Name: Herman Melville in the Berkshires
Brand: John S. Dickson
SKU: 9781467170697
Price: 24.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Herman Melville in the Berkshires

9781467170697

$24.99

Melville's Inspiration

The Berkshires have long attracted artists and writers, drawn to the mountains, rivers, forests, and lakes of Western Massachusetts. Herman Melville first came here as a young boy but was so inspired by the surroundings that he returned to live here for thirteen years during one of the most productive writing periods of his life. He finished his masterpiece, Moby-Dick, in his first year, seated in his study with a view of Mount Greylock. “His first love,” is the way his cousin described his relationship to his adopted home. Here, he wandered on foot and horseback to all corners of the county, tapping into the Berkshires in his art. The places he explored are sprinkled through the pages in his stories. John Dickson, a volunteer guide both at Arrowhead and in the Berkshire woods, reveals the connections between Melville’s writing and the beauty of the landscape that inspired him.

Cover image for Herman Melville in the Berkshires, isbn: 9781467170697

Dr. Joseph Warren

9781455628230

$39.95

In honor of the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War, this 2025 deluxe printing of Dr. Joseph Warren is in every way befitting the notable and impactful patriot. Readers will be pleased with this handsome volume: hard bound in red cloth, with full color illustrations and frontispiece, endpapers adorned by engravings of the Tea Party and marbleized paper, and a matte dust jacket with raised lettering.

This book, notable for original scholarship and engaging style, remains a definitive biography of the Revolutionary War hero. An American doctor, Bostonian, mason, and early Son of Liberty, Joseph Warren played a central role in the events leading to the American Revolution. Warren dispatched Paul Revere on his famous ride and was the hero of the Battle of Bunker Hill, where he was killed in action. Physician to the history makers of early America, political virtuoso, and military luminary, Warren comes to life in this comprehensive biography.

Cover image for Dr. Joseph Warren, isbn: 9781455628230

Literary Luminaries of the Berkshires:

9781626198777

$21.99

The Massachusetts Berkshires have long been a mecca for literary greats from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Edith Wharton to Sinclair Lewis and Joan Ackermann. The Green River in Great Barrington inspired William Cullen Bryant's poetry. Charles Pierce Burton's childhood hometown, Adams, became the setting for his frolicking Boys of Bob's Hill juvenile books. During an interlude in Lenox, Patricia Highsmith consulted a local undertaker for details to use in The Talented Mr. Ripley. Bernard A. Drew brings together a fascinating chronicle of some 250 wordsmiths who took inspiration from the hills and valleys of the Berkshires.

The Polish Community of Salem

9780738575636

$24.99

Refugees from Poland first came to Salem in the 1880s when the former maritime port became a leading industrial center. These immigrants often arrived with little more than the clothes on their backs and worked some of the most dangerous factory jobs. However, despite limited knowledge of the English language and American customs, they persevered to improve their lives and the lives of their children. The Polish Community of Salem chronicles the social, economic, and cultural transitions that took place as Polish
immigrants started life anew in Salem, created a vibrant community, gained US citizenship, and assimilated into American society.

Cover image for The Polish Community of Salem, isbn: 9780738575636

Lawrence Police Department

9780738501536

$24.99

Lawrence Police Department: Heroes Wear Blue pictorially chronicles the history of the department from its inception through its first century to the present day. A compelling visual tour, not only for police and local historians, this collection offers a glimpse of society and how it has changed. Featuring the first known police officer in Lawrence,

Massachusetts, as well as the Lawrence police officers who served in the Civil War in uniform, this volume also provides a rare glimpse of vintage police equipment that is now unlawful to use.

Cape Cod Nights

9781467140058

$21.99

The Cape has been home to hundreds of popular nightclubs and watering holes over the past hundred years, featuring such timeless drinks as the Cape Codder and the Sea Breeze. From orchestras to digital playlists, the clubs have evolved with the times. While many famous locales, such as Johnny Yee’s and the Compass Lounge, have been shuttered, other classics like the Beachcomber, the Atlantic House and the Melody Tent remain, serving up a unique blend of entertainment and spirits for tourists and locals alike. Join local author Christopher Setterlund as he takes a look back at some of the places, music and drinks that have made Cape Cod nightlife sparkle.

Cover image for Cape Cod Nights, isbn: 9781467140058

Legendary Locals of Scituate

9781467100724

$24.99

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 Newton

9781467101462

$24.99

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.

Cover image for Legendary Locals of Newton, isbn: 9781467101462

Italian Americans of Greater Boston

9780738501093

$24.99

The first published history of the Italian-American community in this area, Italian Americans of Greater Boston: A Proud Tradition traces the migration of Italians to America through the development of Italian communities in Greater Boston. Most of the images in this collection have never been viewed by the public. Entire chapters are devoted to the themes of Italian-American family life, commerce and labor, culture and education, religion and philanthropy, and politics and government, underscoring in each instance the special contributions Boston's secondlargest ethnic group has made to the history of the metropolitan area.

The Polish Community of Chicopee

9780738538921

$24.99

The first group of Polish immigrants to come to Chicopee arrived in 1880. These Poles filled many of the manufacturing jobs in the city's two large textile mills. In less than 30 years from their arrival, this aggressive, self-assured group boasted more Polish-owned businesses than any other community in New England. The Polish Community of Chicopee chronicles an immigrant population that was fiercely dedicated to the ideals of free enterprise and democratic pluralism.

Cover image for The Polish Community of Chicopee, isbn: 9780738538921

The Swedes of Greater Brockton

9780738508511

$24.99

Swedes came to America filled with hope tempered by the uncertainties of new surroundings, customs, and language. The first Swede to arrive in Brockton, then North Bridgewater, was Daniel Larson (Lawson), in 1844. Since that time, Swedish immigrants and their descendants have left a profound and positive imprint on the character of this region.

With an excellent collection of more than two hundred vintage images, The Swedes of Greater Brockton tells the unique story of the immigration to this area of Massachusetts. Greater Brockton was the shoe-manufacturing center of the United States, with such factories as W.L. Douglas, George E. Keith, and D.W. Field. These magnets of immigration drew thousands to the region. Within these pages, meet hundreds of these Swedish immigrants and their descendants. Join in their journey to America, visit their homes, churches, and places of business, and experience their leisure activities. Learn about the establishment of the Swedish churches-Lutheran, Congregational, Baptist, Methodist, and the Salvation Army-and see how the entrepreneurial spark in America caught fire in Brockton's Swedish community.

Cover image for The Swedes of Greater Brockton, isbn: 9780738508511

The Sons of Italy in Massachusetts

9781467133777

$24.99

The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, Order Sons of Italy in America was chartered in 1914 and is one of the oldest lodges in the United States. The lodge recently celebrated its centennial with a long list of events that extolled the preservation and promotion of Italian heritage and culture that has endured since its inception. Founded by Italian immigrants and continued by their descendants, the organization has seen local lodges and junior lodges spring up across the commonwealth with the mission to foster fraternal, social, and charitable work. The Sons of Italy encourages all eligible persons to join and assist in promoting national education, charitable fundraising, securing adequate laws for the benefit of its members, enriching Italian culture and heritage, and combating discrimination while protecting and upholding the positive image of people of Italian birth or descent.

Legendary Locals of Lowell

9781467100489

$24.99

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.

Cover image for Legendary Locals of Lowell, isbn: 9781467100489

Newburyport Marine in World War I, A

9781467139427

$21.99

Eben Bunny Bradbury, son of two historic Newburyport families, joined the United States Marine Corps just days after the declaration of war in April 1917. Everyone in the city knew him, and his his sudden death a year later in at the Battle of Belleau Wood in France was commemorated with a public monument. Ninety-seven years later, a chance encounter brought a local historian and distant cousin to ask about his monument, leading to the discovery of intimate letters, personal diaries, photographs and military records, held by people across the world who had not forgotten Eben. Author Bethany Groff Dorau reveals a story that goes beyond a tragic battlefield death and uncovers a rich and complex American family, rooted deeply in a truly American city.

Cover image for Newburyport Marine in World War I, A, isbn: 9781467139427

Raytheon Company

9780738537474

$24.99

Read the history of the Raytheon Company, which has played a big part in the growth of America and in WWII and the Cold War., as well as in consumer electronics.

Raytheon's history is one of the great American success stories. Launched in 1922, theCambridge-based company quickly moved to the forefront of innovation in the electronics industry. During World War II, thousands of Raytheon workers contributed to the war effort, supplying eighty percent of the magnetron tubes (vital components for U.S. and British radars), developing miniature tubes for the crucial proximity fuse in anti aircraft shells, and providing entire radar systems. Although government contracts slowed after World War II, Raytheon continued to develop military components, including leading-edge radars and missiles for America's defenses in the Cold War, but it also began to offer a host of civilian products: the famous RadaRange (the world's first microwave oven), televisions, marine radars, transistors, miniature hearing aids, and medical equipment.

Il North End De Boston (Versione Italiana)

9780738504780

$24.99

Le strade del North End di Boston, alcune delle quail furono costuite nel diciasettesimo secolo, emanano il senso di una storia ricca ed interessante che ha visto coinvolte varie generazioni di immigrati a Boston dal 1630 in poi. Attivo e prospero porto commerciale, la North End di Boston con I suoi dintorni e anche ricca di chiese di varie religioni, di edifici storici a di depositi legati a vecchie attivita commerciali. Immigranti dalla Russia, l'Irlanda, la Germania, l'Italia e da molti altri paesi europei si stabilirono nella North End di Boston e contribuirono nel corso degli anni al suo sviluppo. Ancor oggi la maggior parte dei turisti che vengono a Boston visitano la North End ed in particolare la casa del famoso patriota Paul Revere e la celebre Old North Church. Durante I fine settimana gruppi di persone visitano il vivace centro di Haymarket per fare le loro compere e partecipare a fiere e festivals nell'invitante atmosfera dei restoranti tipici. Questa attiva e vivace area della citta rappresenta un allettante luogo di incontro tanto per residenti che per turisti.

Il North End De Boston (Versione Italiana)

Boston Organized Crime

9780738576732

$24.99

Boston has had its share of bookies and loan sharks, gangsters and wiseguys, hoodlums and hit men. From the Great Brink's Robbery, which was hailed as the crime of the century; to the long-forgotten Cotton Club in Roxbury, where the legendary nightlife kingpin Charlie King Solomon was gunned down; to the infamous Blackfriars Massacre, a brutal gangland slaying that left five men dead, slumped over a backgammon game in a cramped basement office—all of these dark moments in time are a part of Boston's history that is rarely spoken about. Boston Organized Crime explores the region's shadier side and takes a closer look at the mobsters and racketeers who once operated in the Greater Boston area. Drawing upon an eclectic collection of crime scene photographs, mug shots, and police documents, author Emily Sweeney takes readers on an eye-opening journey through Boston's underworld, from the bootlegging days of Prohibition to the bloody gangland wars of the 1960s.

Cover image for Boston Organized Crime, isbn: 9780738576732

The Baker Chocolate Company

9781596293533

$21.99

In 1765, Dr. James Baker of Dorchester stumbled upon Irishman John Hannon crying on the banks of the mighty Neponset River. Hannon, though penniless, possessed the rare skills required to create chocolate, a delicacy exclusive to Europe, and Baker, with pockets bursting, wished to make a name for himself. Using a mill powered by the same river upon which they met, the duo built America's oldest and most beloved manufacturer of this rich treat. Local historian Anthony Sammarco details the delicious saga of Massachusetts's Baker Chocolate Company, from Hannon's mysterious disappearance and the famed La Belle Chocolatiere advertising campaign to cacao bean smuggling sparked by Revolutionary War blockades. Both bitter and sweet, this tale is sure to tickle your taste buds.

Cover image for The Baker Chocolate Company, isbn: 9781596293533

Lowell Irish

9781467117845

$21.99

Irish immigrants streamed into the mills of Lowell, Massachusetts, at the start of the Industrial Revolution, fleeing poverty and later the Great Hunger. Irish families established a neighborhood called the Acre, and some rose to roles as successful business owners who shaped the history of their new home. Hugh Cummiskey emigrated from Northern Ireland to become a powerful work gang leader and businessman who in turn hired newly arrived immigrants. The first recorded celebrations of St. Patrick's Day began in 1833, as new residents celebrated their Irish roots and American future with traditional music and parades. Today, the community still honors its Irish history. From tales of politicians and entrepreneurs to the everyday struggles of the average immigrant, author David McKean traces the history of the pioneer members who established Lowell as an industrial powerhouse.

Cover image for Lowell Irish, isbn: 9781467117845

Boston's Downtown Movie Palaces

9780738576312

$24.99

Since the late 1800s, Boston has been a trendsetter in the development of the movie business. It was here that many of the earliest public showings of moving images took place and the name nickelodeon first appeared on a storefront theater. In 1896, B.F. Keith added film to his Washington Street theater, then throughout his national chain of vaudeville houses. In 1914, Boston's Modern became the country's first theater with an installed sound projection system. Several years later, the city had its first movie palace: Marcus Loew's Orpheum. A magnet for theater architects, Boston became a center for elegant movie houses, including the Metropolitan, Keith Memorial, and Paramount. Thanks to civic leaders and academic institutions, many of Boston's theaters have been preserved and restored and are alive and well today.

Swedes of Greater Worcester

9780738510897

$24.99

By the late nineteenth century, Swedish immigrants began arriving by the thousands in New England, attracted by the area's heavy industry. In particular, the steel and ceramic shops of Worcester provided a livelihood for many of them. As a result, new areas of Swedish settlements developed throughout the surrounding towns.

Swedes of Greater Worcester captures the area's Swedish heritage through a collection of images that displays everything from vintage weddings to ski-jumping events and stories known only by the families of the Swedes who first traveled to Worcester. These images represent a time when the Swedish element was a vital and vibrant part of the identity of the greater Worcester area.

Legendary Locals of Yarmouth

9781467101479

$24.99

With roots as deep as the earliest years of the American colonies, Yarmouth has a long and colorful history that is still being written. When Stephen Hopkins built his home with permission from the court of Plymouth Colony, Yarmouth was already home to native peoples. Bounded on its north and south sides by the Atlantic Ocean, it is no surprise that ship captains, salt makers, and merchants are part of the town's early history. Later, artists, writers, and educators also became part of the scene. The artist Edward Gorey chose Yarmouth for his home, as did astronaut Daniel Burbank. Jazzman Lou Colombo and town administrator Robert Lawton have also made their marks on the community. Yarmouth's distinct neighborhoods are a source of pride, and historic preservation is a prime concern to many. The town's annual October gathering is called the Seaside Festival, to let one and all know that the people of Yarmouth are very much aware of their connection to the Atlantic.

Cover image for Legendary Locals of Yarmouth, isbn: 9781467101479

Legendary Locals of East Boston

9781467102056

$24.99

Once a rural paradise known as Noddle's Island, East Boston is the site of key developments in the nation's history, including the first naval battle of the American Revolution, the creation of the world's fastest sailing ships, the country's first underwater tunnel, and the nation's first public branch library. It has had its share of famous residents, from Colonial governor John Winthrop and repentant Salem witch trial judge Samuel Sewall, to clipper ship builder Donald McKay and the world's first female clipper ship navigator, Mary Patten. Women's suffrage activist Judith Winsor Smith called East Boston home, as did the first Civil War nurse, Armeda Gibbs; Massachusetts governor John Bates; and Boston mayor Frederick Mansfield. Pres. John F. Kennedy's paternal grandparents and father were born in East Boston, where they started their first businesses and political ventures, and the neighborhood has produced numerous community activists, musicians, artists, writers, and athletes.

Cover image for Legendary Locals of East Boston, isbn: 9781467102056

Cambridge Police Department

9780738562018

$24.99

Formally organized in 1859 with the appointment of John C. Willey as the first chief of police, the Cambridge Police Department was then manned by only 16 officers. The department has grown dramatically from its humble beginnings and today employs 277 sworn officers and a civilian staff of 37. Cambridge Police Department, the first comprehensive photographic history of the department, contains over 100 years of historical photographs, including images of specialized traffic and K-9 units, auxiliary police officers, uniforms, and equipment. Many of the vintage photographs in the collection have come from the department archives or were donated by family members of Cambridge officers.

John F. Kennedy in New England

9781467125215

$24.99

On May 29, 1917, John F. Kennedy was born in the Kennedy home in Brookline, Massachusetts. As a toddler, he wandered the sands of Nantasket Beach in Hull. When he was a little boy, he swam in the Atlantic waters of Sandy Beach in Cohasset, and as a teenager, he learned to sail on Nantucket Sound off the Cape Cod hamlet of Hyannis Port. He was married on the lawn of the Auchincloss Estate in Newport on the shores of Rhode Island Sound, and as president, he sailed the waters off John's Island in Maine, while the Navy's Blue Angels flew over in a salute to their commander in chief. John Kennedy was marked and then defined by his time sailing the seas off New England's shores, and as his brother Ted once said, it was Hyannis Port where he enjoyed his happiest times.

Cover image for John F. Kennedy in New England, isbn: 9781467125215

Ted Williams and Friends

9781467122948

$24.99

Ted Williams capped a storybook baseball career with a storybook ending, hitting a home run in his last at bat in the major leagues. That blast, on a dreary September 28, 1960, at Boston's Fenway Park, ushered in a post-playing career during which the Red Sox legend would become a first-ballot Hall of Famer just six years later. During his retirement, he maintained his longtime active assistance of the Jimmy Fund in its fight against cancer, encouraged youngsters at his Ted Williams Baseball Camp, and coached current and future big leaguers in Red Sox spring training. In 1969, he was named American League Manager of the Year; in 1991, he received a Presidential Medal of Freedom from George H.W. Bush; and in 1995, a Boston tunnel was dedicated in his honor. In one of his last appearances, Ted joined fellow nominees for baseball's All-Century Team at the 1999 All-Star Game at Fenway Park--creating an iconic, lasting image of the man known as "The Kid," the "Splendid Splinter," and "Teddy Ballgame."

Fitz H. Lane

9781596290907

$32.99

Fitz H. Lane's maritime masterpieces are known throughout the world, but the man himself has eluded both historians and art critics for over a century.

The Luminist painter's successful career began in his early childhood in picturesque Gloucester, Massachusetts and his talents developed and matured over time, making him one of the nation's premier nineteenth-century artists.

Throughout his career, Lane painted with a vitality and attention to detail that was purely American at heart, and it is in pursuit of this ideal that James Craig embarks on a detective's investigation to reconstruct with accuracy and honesty the details of a man about whom much has been written but little revealed. Few clues remain today about the artist who so thoroughly embodied the American spirit during "one of humanity's most dramatic and confusing historical epochs." Lane's era was one of great change for America, and both he and his art were there to capture that spirit.

This dazzling and exhaustive effort provides the first glimpse behind the canvas, beyond the career and into the soul of Fitz H. Lane. Passionate, stunning and thrilling, this is a narrative that returns life and color to a man intent or preserving and presenting the life of the culture he loved. James Craig has given Gloucester back one of her favorite sons.

Italians in Haverhill

9780738508559

$24.99

Italian immigrants became permanent residents of Haverhill in the 1870s. The original Genoese first drew their relatives and friends from their home area to join them. Over the next few decades, they were joined by families from the central province of Abruzzi and from the towns and villages around Naples. Immigrants from parts of southern Italy, such as Calabria and Apulia and Sicily, settled here. All of the Italians, whether northern or southern, brought with them their culture, their vitality, their love of music, and their close family ties. Using over two hundred thirty vintage photographs, Italians in Haverhill takes a photographic walk through the exciting history of these immigrants. The images bring back to life representatives of more than two hundred families, whose descendants still live in the area. Here are the fruit sellers and shoe workers, the mothers and their children, the ball players and the musicians, the lawyers and doctors, and the bankers and civic leaders who make up the rich heritage of this important ethnic group.

Cover image for Italians in Haverhill, isbn: 9780738508559

Digital Equipment Corporation

9780738535876

$24.99

Through photographs of people, events, and machines, Digital Equipment Corporation tells the story of the unassuming computer revolutionaries who reshaped the technological world.

From its inception in 1957, Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), headquartered in Maynard, Massachusetts, carved itself a role in American business unlike any other company. Launched by Massachusetts Institute of Technology engineer Ken Olsen with a $70,000 investment from the country's first venture capital firm, DEC rapidly became a pioneer in computer technology. In its heyday, DEC had a valuation of more than $12 billion and employed approximately one hundred twenty thousand people worldwide, making it second only to IBM. Its people and technology contributed to making computers increasingly affordable, which led directly to the advent of the personal computer, the first computer games, and computer networks. DEC was also a leader in the Internet revolution, claiming the dubious distinction of launching the first spam mailing and registering one of the first commercial domain names. Through photographs of people, events, and machines, Digital Equipment Corporation tells the story of the unassuming computer revolutionaries who reshaped the technological world. It is written for anyone who is interested in how the present era of computing ubiquity has evolved since the 1940s, when IBM chairman Thomas Watson predicted that the whole world might need no more than five computers.

Indian Americans of Massachusetts

9781625859440

$21.99

Indians are the most recent immigrants in Massachusetts. Though a tiny minority, their contributions are numerous and far-reaching. Swami Vivekananda arrived in Boston in 1893 and left a lasting legacy of Hindu philosophy. Sushil Tuli opened a unique community bank, Leader Bank, as the first and only minority-owned bank in the state of Massachusetts. The Deshpande Center for Technological Innovation at MIT, created with the grant of $20 million by Desh and Jaishree Deshpande, empowers MIT's researchers to make a difference in the world by developing innovative technologies. Author Meenal Atul Pandya details the influence of Indians on Massachusetts history.

Cover image for Indian Americans of Massachusetts, isbn: 9781625859440

Early History of Malden, An

9781467139410

$21.99

Settled in the 1640s and originally a part of Charlestown, Malden grew over two centuries into a thriving residential and manufacturing city.

Meet fiery revolutionary Peter Thacher and Malden industrialist and philanthropist Elisha Converse. Explore the details of the first bank robbery homicide in the United States. Learn about Malden's instructions for independence, which predated the Declaration of Independence. Delve into the suspicion and intrigue surrounding the infamous murder of Frank Converse. Author Frank Russell brings to life the first 250 years of Malden history.

Cover image for Early History of Malden, An, isbn: 9781467139410

Legendary Locals of Arlington

9781467102230

$24.99

From its days as the site of a Revolutionary War battle to its modern-day appeal as a restaurant mecca, Arlington, at its heart, is a community of active citizens. Once agricultural, Arlington is now a cosmopolitan suburb and home to businesspeople, scientists, artists, and others who have been supported by their town and, in turn, have created an energetic community. Peg Spengler's foresight helped shape town government while James McGough's dream of a museum honoring local sculptor Cyrus Dallin came true. Dentist George Franklin Grant was the first African American on Harvard's faculty and invented the golf tee; years later, Bob Frankston invented the spreadsheet. John Mirak, orphaned in the Armenian genocide, became a town benefactor while Howard Clery turned a family tragedy into a cause to help others. The Hurd and Greeley families have long served their community as public servants. Their stories make up Legendary Locals of Arlington, paying tribute to just some of the people who make this dynamic town their home.

Cover image for Legendary Locals of Arlington, isbn: 9781467102230

Harriet Jacobs in New Bedford

9781467141703

$21.99

In 1861, Harriet Ann Jacobs published a masterpiece, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Her book is the first and only narrative to give voice to a woman who escaped slavery. Cornelia Grinnell Willis not only purchased Harriet's freedom, but she also developed a bond with Harriet and her daughter, Louisa, that lasted a lifetime. Both women suffered trauma as children and miraculously survived. They also had close ties to New Bedford that have not been examined previously. Cornelia married Nathaniel Parker Willis, considered an American Dickens during his lifetime though largely forgotten today. Join author and local historian Peggi Medeiros as she traces the fascinating lives of the Jacobs, Grinnell and Willis families in and out of New Bedford.

Assyrians of Eastern Massachusetts

9780738544809

$24.99

The widespread persecution of the Christian Assyrians by neighboring populations in the Ottoman Empire led to their immigration to the United States. Beginning at the end of the 19th century, with an influx during the Great War, Assyrians settled mostly in eastern Massachusetts, finding an abundance of work along its ports and among its large factory base. Concerned with the welfare of their community, these immigrants established a multitude of cultural, social, and political institutions to help promote awareness of Assyria. The establishment of St. Mary's Assyrian Apostolic Church, the first of its kind outside of the Middle East, prompted the solidarity of Assyrians in Massachusetts and became a model for later settlements of Assyrians in the United States. Through family portraits and documents from both religious and secular institutions, Assyrians of Eastern Massachusetts addresses the adjustment of this community in the United States.

The Irish in Haverhill, Massachusetts: Volume II

9780738564319

$24.99

Irish immigration to Haverhill, Massachusetts, was a constant from the days of the Great Famine to the present. The immigrants, their children, and their grandchildren have become an integral part of the fabric of the city's history. Some were teachers, politicians, police officers, and business owners, while others spent their lives as city laborers and factory workers. Whether these new residents were wealthy or poor, well known or little known, their experiences in America could not eliminate their common ties to the Emerald Isle. They collectively share a place in this "family album" of those Irish citizens who called Haverhill their new home. This volume is the sequel to the The Irish in Haverhill,
Massachusetts, which was published in 1998. The response to that book was so enthusiastic that the author was overwhelmed with offers of additional photographs for a second volume.

The Irish in Haverhill, Massachusetts: Volume II

Legendary Locals of Brookline

9781467101370

$24.99

For its first 75 years, Brookline was a bucolic area of Boston, with rolling hills and low-lying salt marshes. Named Muddy River by its residents after a shallow tidal estuary bordering Roxbury, Brookline had no more than 50 families inhabiting it when it was incorporated as an independent town on November 13, 1705. Long regarded as a liberal, progressive community, Brookline is a model of how an effective town government can positively impact the life of its citizens. Brookline boasts numerous Nobel Prize winners—doctors, scientists, and researchers who have made enormous strides in their fields. Brookline shares Boston's strong literary tradition, with residents like poet Amy Lowell and mystery writer Dennis Lehane. Brookline's pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, with many residents who eschew cars and shop locally, attracts many small-business owners such as Dana Brigham and Seth Barrett. Brookline has been home to a number of sports luminaries like Larry Bird, Terry Francona, and Robert Kraft. Famous politicians include the 35th president, John F. Kennedy, who was born in Brookline; former governor Michael Dukakis; and New York mayor Michael Bloomberg. Legendary Locals of Brookline tells their stories, as well as the stories of some of the lesser-known heroes and humanitarians who make Brookline a great place to call home.

Cover image for Legendary Locals of Brookline, isbn: 9781467101370

Boston Police Department

9780738513027

$24.99

The Boston Police Department was formally organized in 1854, but the department traces its origins to the establishment of a night watch of six men and an officer in 1631. At a town meeting in 1701, watchmen were instructed to be "on duty from ten o'clock till broad daylight. . . . They are to go about silently with watch bills, not using any bell, and no watchman to smoke tobacco while walking their rounds; and when they see occasion, to call to persons to take care of their light." Today, the duties of the Boston police officer are supported by advanced forensic technologies and modern equipment. Officers walk neighborhood beats, control local crime, and are ready at a moment's notice to respond to acts of terrorism. Boston Police Department, the first comprehensive photographic history of the department, details one hundred fifty years of crime fighting in Boston. The collection includes images of the 1919 Boston Police Strike; an overview of specialized units, vehicles, uniforms, and equipment; and an honor roll of officers who have fallen in the line of duty.

Cover image for Boston Police Department, isbn: 9780738513027

Massachusetts Correctional Institution-Bridgewater

9781467139137

$21.99

Once known as MCI-Bridgewater and earlier as the Massachusetts State Farm, the Bridgewater Correctional Complex opened in 1854. It was one of several progressive charitable institutions the state created as a model for communities around the world. However, deteriorating conditions for its residents shadowed Bridgewater's evolution from an almshouse to a prison and hospital for the criminally insane. A century later, it was among the nation's most notorious asylums. Historian Michael J. Maddigan offers a riveting examination of this infamous history, including the inspiration for state-sponsored welfare, moral and legal challenges and the experiences of the people who lived and worked there.

Massachusetts Correctional Institution-Bridgewater

Legendary Locals of Salem

9781467100809

$24.99

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.

Cover image for Legendary Locals of Salem, isbn: 9781467100809

Wild Women of Boston

9781626197954

$23.99

The sons of liberty are celebrated in the rebellious history of Boston—but what of their sisters? An audacious and determined procession of reformers, socialites, criminals and madams made the city what it is today. One hundred years before Rosa Parks, African American abolitionist Sarah Parker Remond refused to give up her seat while attending a play in Boston. Fiery activists Harriet Hemenway and Minna Hall led a boycott against bird plumage in ladies' dress and brought the fashion industry to its knees. Rachel Wall was the last woman to be hanged in Massachusetts after leading a daring life as a robber and pirate. Later, women like Boston Marathon runner Kathrine Switzer also blazed their own trails. Author Dina Vargo unearths the remarkable stories of the wild women of the Hub.

Cover image for Wild Women of Boston, isbn: 9781626197954

Massachusetts in the Woman Suffrage Movement

9781467118620

$21.99

Massachusetts was at the center of the national struggle for women's rights, and the early activities there, described in this well-researched book, enabled the next generation of women to triumph over tradition.

Massachusetts was at the center of the national struggle for women's rights. Long before the Civil War, Lucy Stone and other Massachusetts abolitionists opposed women's exclusion from political life. They launched the organized movement at the first National Woman's Rights Convention, held in Worcester. After the war, state activists founded the Boston-based American Woman Suffrage Association and Woman's Journal to lead campaigns across the country. Their activities laid the foundation for the next generation of suffragists to triumph over tradition. Author Barbara Berenson gives these revolutionary reformers the attention they deserve in this compelling and engaging story.

Cover image for Massachusetts in the Woman Suffrage Movement, isbn: 9781467118620

Cape Cod Jazz

9781467119320

$21.99

The first notes of jazz hit Cape Cod in the very early days of the genre. Bournehurst-on-the-Canal hosted top bands, and emerging swing era dancers packed the hall. Cape Cod's First Lady of Jazz, Marie Marcus, was a child prodigy in Boston and found some of her most important instruction in the art of stride piano during lessons with great pianist Fats Waller in New York. At the very tip of the Cape, the Atlantic House in Provincetown showcased performances from some of the biggest names like Gerry Mulligan, Billie Holiday and Stan Getz. Author John Basile details the fascinating history and amazing musicians that made Cape Cod a music destination.

Cover image for Cape Cod Jazz, isbn: 9781467119320

Hawthorne's Haunts in New England

9781596294257

$21.99

Loose the latchstring and peer into the places where Nathaniel Hawthorne passed back and forth from nineteenth century New England to the fertile country of his imagination. The historic images in this pictorial biography—many by famed Salem photographer Frank Cousins—might not inspire readers to the same literary genius as the celebrated author, but the dim and dusky grandeur lingering in his favorite haunts will no doubt enlighten as to the provocation of his pen. From Salem to Bowdoin College, and through Lenox and Concord, Salemite John Hardy Wright trails the famous author to his old accustomed chambers and reveals the inspiration behind an American literary legend.

Cover image for Hawthorne's Haunts in New England, isbn: 9781596294257

Women of Martha's Vineyard

9781609499037

$21.99

Generations of women have traveled to Martha's Vineyard to find solace in its calming waves and varied shoreline. Many prominent and capable women set down roots, contributing to the fabric of the community on the island. Learn of the brilliant poet Nancy Luce, who lived in isolation with her chickens. Emily Post, whose name is synonymous with good manners, sought respite from her personal struggles on the Vineyard. Famed horticulturalist Polly Hill left a perennial legacy for islanders with her tranquil arboretum. In the twentieth century, novelist Dorothy West captured the beauty of Martha's Vineyard with her work. Historian Thomas Dresser provides a series of biographical sketches of these extraordinary women who were bound by their love of the island.

Historic Hanover

9781467138826

$21.99

When Barbara Barker arrived in Hanover in 1964, she fell in love with the community. That initial infatuation made her one of the South Shore's most well-known, widely read and beloved historians. In this collected work, the Hanover Historical Society shares the stories Barbara Barker loved to tell, of the early days when shipbuilders and oxen drivers were as prevalent as farmers and hoteliers. Step inside the old village markets and ride along the old back roads or on the tracks of the Hanover Branch Railroad to see what Hanover once was and what remains today.

Aubuchon Hardware

9780738555317

$24.99

William E. Aubuchon Sr. immigrated to the United States from Canada in 1900 at the age of 15, speaking no English and armed with only a fifth-grade education. Through hard work and perseverance, he established a hardware store in 1908 in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. One hundred years later, there are over 130 Aubuchon Hardware stores located throughout Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont, employing about 1,100 people. This remarkable growth by Aubuchon Hardware can be attributed to the company treating its customers as friends and always making them number one. As William E. Aubuchon Sr. once said, "The business was founded on the principle of buying economically. We give our customers what they want--high-grade hardware at a price everyone can afford." Aubuchon Hardware never lost track of where it started, and today it still remains "all in the family" with over 20 family members currently employed, including the fourth generation. In Aubuchon Hardware, family members were an invaluable resource for photographs and historical information.

Cover image for Aubuchon Hardware, isbn: 9780738555317

Untold Tales of the Boston Irish

9781467147071

$21.99

When it comes to the Boston Irish, names such as Bulger and Curley have long shaped the local turf. But most people are probably unaware of some of the most amazing and forgotten Irish men and women who helped mold this city. There was Patrick Gilmore, America's first famed bandleader. Louis Sullivan was the "Father of the Skyscraper." Other colorful characters included Patsy Donovan, the man who discovered Babe Ruth, and Ann "Goody" Glover, whose horrifying ordeal launched the Salem Witch Trials. Although each played a noteworthy role in his or her era, all have been unjustly forgotten. Local author Peter Stevens uncovers the missing pieces of the Irish experience in Boston.

The Polish Community of Worcester

9780738513386

$24.99

Near the beginning of the twentieth century, thousands of Polish immigrants embarked upon the American Dream in Worcester as the city's lowest-paid mill workers. Slowly, they carved out their own "Polonia," with Millbury Street as the center. By the 1920s, Worcester's Polish community had built a parish with the largest parochial school in the county, established several civic associations, and become an influential group in the city's economy and ethnic composition. The Polish Community of Worcester celebrates the resilient and patriotic spirit of Worcester's Polonia from 1870 through 1970, with rare photographs from private collections and family albums.

James Michael Curley

9781933212753

$14.95

One of the best-known Boston politicians of our times recalls the life of the controversial but beloved mayor, congressman, and governor James Michael Curley. Curley was the greatest Irish-American politician in Boston history before John F. Kennedy, who actually won Curley's seat in Congress. As the voice of working Boston, Curley was loved to the point of adoration, even as he was being hustled off to jail for what he called taking care of constituents. Bulger, who was growing up in Boston just as Curley's career and life were winding down, explains how such a rascal could have been an inspiration to him and so many others.

Cover image for James Michael Curley, isbn: 9781933212753

A Whaling Captain's Life

9781596294172

$14.99

A complete reproduction of the rare 1838 edition--reprinted for the first time in over one hundred years.
This little volume was originally penned by a whaling captain for his son. Irresistibly collectable, this edition--featuring 112 original black-and-white plates--retains all the charm of the original, including descriptions
of successful voyages, whale hunting advice and
sailing superstitions.

The Italian Home for Children

9780738538273

$24.99

As it ravaged the world, the influenza epidemic of 1918 devastated Boston's congested North End and left hundreds of orphans in its wake. Touched by this crisis, a Roman Catholic priest and a group of Italian Americans founded the first home for Italian children in Massachusetts. Franciscan Sisters devoted 24 hours a day to providing the children with a safe, loving, and spiritual environment. In addition, the home provided educational support for its residents. Over time, the changing needs of children mandated that the agency change the nature of its services from custodial care to treatment. In 1974, in response to the changing political and social climate, the agency became the Italian Home for Children. Today, it is a nonprofit, nonsectarian residential treatment facility with a capacity for 61 children of all races, nationalities, and religions. The images in The Italian Home for Children document milestones in the organization's history: the devastating influenza epidemic, the Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, Christmas plays, a visit from Joe DiMaggio, trips to Canobie Lake Park in the summer, the Tony Martin benefit performance at Boston Garden, and the home as it is today--a refuge for children in the most severe crises.

Boston Police

9780738598048

$24.99

Recognized as the oldest police department in the country, the Boston Police Department has bravely protected and served the Boston community since 1838. Over the years, the department's efforts to keep the public safe have been supported by the many divisions and special units that are prepared to respond to a wide range of public safety issues. Photographs of the harbor patrol unit, mounted unit, K-9 unit, homicide unit, and motorcycle unit take readers behind the badge to witness the exciting and sometimes dangerous situations that officers encounter when protecting the Hub. Honoring this great department and the men and women who have served it, Boston Police: Behind the Badge celebrates the long and noteworthy history of the city and department from days long gone by.

Cover image for Boston Police, isbn: 9780738598048

Legendary Locals of Beacon Hill

9781467101493

$24.99

In the 1600s, William Blaxton set up his farmstead on Beacon Hill because it was far from the bustle of the city. John Hancock's uncle Thomas Hancock built his mansion on the hill in the 1700s so he could enjoy a rural lifestyle. In the early 1800s, future mayor of Boston Harrison Gray Otis moved to Beacon Hill because it was the new and fashionable neighborhood he was helping create. Louisa May Alcott, in the 19th century, and Robert Frost, in the 20th, lived on the hill because the literary set loved the neighborhood's picturesque streets and close quarters that made it easy to get together for conversation. The 9,000 residents who live in this small, urban neighborhood of Boston today appreciate its walkability, convenience, quirkiness, and neighborliness. The historic architecture, ever-burning gas lamps, rugged bricks, and one-of-a-kind shops prove that the best of the past can live comfortably with the novelty of the present.

Cover image for Legendary Locals of Beacon Hill, isbn: 9781467101493

Swedes of Greater Worcester Revisited

9780738537566

$24.99

Industrial expansion in New England gave impetus to large-scale Swedish immigration by the last quarter of the nineteenth century. Swedish American communities were established in many areas, including Worcester County in Massachusetts and adjacent northern Windham County in Connecticut. Swedes of Greater Worcester Revisited, a companion to Swedes of Greater Worcester (2002), expands upon the story of the region's Swedish American population. Vintage images capture the immigration experience, family and organizational life, and religious aspects of the community.

Swedish Heritage of Greater Worcester

9781467119429

$21.99

By 1900, Worcester was home to the largest Swedish population in the eastern United States. These new residents brought an innovative and unique spirit to the community. Industrialist John Jeppson invented an artificial emery stone, and his experiments in the abrasives field became the foundation of the Norton Company. Worcester welcomed Swedish immigrants who preserved traditions through various lodges, church congregations and Swedish-owned businesses like Holstrom's Market, Lundborg's and Crown Bakery. Fairlawn Hospital and the Lutheran Home were other mainstays that marked the Swedes' local presence. Author Eric J. Salomonsson explores how Worcester's Swedish immigrants became Swedish-Americans while making vital and vibrant contributions to their adopted city.

Cover image for Swedish Heritage of Greater Worcester, isbn: 9781467119429

Denholms

9781609493950

$21.99

When William Denholm and William McKay teamed up in 1870 to form a dry goods store in the factory town of Worcester, Massachusetts, they could not have imagined the 103-year legacy that would make their store a beloved New England landmark. Former customers may well recall the store's elaborate promotions that took shoppers to exotic locales, from an African holiday to a trip through the Italian fashion world. Join authors Christopher Sawyer and Patricia Wolf, daughter of a former Denholms president, as they take a behind-the-scenes view of the history and memory of Massachusetts's largest department store outside of Boston. With vivid descriptions of the festive holiday displays and personal recollections from former employees, this book is sure to make any reader nostalgic for the bygone days of shopping at Denholms.

Cover image for Denholms, isbn: 9781609493950

Worcester County's Polish Community

9780738554549

$24.99

Polish settlement in Worcester County had humble beginnings: a small group of German Poles in the 1870s. Over the next decades, thousands of Russian and Austrian Poles, fleeing economic and political hardship, pinned their hopes for a better life on jobs in the burgeoning industries of central Massachusetts. Practicing their religion in their native tongue was vital to these devout Catholics. New England's first Polish parish was founded in Webster, with others following in Worcester, Gardner, West Warren, Clinton, Southbridge, and Dudley. Polish clubs served as central gathering places in Gilbertville, Uxbridge, and South Grafton. Worcester County's Polish Americans share an intricate web of relationships--family, religious, business, social, cultural, educational, political, and athletic--that celebrates their heritage and sustains them today as one of the region's largest ethnic groups.

Martha's Vineyard, an Elegy

9781933212173

$17.95

Blending personal reminiscence and history, this affectionate look at the life on Martha's Vineyard in the recent past and present chronicles its change from a predominantly farming and fishing community to a tourist haven

The Cape Cod Murder of 1899: Edwin Ray Snow's Punishment & Redemption

9781596292277

$21.99

On a crisp September evening in 1899, a seventeen-year-old petty thief named Edwin Ray Snow shot and killed a bakery deliveryman named Jimmy Whittemore outside Yarmouth. The gunshots rang out for only a moment, but the effects resounded on Cape Cod for half a century. The idyllic atmosphere of turn-of-the-century Cape Cod was shattered in a flash. Soon after the crime, Snow pleaded guilty to murder in the first degree, and was the first person ever to be sentenced to death by electric chair in Massachusetts history. But his compelling story didn't end there, and his redemption--earned through decades of hard time--was as dramatic and uplifting as his crime was heinous. Drawing upon town records, historical documents, correspondence and newspapers of the day, The Cape Cod Murder of 1899 recreates the towns of Dennis and Yarmouth at the turn of the century and examines the details of a murder that shook Cape Cod to its core.

The Cape Cod Murder of 1899: Edwin Ray Snow's Punishment & Redemption

Cape Cod's Oldest Shipwreck:

9781596298606

$21.99

In 1626-27, the Sparrow-Hawk began her final journey across the brutal winter waves of the Atlantic Ocean, departing from the southern coast of England with America as her goal. As cases of scurvy and whispers of mutiny rose, the hopes of those aboard the small vessel began to fade. The ever-changing coastline of Cape Cod caused the Sparrow-Hawk to run aground. Desperate to repair their ship and attain their goal of becoming wealthy Virginia tobacco planters, the passengers wrecked her again, forcing them to abandon their beloved ship and take up residence in Plymouth Colony. Revealed by the tides over two hundred years later, the wreckage was pillaged by local scavengers and put on display in Boston. Join Mark Wilkins as he delves into the secrets of the Sparrow-Hawk.

Cover image for Cape Cod's Oldest Shipwreck:, isbn: 9781596298606

Boston in the Golden Age of Spiritualism

9781626195875

$21.99

Spiritualism flourished in Boston from the first rumblings of the Civil War until the early twentieth century. Numerous clairvoyants claimed to bring messages from beyond the grave at seances and public meetings. Motives for belief were varied. Wealthy John Wetherbee sought business advice through supernatural means. Psychic Fannie Conant attributed her restored health to spirit intervention. Grieving theater manager Isaac B. Rich wanted to contact his deceased wife. While many earnestly believed in the movement, there were those who took advantage of naive Bostonians. Determined to expose charlatans, world-renowned magician Harry Houdini declared the famous medium and Bostonian Mina Margery Crandon a fake. Join author Dee Morris as she navigates the complex history of Boston's spiritualist movement.

Cover image for Boston in the Golden Age of Spiritualism, isbn: 9781626195875

The Boston Mob Guide

9781609494209

$19.99

Boston journalists Beverly Ford and Stephanie Schorow navigate the backrooms and seedy hangouts throughout the real story of Boston's gangster past.

The capture of notorious mobster James Whitey Bulger closed an infamous chapter in Boston history, yet the city's criminal underworld has a long and bloody rap sheet that stretches back to the beginning of the twentieth century. Ford and Schorow reveal the underbelly of Boston through profiles of ruthless gangsters like Charles King Solomon, the Angiulo brothers, Joseph The Animal Barboza, Stephen The Rifleman Flemmi and many more who carried out deadly hits and lucrative heists.