rural retreat to a haven for influential businessmen and artists. They came for the orderly government, excellent schools, flourishing churches, able physicians, and attractive families. Actress Laura Keene sought the area's healthy atmosphere after contracting tuberculosis. Civil War hero Dr. J.J.H. Love was influential in organizing the first hospital. Other Civil War notables include Medal of Honor recipient Abram Haring and Gen. John C. Tidball. After famed painter George Inness made Montclair his home, dozens of artists came to be near him and share his influences. Today's roster of artists continues to be amazing: Oliver Lake, Frankie Faison, Horace Ott, George Walker, Olympia Dukakis, and Louis Zorich. Legendary Locals of Montclair shares the inspiring tales of songwriter Herman Hupfeld; Lucy Stone, founder of the American Suffrage Association; medical pioneers Emily and Elizabeth Blackwell; pastor Harry Emerson Fosdick; violin maker Carleen Hutchins; astronaut Buzz Aldrin; inventor Carleton Ellis; and baseball greats Yogi Berra and Larry Doby.
Legendary Locals of Mooresville
9781467100038
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The rumble of trains carrying people, cotton, and freight to and from Moore's Siding was the song of a vibrant community. People worked to build homes, schools, and churches as early as 1760. They got a town, Mooresville, in the bargain. James Elbert Sherrill, George C. Goodman, and the Turner brothers supported the growing economy. Love of community led Winnie Hooper and Elizabeth Matheson to champion recreation. Shaw Brown saw people in need and worked to establish a Christian mission. Mayor Joe Knox and Rep. Robert Brawley embraced change and led a mill town toward a technological future. Success at home led to success far away for artist Selma Burke, Mooresville Moors pitcher Hoyt Wilhelm, New York Parties author Punky Brawley, and Reynolds Tobacco president S. Clay Williams.
Legendary Locals of Moscow
9781467102070
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The rich and fertile land upon which Moscow sits has sustained a vibrant community of hard working thinkers, creators, and activists for more than 125 years. Just as the area's first inhabitants returned to camas fields in Paradise Valley year after year, pioneers settled in Hog Heaven because they found ready access to life's necessities. Businessmen like Nathaniel Williamson and Frank David tied their fortunes to the local farming economy to the same degree as seed pioneer Willis Crites or sustainability advocate Mary Jane Butters. While the bounty that surrounds Moscow feeds its growth, the town's cultural lifeblood is pumped by the University of Idaho. The university has provided Moscow with inventors such as Malcolm Renfrew, talented athletes like Olympian Dan O'Brien, and colorful characters, perhaps best embodied by Dean of Women Permeal French. The picturesque hills of the Palouse roll through the history of this unique town, rooting tomorrow's leaders in the work of yesterday's groundbreakers.
Legendary Locals of Mount Clemens
9781467100120
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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.
Legendary Locals of Myrtle Beach
9781467101431
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Simeon B. Chapin was an entrepreneur and visionary who, along with Franklin G. Burroughs, helped create the foundation of what is Myrtle Beach today. B.B. Benfield built and opened the area's first movie theater, and Lawrence Boulier was a landscape artist and founder of the Waccamaw Arts and Crafts Guild. John Woodside built the grand Ocean Forest Hotel. Col. H.B. Springs was the town's first insurance and real estate agent, and James Bryan Sr. was the first president of Myrtle Beach Farms. Blanche Floyd was a beloved teacher and author, and W.L. Harrelson made history by serving as Myrtle Beach's first mayor. Earl Husted brought the first amusement park rides to this area, and Anthony James left after high school to make a name for himself as the first widely known actor from the Myrtle Beach area. The stories of these Myrtle Beach notables and many more fill the pages of this book. Some of these names may be unfamiliar, but each of these legendary locals, in his or her own way, has helped make Myrtle Beach the historical hometown and vacationers' paradise that it is today.
Legendary Locals of New Britain
9781467101134
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New Britain began in 1754 as an ecclesiastical society and farming village, and with few natural resources, was transformed into a modern industrial city by the time of its incorporation in 1871. Attracting waves of immigrant workers and entrepreneurs, this became a diverse but unified community in which people of all ethnicities worked together, served together in times of war, and even played together on the baseball fields. Legendary Locals of New Britain includes remarkable residents among the early inhabitants and settlers; the people and institutions that brought New Britain to cityhood; artists and entertainers; famous or leading immigrants; sports legends; and men and women who have otherwise made their mark on New Britain, the nation, or the world.
Legendary Locals of New Hampshire's Lakes Region
9781467101998
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There are few places in America that have such a rich variety of landscape and scenery as the Lakes Region of New Hampshire: from the summer calm of Squam Lake to the robust white winter mountaintops of the Gunstock Mountain Resort. So it is no surprise that the people who call it home reflect the same wide palette of humankind—from the pre–Revolutionary War surveyors who first marked their initials on a rock at Weirs Beach to Bob Lawton, the current owner of the world's largest arcade; from one of George Washington's inner circle to Ernest Thompson, the award-winning author of On Golden Pond. The Lakes Region draws them—or grows them—all, because it has it all.
Legendary Locals of New Haven
9781467100960
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Finding someone who is not legendary in New Haven is nearly as hard as knowing how to pronounce the local dialect. In its earliest period there appeared epic characters like John Davenport, the town's founder; Roger Sherman, the city's first mayor and only signer of the four major US papers; and Benedict Arnold, patriot and famed traitor. The growing city emerged as a place of innovation and industry with people like Eli Whitney, inventor of the cotton gin; Noah Webster, author of the first American English dictionary; Charles Goodyear, inventor of vulcanized rubber; and William Lanson, a distinguished African American contractor in the early 19th century. As the seat of Yale University and other major institutions, New Haven's men and women continue to make a name for themselves. These legends include Yoshi and Bun Lai, mother and son restaurateurs who create sustainable sushi; Doris Townsend, historian and author; Frank Pepe's Pizzeria Napoletana, begun in 1925; and Louis Lunch, birthplace of the hamburger. Legendary Locals of New Haven opens the doors to the city's rich history and its continuing legacy as a cultural center.
Legendary Locals of New Orleans
9781467100397
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Since its founding in 1718 by the LeMoyne brothers, New Orleans has cemented its status as one of the busiest ports on the continent. Producing many unique and fascinating individuals, Colonial New Orleans was a true gumbo of personalities. The city lays claim to many nationalities, including Spaniards Baron Carondelet, Don Andres Almonester, and French sailors and privateers Jean Lafitte and Dominique Youx. Businessmen like Daniel Henry Holmes and Isidore Newman contributed to local flavor, as did musicians Buddy Bolden, Joe "King" Oliver, Louis Armstrong, and Louis Prima. War heroes include P.G.T. Beauregard and Andrew Jackson Higgins. Avery Alexander, A.P. Tureaud, and Ernest Morial paved the way for African Americans to lead the city. Kate Chopin, Lafcadio Hearn, Ellen DeGeneres, Mel Ott, Archie Manning, and Drew Brees have kept the world entertained, while chefs and restaurateurs like Leah Chase and the Brennans sharpened the city's culinary chops. Legendary Locals of New Orleans pays homage to the notables that put spice in that gumbo.
Legendary Locals of Newburyport
9781467101424
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YEAT! The colloquial greeting is distinctly Newburyport, uttered by this seaport's citizens to acknowledge one another in passing or to seek out fellow locals in far-flung places. Individuals featured in Legendary Locals of Newburyport extend to readers a congenial "Yeat!" William Lloyd Garrison, native son and leading abolitionist; "Lord" Timothy Dexter, who staged his own mock funeral; Harry O'Connor, founder of the World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade; James Stehlin, celebrated Newburyport High School football coach; Rhina Espaillat, award-winning poet and founder of Powwow River Poets; Richard Simkins, owner of the legendary Grog restaurant-tavern; Sue Little, owner of Jabberwocky Bookshop; Tom Maginnis, drummer for the post-punk band Buffalo Tom; Mickey, feral cat mascot for the Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society, and 1st Lt. Derek Hines, who gave his life while serving his country in Afghanistan, are among the legendary locals--native born and transplants--who have left their imprint, or paw print, upon the Port.
Legendary Locals of Newton
9781467101462
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Newton has more than enough legendary locals to fill volumes of books. Endless are the stories about men, women, and young people who dedicated, or still dedicate, countless hours of their lives in order to make Newton and the world a better place. Newton has been a launching ground for award-winning authors, Nobel Prize winners, Olympic medalists, and Hollywood stars. Some of Boston's best athletes have chosen to make the Garden City their home. In the pages of this book, readers will learn about Newton's first mayor, James Hyde, who never lost an election in more than 50 times on the ballot; Rev. Edmond Kelley, the first pastor at Myrtle Baptist Church and a former slave; Leonard Zakim, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League who dedicated his life to fighting prejudice and civil rights violations; Louise Bruyn, who walked from Newton to Washington, DC, to protest the Vietnam War; Shirley Lewis, known as the regal queen of the blues; and Ted Williams, regarded as baseball's greatest hitter, who lived in Newton Upper Falls.
Legendary Locals of Newtown
9781467100717
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Since its inception in 1705, Newtown has been an agricultural community at heart. Small, self-sufficient, subsistence farms grew but not substantially enough to overcome competition from the South and Midwest. Men like Ezra Johnson continued to farm until the beginning of the 20th century; others turned to dairy farming, like Israel Nezvesky, or to wholesale nursery operations, like Charles Newman, or to viniculture, like Morgan McLaughlin. Industry made contributions to Newtown's economic landscape in the 19th century through the efforts of William Cole of the New York Belting and Packing Company and Samuel Curtis of Curtis Packaging. James Brunot, developer of Scrabble, and William Upham, inventor of the tea bag, continued to innovate and form Newtown's unique culture. Community commitment thrives today through people like Laurie McCollum, who continues her grandfather's tradition as manager of Lorenzo's Restaurant, and Diane Wardenburg, who carries on Ginny Lathrop's legacy by guiding the Lathrop School of Dance to serve a new generation of aspiring dancers.
Legendary Locals of Norco
9781467102322
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From its beginning as a poultry powerhouse to World War II Navy town and to Horse Town USA, Norco has been known over time as a community of go-getters and dreamers with unparalleled volunteerism, stubbornly protecting a rural way of life. Founder Rex Clark wished for families to be self-sustaining with what they could grow and raise on their property; wounded Marine Johnny Winterholler, against incredible odds, led the way for other disabled veterans as the star of the famed wheelchair basketball team the Rolling Devils; and Tamara Ivie fulfilled her impossible dream to play professional baseball. And regular folks, known once as Acres of Neighbors, stepped up to create a city of  elbow room, stopping cold, big-money developers wishing to cut the community into small lots. Today, Norco is an equestrian paradise with trails on most streets and plentiful open space. For decades, this small community has produced activists, ballplayers, college presidents, physicians, actors, cowboys, and lots of Norconians who give back to the community that raised them.
Legendary Locals of North Ridgeville
9781467101448
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It was 1810 when a group of men from Connecticut roved west to Ohio, establishing the first permanent settlement in what became North Ridgeville. Led by David Beebe Sr., they foraged for food and shelter. The pioneer spirit of the aggregation sustained them and others who followed. Farming provided sustenance and many farms including those owned by the Solomons, Gerharts, and others have continued the tradition. Education was greatly respected and 10 school districts became part of the community's landscape. An early school still stands on Jaycox Road, where retired teachers Julie Bajda and Barb Sutton reenacted the roles of teachers from earlier times. The former Buffalo Trail became Center Ridge Road, the city's main thoroughfare, and, in 1960, the township developed into a city governed by a mayor, council, and various department heads. Businesses, such as Buescher's Hardware and the Bogner Funeral Home opened and remain today. Groups of residents cultivated interests into organizations with a goal of working together seamlessly for the good of the community.
Legendary Locals of Norwich
9781467100786
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Norwich measured nine square miles in the 1659 deed that Mohegan chief Uncas gave to the brave English settlers from Old Saybrook. The names of the city's streets and parks are testaments of the pride the community has in its town's residents and history. Stories abound of Norwich natives and American revolutionaries like John Durkee, who made the king's tax representative resign; scoundrel Maj. John Mason, who ordered the Mystic massacre of 100 men; and traitor Benedict Arnold, who burned the nearby city of New London. Legendary Locals of Norwich also sheds light on Norwich's more modern heroes and heroines, whose everyday actions give homage to the past, recognition to the present, and courage and vision to the future. Featured are Stanley Israelite, whose personal drive has helped businesses and individuals succeed; Eileen Akers, whose actions changed the world for students; the philanthropy of Harold Ross; and the pride of retailer Jackie Quercia.
Legendary Locals of Oak Cliff
9781467100779
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Since its earliest days, Oak Cliff, a rolling, tree-covered section of Dallas, has generated outstanding personalities in all fields of American society and business and continues to do so today. In a high school history class, future US Speaker of the House Jim Wright caught his political vision; two years later, future Olympic champion and LPGA founder Babe Didrikson began her training at Lake Cliff Park. The legendary Stevie Ray Vaughan, along with contemporaries Michael Martin Murphy and Ray Wylie Hubbard, began his music career in Oak Cliff, while sports legends like Jerry Rhome and Harvey Martin paid their dues on local fields of play. Hollywood successes Belita Moreno and Stephen Tobolowsky first trained in their high school drama classes, decades after pioneer Oak Cliff girl Sarah Horton Cockrell became Dallas's first millionaire. Although a presidential assassin once lived in the community, two of America's largest mega-churches now call Oak Cliff home, as did the Father of the Texas Sesquicentennial.
Legendary Locals of Oak Park
9781467100861
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Founded in the 1830s by Joseph and Betty Kettlestrings, an intrepid young couple from Yorkshire, England, the small settlement of Oak Park grew slowly until the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. Before the ashes had cooled, Oak Park's population boomed as displaced families relocated into the community on the west edge of Chicago. By the turn of the 20th century, this thriving village became a magnet attracting ever-larger numbers of prosperous, progressive people to settle in what many referred to as the finest of the streetcar suburbs. In the 1960s and 1970s, Oak Park became widely recognized for encouraging racial and ethnic diversity. Though best known for such residents as architect Frank Lloyd Wright and novelist Ernest Hemingway, Oak Park also lays claim to scores of others who have shone brightly in the national spotlight, as well as current folks who are passionate, daring, and dynamic. More than 100 noteworthy Oak Parkers— past and present—are featured in this volume, from writers and restaurateurs to mobsters and movie stars.
Legendary Locals of Oakland
9781467102094
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Oakland has been shaped by the transcontinental railroad, freeways, earthquakes, and its location on the shores of San Francisco Bay. But what makes Oakland such an amazing city are the people who have called Oakland home over the years, like Mayor Samuel Merritt, who helped make Oakland the terminus of the transcontinental railroad; Elizabeth Flood, who worked to desegregate Oakland schools in the 1870s; and F.M. Borax Smith, who created the Key System. Oakland has been home to game-changing athletes like father of modern tennis Don Budge and Curt Flood, who helped bring free agency to sports; artists like writer Jack London, dancer Isadora Duncan, poet Joaquin Miller, and cartoonist Morrie Turner; and culture-shaping movements like the Black Panther Party. However, the impact of Oaklanders is not just historical. From Oscar Grant to Favianna Rodriguez to Marshawn Lynch to Jerry Brown, people in Oakland continue to shape not just the Town, but the entire country.
Legendary Locals of Ocean City
9781467100045
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Ocean City has been called America's Greatest Family Resort since the slogan was adopted by the chamber of commerce in 1920. But it has always been a gathering place for families, beginning in 1879 when the Lake family came here to build a Christian Seaside Resort. Since those early years, Ocean City has evolved into a community of diverse people, with the value of family still holding strong. While famous people, such as actress Grace Kelly and author Gay Talese, called Ocean City home, most of the people in this book are ordinary citizens. Many of these families are third and fourth generation. Some trace their roots back to the Lakes, others have grandparents or great-grandparents who came here as immigrants. Still others have moved here more recently; all contribute to making Ocean City a wonderful place to live and work.
Legendary Locals of Oceanside
9781467100458
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Through its history, Oceanside has been a community packed with personalities, including the first Eagle Scout, first female Jewish cantor, two Freedom Riders, noteworthy scientists, and caring citizens. It is where War of 1812 general Daniel Bedell shot his musket, Ziegfeld's Gilda Gray practiced her shimmy, basketball great Art Heyman dribbled, and NFL quarterback Jay Fiedler threw his first football. Academy Award nominee David Paymer studied acting, Disney chief executive officer Robert Iger watched the Mouseketeers, and New York Yankees president Randy Levine played Little League baseball. This is the neighborhood where Jeanne Marion Doane orated for women's suffrage, Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter navigated canals, and Goldman-Sachs chief executive officer Stephen Friedman filled his piggy bank. Its foundation is the people in its religious institutions, fire department, and school district. The area's business people are unified, hard working, and charitable.
Legendary Locals of Ogden
9781467100304
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Incorporated in 1850, Ogden was first settled by Mormon pioneers. In 1869, the transcontinental railroad was completed and Ogden became known as the "Junction City." With the rise and fall of the railroad as a backdrop, Ogden's legendary locals emerged in business, politics, and culture. Famous entrepreneurs, like David Eccles and the Wattis brothers, left their mark across the West, while actors like Robert Walker, Moroni Olsen, and Gedde Watanabe took on Hollywood. Richard Richards left Ogden to shape national politics as chairman of the Republican National Committee, while Fred Kiesel challenged the local majority to become Ogden's first non-Mormon mayor. Through it all, Ogden's everyday citizens have helped shape the community as well. From Willie Moore, whose barbershop has stood on Ogden's infamous 25th Street for decades, to the women of the Red Cross who served food to over a million servicemen in transit during World War II, Ogden's history is full of local legends.
Legendary Locals of Orleans County
9781467100106
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Part of the Niagara Frontier and located in the western area of New York State, Orleans County covers a total area of 817 square miles, of which 426 square miles are water. The high proportion of water is due to the extension of Orleans County north into Lake Ontario to the Canadian border (a line of latitude running through the middle of the lake). For this reason, the legend of the Milan, the sunken schooner, is included in these pages, along with Orleans County's notable citizens. George Pullman of railroad car fame, Santa Claus School founder Charlie Howard, and Disney artist Hank Porter are gone now, but this region continues to produce local legends.
Legendary Locals of Oxnard
9781467100564
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The roots of Oxnard history begin on the fertile plain of western Ventura County. A century after the Native Chumash were interrupted by the Spanish Mission system, the rancho period that followed was slow to develop on the Oxnard Plain. By the late 19th century, groups of newcomers from Europe, Latin America, and the post-Civil War states began settling on the agricultural terrain. After experimenting with various dry crops, the introduction of the cash crop of sugar beets brought about the next wave of emigration from Asia, as well as a steady flow of emigrants from the Latin countries. As Oxnard has grown, so has its diverse population and the contributions from the many residents who have made this area their home for generations. Legendary Locals of Oxnard offers a glimpse of some of these individuals.
Legendary Locals of Pacifica
9781467100984
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Pacifica has the nickname Scenic Pacifica because of its beautiful ocean vistas and lovely hillside views. Twelve miles south of San Francisco, the city of Pacifica grew rapidly, although not to the size that some had predicted. A haven for young families, Pacifica fostered strong leaders among housewives, environmental activists, and businesspeople. The strength of Pacifica, other than its natural beauty, has always been its people. The schools, service clubs, and athletic fields produced local celebrities, but the proximity to San Francisco helped forge more widely known legends. This combination of personalities helped make it possible to identify a broad spectrum of legendary locals, from a woman who was the first mayor of Pacifica to a successful comedian who earned national attention on Saturday Night Live and in the movies.
Legendary Locals of Pelham
9781467100755
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From its start as a farming community, Pelham has been a place for dreamers and visionaries. It has been home to NASA astronaut Richard Linnehan and current NASCAR host Meghan Lamontagne, who made her television debut winning America's Funniest Home Videos. Pelham has many other residents who may not have reached for the stars but instead focused on making a great community. Harry Atwood ran Atwood's Store, which housed the post office until 1965. Aunt Molly served as librarian at the Pelham Public Library for more than 55 years. The Harris family's Pelham Inn has always welcomed visitors from all over the region. Originally a parade group, the Starlighters Drum & Bugle Corps was soon participating in world open competitions. Twins John and Charles Steck buzzed above the town from their plane but also performed search and rescue missions. Longtime resident Eleanor Burton remembers all her students, served on every committee, and still actively volunteers. These legendary locals are people who, in their own comical or poignant way, have shared their vision to create our community.
Throughout the history of Pine City, individuals have dreamed, struggled, and created a remarkable place of American culture. Legendary Locals of Pine City represents an amazing mix of talents and activities, sometimes with far-reaching effects. The Pine City story is told here in the faces of its people: the innovators who brought industry and commerce; generous people and institutions who have given back to the community in a variety of ways; participants in Pine City's thriving cultural life embracing a spectrum of interests and enthusiasms; and ordinary people living everyday lives who have done extraordinary things or had remarkable experiences. This book honors such individuals as the renowned Karla Nelsen, the world's most muscular woman; Anna Dickey Olesen, the first woman to break the glass ceiling and run for US Senate; and Shane Bauer's mom, Cindy Hickey, who worked diligently for more than two years to free her son from captivity in Iran, along with many other memorable people.
Legendary Locals of Pittsburgh
9781467101080
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Pittsburgh is a city rich in history, perhaps best known as the industrial hub for steel production, but it is also a city with deep roots of personal achievement. From Andrew Carnegie and his important role in putting the "Steel City" on the map to beloved Fred Rogers, renowned early childhood educator, creator, and television host of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, countless individuals have made a lasting impact on the community and the nation. Those featured in Legendary Locals of Pittsburgh have played vital roles in the medical field, such as Dr. Kenneth L. Garver, and served as quiet heroes, like Norman and Margaret Samways, Edith Balas, and Harold McKamish--all of whom have contributed to Pittsburgh's unique identity through public service, business, education, and volunteerism. And chances are, readers just might know more than a few of the wide variety of people profiled who have left an indelible mark on a city they loved.
Legendary Locals of Plymouth
9781467100373
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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.
Legendary Locals of Portsmouth
9781467100762
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From its beginnings as an English settlement to its evolution into a postwar tourist destination filled with restaurants, shops, and historic infrastructures, Portsmouth has seen its fair share of famous residents and local legends. The prominent people of Portsmouth range from the infamous Frank Jones, a merchant who became a world-famous brewer and eventual political playboy, to the lesser-known but equally influential Constance Bean, an administrative assistant in the city's recreation department who changed the lives of countless children through her care and compassion. While mindful of the past, Legendary Locals of Portsmouth focuses heavily on the city's contemporaries. Today's legendary locals include the likes of Frank Catalino, a local businessman whose love for pizza and people earned him a slice of his success on State Street; and Jim Splaine, a lifelong local politician who led the charge to legalize same-sex marriage and solidify New Hampshire's lead role in the presidential primaries. The story of Portsmouth could not be told without these people and other such notable names as "Sal the Barber," Evelyn Marconi, Celia Thaxter, Joe Shanley, Valerie Cunningham, and Macy Morse.
Legendary Locals of Pottstown
9781467100854
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From its founding by Colonial ironworker John Potts through its heyday as a manufacturing hub in the 20th century, Pottstown has been defined by entrepreneurs, inventors, and hard-working immigrants with dreams of a better life. It has been home to a variety of churches, community organizations, and businesses that have sustained and entertained residents and visitors for more than 260 years. It has also produced its fair share of musicians, doctors, nurses, and professional athletes, like Dick Ricketts, the first pick in the 1955 NBA draft. Pottstown is a culinary capital in its own right as the place where Amanda Smith started Mrs. Smith's pies, and where Dan Brunish sells his famous sausage sandwiches out of the deli started by his grandparents in 1937. Today, with the vision of people like Marta Kiesling and Deborah Stimson-Snow, cofounders of Steel River Playhouse, and Dr. Karen Stout, president of Montgomery County Community College, Pottstown is reinventing itself as a center for art, technology, higher education, and recreation on the Schuylkill River in southeastern Pennsylvania.
Legendary Locals of Prairie du Chien
9781467101936
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From the day Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet entered the Mississippi River in 1673, fur traders, and then settlers, were drawn to Prairie du Chien. Red Bird and Black Hawk opposed American expansionism, while Zachary Taylor enforced the change. John Muir admired the majesty of the Mississippi River, and John Lawler accepted the challenge to bridge the waters. As people came to Prairie du Chien, generations worked to form a small, cohesive community. Some, like George and Dorothy Jeffers, Ralph and Albina Kozelka, Henry Howe, and Frank Stark, began businesses that descendants continue to operate. John Peacock and Mike Valley found a livelihood from the river. Art Frydenlund, Jim Bittner, and Fred LaPointe promoted and encouraged all to come. B.A. Kennedy and Jack Mulrooney created an outstanding educational and sports program. Peter Scanlan and Cal Peters recorded the rich history. Roy and Geraldine George established the George Family Foundation, and Morris MacFarlane led a movement to create scholarships. Lori Knapp helped disabled people without realizing her impact. Politician Patrick Lucey and cowgirl Elaine Kramer gained national recognition. All these people and others, like Dr. T.F. Farrell and Robert Garrity, were neighbors. Their stories fill these pages.
Legendary Locals of Princeton
9781467100496
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Princeton grew along a Leni Lenape Indian trail that was widened in the 1700s and eventually became part of the King's Highway through New Jersey. Right from its beginning, Princeton's history has been truly American. So have its inhabitants, both great and humble. George Washington won a crucial victory here and returned when Princeton was briefly de facto capital of the fledgling United States. George Gallup pioneered modern opinion polling here. Albert Einstein and other European refugees transformed the region scientifically and intellectually. Internationally famous actors and musicians, including Paul Robeson, Bebe Neuwirth, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Ethan Hawke, have called Princeton home. Resident writers have ranged from Sinclair Lewis to Peter Benchley. Locally beloved were small business persons such as country store owner Mary Watts and public servants like mayor and unabashed cancer battler Barbara Boggs Sigmund. And among the good and great have been a few real rogues. They are all part of Princeton's colorful saga.
Legendary Locals of Quincy
9781467101523
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From presidents and patriots, to locals engaged in service both heartwarming and heartbreaking, Quincy has been a place where names endure. On Adams Street, a stately mansion evokes the nation's second president and his storied kin, while the nearby Bernazzani Elementary School recalls a beloved educator who died after suffering a medical episode during a school committee meeting. In addition to two presidents and John Hancock, Quincy also birthed Dunkin' Donuts and Howard Johnson's, Hollywood stars Ruth Gordon and Bill Dana, punk rock legends the Dropkick Murphys, and a host of prominent industrialists who made quarrying and shipbuilding Quincy's national calling cards. Less renowned but equally ingrained are the city's local characters. Memories of Mike "The Winger" Zadrozny launching vinyl records like Frisbees around the city still elicit nostalgia. Generations who played Little League in the Koch Club recall Richard Koch's commitment to community. The homeless honor Fr. William McCarthy, who founded the shelter Father Bill's Place and personified charity. These legendary names--individuals both towering and humble--made Quincy a uniquely American city and kept it that way.
Legendary Locals of Raleigh
9781467100632
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Legendary Locals of Raleigh seeks to capture the essence of the city by highlighting many of the individuals who have contributed to its development: people like the first resident, Joel Lane, who sold North Carolina the land to establish Raleigh in 1792; James H. Young, a courageous African American politician during Reconstruction; "Scottie" Stephenson, a broadcasting legend and matriarch of Capitol Broadcasting Company; John Chavis, a free black reverend and prominent schoolteacher of Raleigh's black and white students in the early 1800s; Katharine Stinson, the Federal Aviation Administration's first female employee, whose career choice was inspired by a conversation with Amelia Earhart at Raleigh Municipal Airport; and Ella Baker, a local Shaw University graduate, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. confidant, and founder of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, an influential civil rights organization. This book is only an overview of the many who have shaped Raleigh while calling it home.
Legendary Locals of Rawlins
9781467101752
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Founded as a railroad town in 1868, Rawlins was smack in the middle of the Wild West that attracted so many adventure-seekers from the East, such as Clare Espy, who rode into town alone at 12 years old and became a successful cowboy. When the town outgrew its outlaw days and was ready to be incorporated, its people chose a leader in Isaac Miller, a Danish man who exemplified the story of the American dream. Being in the first state to allow women the right to vote, Rawlins has had its share of women's firsts. Lillian Heath was Wyoming's first female physician, and Valerie Nelson is its first female railroad engineer. The boom and bust cycle of the area saw many residents come and go, but some families, like the Frances and Espys, have been here since the beginning and continue to be well respected. Rawlins is facing another boom with several incoming energy projects. While Rawlins's future is exciting, this volume takes a look at its past and the people who have made the town what it is today.
Legendary Locals of Red Bank
9781467100953
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In its early years, Red Bank was a place where Sigmund Eisner, a Jewish emigrant from Austria, could arrive with empty hands and build a manufacturing empire that served the nation. It is a place where families like the Irwins could make a home for generations: Capt. Edward Irwin started his marine business by the side of Red Bank's Navesink River in 1884, and his great-grandson Channing still runs the family marina by the water. It is the place where Thomas Edison experimented with sonar and where the Dorn family launched a photographic dynasty that has chronicled the life of the community for more than a century. It is a place where the Drs. Parker, a family of black physicians, earned an enduring place in the hearts of Red Bankers by caring for its citizens, both black and white, with skill and kindness. Red Bank is a place where Bruce Springsteen could start off playing at high school dances and end up in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. These are only a few of the legendary locals of Red Bank.
Legendary Locals of Rockwall
9781467101899
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Since its founding in 1854, Rockwall has been home to dedicated public servants, pioneer personalities, hometown heroes, successful business owners, devoted educators, and hardworking farmers. Containing more than 100 profiles of Rockwall's interesting and influential citizens, Legendary Locals of Rockwall includes the stories of Confederate veteran John Summerfield Griffith, who rode on horseback to Austin to gain the original charter for Rockwall County; long-tenured office holders such as Lannie Stimpson, who served 53 years in office, and Derwood Wimpee, who served 35 years; a long list of educators, including Maurine Cain, Dorothy Smith Pullen, Ouida Springer, and Doris Cullins, who influenced generations of Rockwall students; and business professionals such as newspaper publishers P.J. and Jane Bounds, local developer and philanthropist Raymond Cameron, and Texas's first formally trained female dentist, Dr. Jessie Castle LaMoreaux. In addition, Rockwall has long honored its agricultural heritage by naming roads after farming families who influenced the region. The names Bourn, Rochell, Cornelius, Clem, and Smirl, among others, will be familiar to those who travel the roads of Rockwall County.
Legendary Locals of Rome
9781467101714
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In 1834, three men chanced to meet at a spring near where the Oostanaula and Etowah converge to form the Coosa River. Looking at the freshwater spring surrounded by healthy hardwood, they mused that this would make a good place for a community. They got together with two other landowners in the area and decided to start a town. And, of course, they wanted a name for it. Following the democratic process still honored by citizens today, they each chose their favorite names, such as Pittsburg, Warsaw, and Hillsboro. The name drawn was Rome. If the last name had been drawn, which was Hamburg, the town would be full of "Hamburgers" instead of the Romans that reside there today.
Legendary Locals of Roswell
9781467100144
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Roswell is perhaps most famous for its alleged intergalactic visitors that may  or may not have crashed here via flying saucer in 1947. However, some very  real famous people have traversed and lived in Roswell, including singer  John Denver and actress Demi Moore. During the turbulent Wild West  days, Roswell was the stomping grounds of cattle baron John Chisum, sheriff  Pat Garrett, and even his arch-nemesis, Billy the Kid. Among others to call  Roswell home were Robert H. Goddard, the father of modern rocketry;  baseball player Joe Bauman, who hit 72 home runs in one season; pro-golfer  Nancy Lopez; Western superstar Roy Rogers; rodeo champion Bob Crosby;  and Dallas Cowboys quarterback Roger Staubach.  This book explores these celebrities and the many unsung local legends and  heroes of Roswell through the vast photograph archives of the Historical  Society for Southeast New Mexico, as well as private collections.
Legendary Locals of Rumson
9781467101769
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In Rumson's formative years, people journeyed to the Jersey Shore to escape the heat and pestilence in the cities. In what is now Rumson, river-to-river land parcels were developed into farms and country estates for the elite of New York City. Along with "the Baking Powder King" and "the Calico King," another of Rumson's notable residents was a US Secretary of the Interior who was asked to run for vice president, refused the honor, and left the position open for the second choice, Teddy Roosevelt. Today, one of the world's most famous and enduring singing stars and one of America's most famous chefs have ties to the town. Rumson has been the home of entertainers, sports stars, financiers, entrepreneurs, scientists, brewers, legislators, philanthropists, and jurists. It is a community that brings together people of varied interests, ages, and walks of life yet still remains a warm and comfortable small town.
Legendary Locals of Rutherford County
9781467100649
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Located in the Piedmont Region of North Carolina, Rutherford County is rich in history, resources, and people. Legendary Locals of Rutherford County attempts to capture this region's history and wealth through introducing some of its people and their lives. These locals begin with explorers like Hernando De Soto; early settlers unafraid of frontier living; early governors like Griffith Rutherford, who left his name in the region; and everyday people who made a difference. Textile magnate Raleigh Rutherford Haynes, South Mountain physician Benjamin Washburn, entertainer Dewitt Snuffy Jenkins, Sheriff Damon Huskey, radio announcers Jerrell Bedford and Jim Bishop, preacher Harold Brown, writer Tony Earley, Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton, funeral director T.R. Padgett, muralist Clive Haynes, novelist Kay Hooper, and museum founder–curator Mike Rhyne represent just a sampling of the more recent residents who have shaped the county, the state, and the nation.
Legendary Locals of Saginaw
9781467101110
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Saginaw's river system was important to settlement in the area. The Shiawassee, Tittabawassee, and Saginaw Rivers converge at a place called Green Point. It was here that Native Americans lived long before the first white man came. Louis Campau was the first permanent white settler. Later, Gen. Louis Cass arrived and was commissioned to negotiate a treaty with the Indians for the purpose of acquiring a large portion of their lands. Settlers began to arrive, along with trappers and fur traders, but the city did not begin to grow until men from the East found that a fortune could be made in lumbering white pine trees. Men such as Curtis Emerson, Norman Little, Jesse Hoyt, Wellington R. Burt, and Little Jake Seligman prospered because of the lumber boom. When lumbering waned, many of the lumber barons remained in Saginaw and established new businesses. Saginaw has legendary leaders and heroes in the areas of medicine, education, agriculture, business, and industry. Many are highlighted throughout the chapters of this book.
Legendary Locals of Salem
9781467100809
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Since 1626, Salem has had a rich history. Time has seen this small city that was founded by Puritans adapt and push forward. It has been the capital of the colony; the site of the witchcraft trials of 1692; a thriving seaport; home to Revolutionary War privateers and soldiers; an East India Seaport that opened trade with China; an industrial center; and a tourist destination. Each age has produced people of influence. They walked the city's lanes, wharves, and streets as they pursued their dreams—people such as Roger Conant, Salem's Puritan founder; Anne Bradstreet, the first American poetess; Judge Sewell, the remorseful witchcraft judge; Elias Derby, the first American millionaire; Samuel McIntyre, the architect who changed the face of Salem; Nathaniel Hawthorne, a great American author; and Frank Benson, the noted impressionist painter. Ordinary people were and are legends, such as Caroline Emmerton, a philanthropist who sought to save Salem's heritage; David Goss, a historian and activist for Salem's past; Pep Cornacchio, an extraordinary civic volunteer; and Joan Boudreau, a preservationist restaurateur; as well as countless others. Legendary Locals of Salem celebrates the eclectic and noteworthy figures that have shaped and continue to shape the community.
Legendary Locals of San Francisco's Richmond, Sunset, and Golden Gate Park
9781467101776
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While San Francisco was thriving in the 1800s, the areas that are now the Richmond District, the Sunset District, and Golden Gate Park were primarily made up of sand dunes and considered uninhabitable. This book introduces readers to some of the advocates, educators, performers, builders, and others who contributed to the growth of these areas and to the city of San Francisco. Featured notables include William Hammond Hall and John McLaren, major forces in Golden Gate Park; well-known personalities like actress Barbara Eden, musician Vince Guaraldi, and photographer Ansel Adams; Amy Meyer and Philip Burton, who helped create the Golden Gate National Recreation Area; journalists Sarah Bacon and Paul Kozakiewicz, who write about neighborhoods in western San Francisco; William Gee, who founded On-Lok, a resource for the elderly; and many more famous and unsung heroes.
Legendary Locals of Santa Clara
9781467101219
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The city of Santa Clara lies in the very heart of the Santa Clara Valley, directly south of San Francisco Bay. It is the home base of the internationally famous Santa Clara Swim Club, the equally famous synchronized swim team the Santa Clara Aquamaids, the International Swim Center, and the San Francisco 49ers professional football team. It boasts world-class parks, theaters, museums, acting groups, a featured chorale, a nationally ranked drum and bugle corps, a major theme park, a convention center, and a first-class hotel system for those who wish to visit. Legendary Locals of Santa Clara celebrates the people who guided all of this to its realization.
Legendary Locals of Santa Fe
9781467100472
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Founded in 1610, Santa Fe has been a beacon for those yearning for adventure, a different way of life, a place of expression, and the opportunity to meld the old with the new. Designated America's first United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization Creative City in 2005, Santa Fe is home to people from around the world. Legendary Locals of Santa Fe pays tribute to a diverse group of individuals, who through different eras have contributed to the city's vitality: Native American Po'pay, leader of the Pueblo Revolt; world-renowned sculptor Allan Houser; performing artist Maria Benitez, who rejuvenated the genre of Spanish Flamenco dance and music; Pulitzer Prize authors Willa Cather and Oliver La Farge; Fray Angelico Chavez, Santa Fe's preeminent historian; Santa Fe Opera founder John Crosby; Stewart L. Udall, former Secretary of the Interior under the Kennedy and Johnson administrations; and Sgt. Leroy A. Petry, the 2011 Medal of Honor recipient. All share an enduring spirit and belief in the community that the Spanish explorers had the foresight to name the City of Holy Faith.
Legendary Locals of Savannah
9781467101981
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On Sunday mornings, church bells ring, calling all denominations, and Savannah's squares are filled with people and activities. The city embraces music, art, and literature, and the historic district welcomes visitors from all over the world. As a port city, Savannah has always embraced diversity, and that is what residents love about it. We are not losing our Southern values and traditions; we are just sharing them. Legendary Locals of Savannah introduces readers to people who braved the Atlantic Ocean to establish the Georgia colony, entrepreneurs who made a fortune in cotton, and black citizens who struggled through slavery and later fought for civil rights. Liberty boys who plotted the Revolution, families who lived in mansions, boys who fought bravely for the Confederate cause, and those who insisted on preserving our beautiful historic district—they all have a story to tell.
Legendary Locals of Scituate
9781467100724
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For more than 375 years, the town of Scituate has shared the talents of its residents in a host of ways. Individuals who called Scituate home have gained acclaim in public service, the arts, and athletics. The Bates, Stewart, and Monteiro families, among others, demonstrate how the Irish, Cape Verdean, and Yankees came to share this small coastal town. Doctors like Ruth Bailey and Max Miles offered contributions to a rich quality of life that endures to the present day. The work of writers like Jacques Futrelle, Claire Cook, and Nick Flynn spans genres and generations. Businessmen like Jack Conway, Paul Young, and Alan Wheeler set standards for service and showed a dedication to their neighbors that went beyond dollars and cents. Scituate has also been home to extremely unique characters like Percy Mann and Bill Sexton--one struggled to fit into a modernizing world and the other found the humor in it. Legendary Locals of Scituate shares a small sample of this talent.
Legendary Locals of Sedalia
9781467100403
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George R. Smith borrowed money to buy 337 acres of treeless prairie in 1856, never dreaming the central Missouri town he founded would become the "Queen of the Prairie." He did not foresee his "Sedville," now Sedalia, attracting thousands of tourists through the annual Scott Joplin International Ragtime Festival and the Missouri State Fair. Smith did envision another type of visitor--steam engines that streamed through town daily. Smith's passion for the railroad launched Sedalia, and two major railroad shops sustained the city for more than a century. They provided the base for the now flourishing seat of Pettis County. Since Sedalia's official beginning in 1860, countless people have furthered Smith's vision by leaving their distinctive mark on the community. This book celebrates their contributions and shares their stories through more than 225 photographs, many previously unpublished.
Legendary Locals of Shreveport
9781467101783
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Legendary Locals of Shreveport chronicles fascinating people who have made a difference in the Shreveport–Bossier City area. Some are good, some are bad, and more than a few are wicked. There are movie starlets, entertainers, decorated war veterans, gangsters, preachers, madams, politicians, giants of industry, and humble folk who rose to greatness or infamy. Shreveport began as a rough and tumble frontier town that came late to being civilized. A Baptist preacher shot one of Quantrill's Raiders when he rode his horse into church during a Sunday service. The most famous madam in the region was also a suffragette. The first successful bankers in Shreveport were immigrants from Prussia who developed a business model that extends into the modern era. Shreveport lost one quarter of its population in less than a month due to a yellow fever epidemic. And that is just the beginning.
Legendary Locals of Southbury
9781467100687
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The town of Southbury was incorporated in 1787. It was a mere 50 years after the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock that the original 15 families were drawn to the promise of religious freedom in what was then known as Ancient Woodbury. Descendants of these families and subsequent individuals have called the town their home: community activists fighting the establishment of the German Bund; writers such as Gladys Tabor; celebrities such as Ed Sullivan and Victor Borge; artists, community leaders, educators, businesspeople, and ordinary folks. All have left indelible marks on the rich fabric of this beautiful New England community with the town seal "Unica Unaque," translated as "The One and Only."
Legendary Locals of St. Charles
9781467102315
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Today's citizens of St. Charles will recognize the names of many early settlers and residents, such as Louis Blanchette, who founded the settlement that would later become St. Charles; St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, who helped found the first school of the Society of the Sacred Heart in America; and Lewis and Clark, who began their expedition here to explore the Louisiana Purchase territory. Later came photographer Rudolph Goebel, who chronicled St. Charles's history for more than 50 years; Jane Crider, advocate for adults with disabilities and cofounder of Boone Center Inc.; and Archie Scott, known as "Mr. Main Street" for his years of dedication to the preservation of the historic district. Included in Legendary Locals of St. Charles are businesspeople, local personalities, authors, and entertainers, and while some of them may not yet be legendary, all of them are notable for their contributions to the St. Charles community and beyond.
Legendary Locals of St. Joseph and Benton Harbor
9781467125161
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A cast of characters tumbles out of the pages of this book, beginning with the courageous settlers who tamed the wilderness. By the 1890s, dynamic denizens of St. Joseph and Benton Harbor harvested fruit, established factories, and opened tourist attractions. Drake and Wallace's Silver Beach Amusement Park, with its roller coaster, fun house, and Lake Michigan beach, attracted visitors from Chicago. So did the curative mineral waters. Al Capone took the baths, despite their stinking like rotten eggs. The Israelite House of David, a Christian sect founded by Benjamin and Mary Purnell, welcomed summer visitors to their amusement park. Despite an infamous scandal and trial involving Benjamin, the House of David thrived for decades. The cities spawned inventors like Augustus Herring, who flew an airplane five years before the Wright brothers; Emory Upton, who developed an electric-powered washing machine manufactured by a company now known as Whirlpool; and Walter Miller, inventor of a record-changing machine manufactured by V-M. By the 1980s, manufacturing in the area had declined, and the cities suffered. Present-day entrepreneurs, artists, and community activists have jump-started their return to vitality.
Legendary Locals of Staten Island
9781467125024
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Located at the entrance to New York Harbor, Staten Island has had a front-row seat to many of the comings and goings of the New World. From the early European explorers, such as Verrazano and Hudson, to the waves of immigrants coming in steerage, the island would be part of a gateway to a great continent. Some visitors stayed briefly, while others would go no further and would make the island their forever home. Those who called Staten Island home would include inventors, business leaders, writers, athletes, politicians, and artists. Some famous islanders include industry titan Cornelius Vanderbilt; inventor Antonio Meucci; Central Park visionary Frederick Law Olmsted; poet Edwin Markham; silent film star Mabel Normand; and singers Christina Aguilera, Joan Baez, and members of Wu-Tang Clan. All these would play a role in the development of Staten Island, a borough of New York City and sister to one of the world's great metropolises.
Legendary Locals of Tempe
9781467102285
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Tempe started collaboratively, and its innovative citizens continue to work together, creatively solving problems and capitalizing on opportunities in the landlocked 40 square miles  surrounded by Phoenix, Scottsdale, Mesa, Chandler, and Guadalupe. The vision began with freighter Charles Trumbull Hayden, who worked with Mexican settlers to optimize the productivity of the valley south of the Salt River with his ferry, canal building, and milling activities in 1870, and continued with the 1885 founding of the Territorial Normal School, now Arizona State University. Subsequently, Tempe has remained successful due to both individual innovations, like creating Big Surf, the first man-made wave pool in the United States, and city-led initiatives like the development of Tempe Town Lake, which reinvigorated the shore line of a river bottom frequently left dry since the implementation of a dam system.
Legendary Locals of the Antelope Valley
9781467100878
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In exploring the panorama of the Antelope Valley's history and its people's varied aspirations, determination, and accomplishments, it is easy to see the lasting and dramatic impacts they have made. A few are famous, like young Frances Gumm, who went on to become legendary actress Judy Garland, or Richard "Dick" Rutan, who circled the world nonstop on a single tank of gas in the Rutan Voyager aircraft. Most, however, never knew fame during their lives. Some came seeking gold or worked on the railroads, the Los Angeles Aqueduct, and Borax 20 Mule Teams. Others forged ahead, farmed difficult landscapes, and found success in providing for their families. A poet laureate, the father of Death Valley geology, a suffragette who went on to achieve national fame, and individuals who broke through color barriers are among those who have made the Antelope Valley what it is today.
Legendary Locals of the Big Bend and Davis Mountains
9781467100540
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"Home of the Last Frontier" is how the local radio station aptly describes the Big Bend and Davis Mountains region of West Texas, the sparsely populated area of desert and mountain close to the Mexican border. After 1848, the first settlers started to move in. They came to make a living, and a few made a fortune. Mysterious cattle baron Milton Faver ran 10,000 cattle in the 1870s. Others came for their health, like J.O. Langford, his wife, and young daughters who, seeking a dry climate, came to homestead on the Rio Grande. Today's newcomers are equally pioneering in their own way. Donald Judd was the catalyst that changed Marfa from a moribund cow town to an internationally recognized art center. Edie Elfring, an immigrant from a small island in the Baltic Sea, has picked up trash and tended Alpine's public gardens--unasked and unpaid--for years. They were drawn to what their predecessors found: a boundless landscape peopled by a few hardy, independent souls.
Legendary Locals of the Chautauqua Lake Region
9781467100205
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From founding families in the early 1800s to contemporary conservationists in 2011, this volume celebrates a multitude of individuals who have impacted the Chautauqua Lake region. Before the armchair traveler journeys around the lake, a sampling of historians and photographers are honored for preserving its past. Subsequent chapters showcase the lakeside communities of Mayville, Dewittville, Point Chautauqua, Maple Springs, Bemus Point, Greenhurst, Fluvanna, Jamestown, Celoron, Lakewood, Ashville, Stow, and the Chautauqua Institution. Each presents several residents who aided its growth, made significant contributions, or simply remain of interest for their uniqueness.
Legendary Locals of the Long Beach Peninsula
9781467100595
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Geographic isolation, abundant natural resources, and the challenging climate of Washington's Long Beach Peninsula have shaped the strong character, individuality, and creativity of those who live there--from the First Peoples of the Chinook Nation to the eclectic, ever-growing population of the 21st century. Along the Columbia River, the salmon industry has spawned leaders such as P.J. McGowan, John Kola, and Jessie Marchand. On Willapa Bay, oyster workers and cranberry growers like Meinert Wachsmuth, Ira Murakami, Charles Nelson, Jim Crowley, and Malcolm McPhail have struggled to understand and protect their fragile environment. Entrepreneurs like John Morehead, Mary Lou Mandel, Keleigh Schwartz; legislator Sid Snyder; surf rescuer Doug Knutzen; and artist Eric Wiegardt have each played a role in shaping this unique area. Legendary Locals of the Long Beach Peninsula chronicles the generations of inhabitants who have celebrated the distinctiveness of their communities even as they have endeavored to cooperate in sculpting their future.
Legendary Locals of the Mendonoma Coast
9781467100137
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The Sonoma Mendocino coastline, famous for jagged cliffs, timber-filled  ridges, and pounding surf, has been home to many people from varying  histories and backgrounds. Pomo tribes, renowned for basketmaking, who  were the first settlers and descendants, still live in the area. From early pioneers  such as George Call, H.A. Richardson, Cyrus Robinson, J.A. Hamilton, and  Antonio Stornetta to Pomo spiritual leader Essie Parrish and the founders  of Sea Ranch (Al Boeke, and the team of designers and architects Lawrence  Halprin, Charles Moore, William Turnbull, Donlyn Lyndon, and Richard  Whitaker), the Sonoma Mendocino coast has many legendary locals. This  area also has been home to renowned artists, musicians, writers, scientists,  educators, and business leaders. Community services are especially vital to  rural areas. Dedicated volunteers created Gualala Arts, services for seniors  and youth, the Coast Library, theater groups, and restored historic buildings  such as the famous Point Arena Lighthouse. These unsung heroes have  brought new meaning to this vibrant community.
Legendary Locals of the Northern Outer Banks
9781467101851
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The remoteness and isolation of North Carolina's northern Outer Banks has shaped both early settlers and relative newcomers into tough and independent souls. Sir Walter Raleigh's colonists may have mysteriously disappeared from Roanoke Island, but the enterprising homesteaders who followed managed to eke out a living on the windswept and battered banks. Entrepreneur E.R. Daniels ran a line of mail and freight boats that helped connect the Outer Banks to the outside world. Former slave and Civil War hero Richard Etheridge did not shirk from an opportunity to become the first black keeper of a lifesaving station. In the mid-20th century, leaders like Bradford Fearing saw the importance of developing tourism, so that people would come see Paul Green's new outdoor drama, The Lost Colony. Outer Bankers have warmly welcomed visitors, from the time the Wright brothers arrived to today's modern tourists. The challenge now is to balance commercial growth with environmental sensibility so that oystermen, like Georgie Daniels, and fishermen, like Dewey Hemilwright, can continue to ply the waters.
Legendary Locals of the Pine Barrens of New Jersey
9781467100816
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Our country's first national reserve, the Pine Barrens, harbors a wonderful secret unknown to most outsiders. This 1.1-million-acre treasure trove of pitch pine and sugar sand is home to many rare species and almost 17 trillion gallons of the purest water on earth. It was in this forest that men like Leland Champion logged trees and built sawmills. It was along these waterways that craftsmen like Gary Giberson made prized decoys. And it was in these woods that Stanley Switlik built a tower from which Amelia Earhart jumped, testing his parachute so it could be used in World War II. These woods yielded inventors whose products we enjoy today: cultivated blueberries, cranberry sauce, and Welch's grape juice. It was here that Bob Buchanan reached for the mooring lines as the Hindenburg ended its final, fated voyage. And it was here in Buzby's General Store that John McPhee penned his classic book, The Pine Barrens, setting into motion legislation to preserve this area for future generations.
Legendary Locals of the Puyallup Valley
9781467100892
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More than 10,000 years ago, migrating tribes settled in the J-shaped Puyallup Valley lying beneath the majestic mountain known today as Mount Rainier. Tribal traders from east of the mountains called the western valley tribe generous people, a word that in English sounds like Puyallup.  Pioneers found promise in clearing the land, creating the towns of Puyallup, Sumner, and Orting, and donating property for the common good. Agriculture produced hop barons, nationally renowned daffodil bulb growers, and successful berry farmers. Early entrepreneurs spawned multigenerational businesses while doctors, educators, and civic leaders more than fulfilled pioneer dreams. In 1900, a small band of men established an annual fair in Puyallup, which became the Washington State Fair. More recently, benefactors helped to build premier fitness and medical facilities. Citizens from each town continue to participate in community service clubs. Legendary Locals of the Puyallup Valley weaves a story of determined people who  have left their mark on this beautiful valley.
