Name: Legendary Locals of New Britain
Brand: Amy Melissa Kirby
SKU: 9781467101134
Price: 24.99 USD
Availability: InStock

Legendary Locals of New Britain

9781467101134

$24.99

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.

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Derby and Ansonia

9780738536880

$24.99

The cities of Derby and Ansonia, in the heart of Connecticut's Lower Naugatuck Valley, share history, geography, heritage, and borders. With European settlement dating to 1642, the cities witnessed the nation's birth, the rise and decline of the maritime trades and heavy industry, devastating floods, and subsequent redevelopment. Photographs have captured much of this history. The images on these pages will allow the reader to wander the streets, neighborhoods, and downtowns of bygone Derby and Ansonia and to see how they have changed today. Many of the modern photographs were taken at or near the same spot where the historic photographs were taken.

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Milford

9781596299245

$21.99

Local journalist and historian Frank Juliano takes us through the incredible stories of his town, including a series of vignettes about famous Milford residents.

Purchased for six coats, twelve iron axes, ten blankets, twelve hatchets, twelve hoes, two dozen knives, six mirrors and a kettle, the town of Milford has blossomed into one of Connecticut's most treasured places. . From the American Revolution, when seventy-three men from Milford marched to Boston to fight in the famous Battle of Lexington and Concord, to the backyard pit of a local farmhouse that was surely a stop on the Underground Railroad, Milford has its roots firmly grounded in the bedrock of American history.

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Ghost Stories and Legends of Southwestern Connecticut

9781596296893

$21.99

An unlucky gambler who haunts the Curtis House, the ethereal White Lady who wanders among the tombs of Union Cemetery and a ghostly diner who still insists upon joining the meal are among the otherworldly residents of Southwestern Connecticut. With a long and sometimes turbulent history, the region has become a host to lingering spirits who cannot leave behind the sites of their demise. Through spirit photography and firsthand accounts, Donna Kent, founder of the Cosmic Society of Paranormal Investigation, explores the most haunted locations from Stratford to Easton. These hair-raising tales are sure to intrigue seasoned enthusiasts and convert even the most skeptical reader into a believer.

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Westville

9781596295384

$21.99

Nestled below the cliffs of West Rock, the peaceful hamlet of Westville has made a name for itself over the years as an important manufacturing center and scenic refuge. Well known for harboring the regicides who signed the death warrant of England's Charles I, the village has also seen its share of patriots, pirates, rascals and murderers in the three centuries since its settlement. From the legends of the infamous Captain Thunderbolt to the inventor who installed secret panels and a trapdoor in the old Westville Library, this collection of articles tells the stories of Westville from the revealing early modern perspective of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century columnists.

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Hamden

9781596298354

$21.99

Sail into New Haven Harbor and trek toward the beautiful form of the Sleeping Giant to discover Hamden, a picturesque gem nestled in the rolling hills of Connecticut. Witness the birth of the ?Industrial Revolution with the building of Eli Whitney's famous factory, wander past the buried cars in the Ghost Lot of Hamden Plaza and hear the tale of the courageous Hamden soldiers who fought in the Civil War. Journey with Eric D. Lehman as he uncovers the hidden stories of this fascinating Connecticut town, from its humble Puritan beginnings to its modern-day splendor.

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Griswold Point

9781626195714

$21.99

At the mouth of the Connecticut River, Griswold Point boasts a rich history filled with remarkable individuals. In 1640, Colonel George Fenwick granted the land to Matthew Griswold I, who then turned a teeming wilderness into productive farming and fishing territory. Over the centuries, many prominent Americans called Old Lyme and the Point home. Nathaniel Lynde Griswold and George Griswold built ships that served as privateers in the War of 1812. Florence Griswold invited boarders into her grand house in 1899 and transformed her home into a vibrant artists' colony for the American Impressionist movement. Local author Wick Griswold introduces the community's colorful characters who left indelible marks on history, from colonial governors and judges to adventurers and sea captains.

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Litchfield County and the Civil War

9781467156219

$24.99

Union victory in the Civil War was far from guaranteed. The Northern war effort depended upon local communities to raise the troops and supplies needed for the battlefield.

The history of Litchfield County highlights the challenges Northern communities faced. Armed confrontation erupted over the flying of secession flags. Supporting the war effort provided women with skills and experiences that would aid in the suffrage movement. Scandal swirled around the local army medical examiner. Family and friends actively supported their loved ones as they transformed from civilians to soldiers.

Author Peter C. Vermilyea uses first-hand accounts-many never published before-to investigate these events and show how the process of preparing for war created a lasting bond between a community and its soldiers.

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Southington

9780738592916

$24.99

With the outbreak of World War I, industry in Southington—previously an agrarian community—grew in both size and profit. The citizens of Southington banded together to help in the war effort by joining the American Red Cross and Home Guard and selling Liberty Bonds. Industrial growth continued until the stock market crash of 1929. Though few factories closed, most were forced to reduce their workforce and hours of production. By the end of the 1930s, the nation was preparing for a war most people hoped would never happen. Factories rehired former employees and created new job opportunities, and four months after Pearl Harbor, Southington's 17 factories were working around the clock to produce wartime goods. Two World Wars and the Great Depression left their mark on citizens, creating changes that remain today.

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Bethel

9780738589619

$24.99

Bethel brings to life the people, places, industries, and institutions of this independent town from the 1860s through the 1950s through vintage photographs.

Separated from Danbury in 1855, Bethel was settled as early as 1700. Studies of the town's unique and colorful past have been somewhat neglected until recently, however, as many assumed that existing histories of Danbury were all that was needed to document the area's beginnings. With Bethel, town historian Patrick Wild brings to life the people, places, industries, and institutions of the independent town from the 1860s through the 1950s for the first time through a remarkable series of vintage photographs. The hat-making industry was critical to the Bethel economy, and the arrival of the Danbury-Norwalk Railroad in 1852 allowed commerce in this field to blossom. Hatting remained Bethel's primary enterprise until the end of the 1960s, and the town is often associated with this successful venture. Bethel is also known as the birthplace of an American legend, the great showman P. T. Barnum. The fountain that Barnum donated to his hometown is showcased in this work in a series of outstanding photographs taken before the tragic destruction of the landmark in 1923. Patrick Wild is a member of the Bethel Historical

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Hartford in World War I

9781626197961

$21.99

When the United States Congress declared war in April 1917, Connecticut answered the call to arms. As the capital, Hartford was the hub of the state's war effort. The city hosted major rallies and recruitment drives, and leaders from Hartford directed efforts to inspire patriotism and sacrifice. Allied needs for war materiel and goods were insatiable, and local manufacturers like Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company worked around the clock to meet the demand. Men and women from the area battled in the trenches, volunteered in the hospitals and canteens and served in the air and on the high seas. A century later, this legacy of service and sacrifice is memorialized by local monuments. Author David Drury traces the extraordinary story of Hartford during World War I.

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Southington

9780738525136

$9.99

The mills along the Quinnipiac River may be gone, but Southington's history lives on. These images
illustrate the people, the events, and the everyday
scenes that make up Southington's story.

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Bethlehem

9780738565163

$24.99

Settled in 1734, Bethlehem is a typical Litchfield hill town and retains much of its rural charm. Around its green are an old post tavern at the Woodward House, two historic churches, and the Bellamy-Ferriday House and Garden. Rev. Joseph Bellamy came to Bethlehem in 1738 and stayed to establish the first theological school in the country, educating Aaron Burr, James Morris, and later John C. Calhoun. In 1938, postmaster Earl Johnson designed a rubber stamp to adorn cards sent from the post office attached to his family's general store. This first cachet became an annual project and established Bethlehem as the Christmas town. In 1946, two Benedictine nuns came to stay with artist Lauren Ford while establishing the Abbey of Regina Laudis in a factory donated by local businessman Robert Leather. Every September for the last 85 years, the Bethlehem Fair has welcomed more than 60,000 people to apple pies and horse draws at its scenic fairgrounds.

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Hamden Firefighting

9781467127615

$24.99

Incorporated in 1786, the town of Hamden covers nearly 33 square miles immediately north of New Haven, Connecticut. Despite significant industrial growth in the early 19th century and several devastating fires, Hamden had no organized firefighting forces until its first volunteer fire company was organized in 1896. By 1925, the handful of independent volunteer fire companies that followed became the Hamden Fire Department. A predominantly volunteer force before World War II, the department grew to 55 career members by 1950 and to 124 by the mid-1980s. The ascendency of emergency medical services and, more recently, a concern for homeland security have greatly expanded the department's role in public safety. Although 1990s municipal austerity measures reduced department size by 20 percent, with a population today exceeding 60,000, fire department responses have increased to more than 10,000 calls annually, of which 74 percent are for EMS.

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Plainfield

9780738550299

$24.99

There are two dozen places in the United States named Plainfield, but Plainfield, Connecticut, was the first. When it was incorporated in 1699, Colonial governor Fitz-John Winthrop named the town for its rich, fertile fields along the Quinebaug River. During the 1700s, the town was transformed from Native American country to a farming community populated by English settlers. In the 1800s, textile mills were built along the Moosup and Quinebaug Rivers, and Plainfield became an industrial town attracting workers from all over New England, Canada, and Europe. Today the textile industry is gone, and the surviving mills have been converted to other uses. Located in the northeastern part of the state, Plainfield is in the heart of the breathtaking Quinebaug-Shetucket National Heritage Corridor.

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Trumbull Revisited

9781467122405

$24.99

Incorporated in 1797, Trumbull, Connecticut, developed from a collection of farms and settlements in the area north of Stratford. Trumbull's neighborhoods reflect the varied identities of these early settlements. The Nichols area features homes dating as far back as the establishment of the Farm Highway, which was laid out in 1696 and remains the third-oldest thoroughfare in the state. In the now-forested Pequonnock Valley, a 19th-century rail bed ambles past the foundations of wool mills, paper mills, and gristmills that served the community through the 1800s. That same rail line carried thousands of fun seekers to the picnic pavilions, toboggan slide, and other attractions of Parlor Rock Amusement Park in the late 1800s. Just to the west of the valley, a small, surviving triangle of the Long Hill Green marks an area that once buzzed with the production of shirts, cigars, and carriages. Today, Trumbull continues to rediscover itself and frequently receives accolades as one of the state's most desirable communities in which to live and raise a family.

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Willington

9781467121071

$24.99

Willington, incorporated in 1727, is located in Connecticut's northeast corner, providing easy access to Hartford, Connecticut, and Boston, Massachusetts. With steep hills and mineral-laden soil, Willington proved to be a challenging terrain for early farmers trying to grow crops. Instead, they came to rely on a variety of animals, which they sold in markets as far away as New York City. Although the area was rural in nature, button, thread, and glass industries all existed in Willington; residents claim Willington as the place where America's first spool of thread was made. Today, businesses include art galleries, gift shops, and independent restaurants. Through photographs, Willington captures how a small community that once had 11 one-room schoolhouses has managed to grow into a modern community with two schools for students from kindergarten through eighth grade all while maintaining elements of its original historic charm. This charm can be seen in the form of 18th- and 19th-century homes that dot Willington's quintessential country roads.

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Burlington

9780738509051

$24.99

Located on the Farmington River, Burlington is a place of natural beauty, with five mountains and valleys filled with brooks, forests, and stone walls. Most of the area's earliest settlers came from England to Hartford and then followed the river, with its fertile banks and meadowlands, into the West Woods or Great Forest, as Burlington was known at the time. The town was incorporated in 1745 and was named Burlington in 1806.

Burlington shows the faces of earlier generations of the same families who live in these hills and valleys today. It depicts the homes, barns, orchards, fields, schoolhouses, and mills when they were thriving with life in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The book captures the tenor of everyday situations as well as the drama of the Blizzard of 1888 and the flood of 1955.

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Legendary Locals of Southbury

9781467100687

$24.99

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 Taber; 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.

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Lost Hartford

9780738504636

$24.99

Cities are evolving entities, and as pushcarts became vans and horse-drawn streetcars became mechanized, so the streetscape and its buildings and landmarks and accesses changed. In the process there were victories and losses, progress and great leadership that already is shaping the Hartford of tomorrow. Lost Hartford is a magical look at Hartford
and its evolution from the eighteenth century to today. It contains early landmarks, such as the Old
State House, which still survives. It offers some
never-before-published views of Main, Trumbull, and Pratt Streets, to name a few. It shares recent triumphs, such as the joining to the Connecticut
River by Riverfront Recapture and the creation of the learning corridor by Trinity College.

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Thomaston

9780738513348

$24.99

Thomaston, a gateway to the Litchfield Hills and the Berkshires, is situated in the picturesque Naugauck River Valley. This town of Victorian charm grew as local industry developed. Today, it includes a population representing many occupations and nationalities and a mixture of urban and suburban culture. Thomaston reveals the history of this town and its people, including a nineteenth-century priest who is a candidate for sainthood in the Roman Catholic Church, the grandfather of a Nobel Prize-winning author, and a hero who was awarded the Medal of Honor for valor at Pearl Harbor. The first part of the book is designed as a guide for a walking tour of the downtown area.

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Bridgeport Baseball

9780738512013

$24.99

Bridgeport, Connecticut, owns a rich and diverse baseball history. People from varied backgrounds stepped up to the plate in Bridgeport's early years-sons of Irish immigrants, laborers and merchants, Asian and Latino players, and some of the first African Americans to play professional ball. Local baseball truly blossomed with "Orator" Jim O'Rourke, who returned from the big leagues and organized the Connecticut State Baseball League in 1895. Numerous Bridgeport teams evolved, including the Victors, Mechanics, Bolts, Americans, and Bears. Bridgeport Baseball traces the game from the post-Civil War era to today. Baseball beneath the roaring smokestacks of industrial Bridgeport included visits by barnstorming Major League and Negro League teams, future Hall of Famers, and a train wreck that almost killed the St. Louis Cardinals. The smokestacks are silent now, yet the legacy of Bridgeport baseball continues to evolve with the city's first professional club in nearly half a century-the Bridgeport Bluefish. The team, owners, staff, fans, and stadium have all contributed to restoring the living history that is Bridgeport Baseball.

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Klingberg Children's Home

9780738512242

$24.99

Serving as the pastor of a small Swedish congregation in New Britain, Rev. John Eric Klingberg never forgot his own childhood misery. His past inspired a lifelong mission: to provide a home for destitute and forgotten children. In May 1903, Klingberg found three small boys who had been abandoned in a shack and welcomed them into a new home, the first Klingberg Children's Home. After years of prayer and gracious donations from friends and strangers alike, Klingberg gradually acquired the parcel of land overlooking the city of New Britain and built the home that would house more than two thousand boys and girls over the years. The images in Klingberg Children's Home come from the extensive collections of the Klingberg Family Centers. They tell the captivating story of Klingberg's journey in faith as he developed the orphanage. This collection includes photographs of Klingberg's birthplace in Sweden; photographs of the first orphans taken in by Klingberg in 1903; images of the orphanage on the hilltop and the ten orphan houses occupied during the early years; and scenes of the children's everyday life.

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Suffield's Old Bridge Neighborhood

9780738565828

$24.99

Located along the shallow falls midway between Springfield and Windsor, Suffield was a convenient place to cross the Connecticut River. Ferries north of the falls were supplemented in 1808 by a wooden bridge downstream. But it was in 1893 that the iron bridge leading to the busy Thompsonville manufacturing village in Enfield opened and encouraged residential growth in this corner of rural Suffield. In an ideal setting for the early-20th-century influx of multicultural immigrants, East Suffield's established Yankee families became juxtaposed with later European arrivals working in Thompsonville's industries. The vibrant diversity and opportunity in the neighborhood continued until the mill and the bridge closed, leaving only memories.

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West Haven Revisited

9780738573977

$24.99

For more than 350 years, the hardy southern New England coastal town of West Haven has made its mark on the nation's history. From the days when Pres. George Washington's fledgling government gave permission to install a dike at Oyster River to Pres. Barack Obama's recognition of the West Haven Black Heritage Committee's leaders, the town has reflected, in miniature, the growth of America. Important people like movie theater mogul Sylvester Z. Poli, his granddaughter Jeanne Poli, and the entrepreneurs who created Savin Rock Amusement Park helped shape West Haven's development. The town's history was also impacted by Queen Victoria and Robert Todd Lincoln's correspondence concerning the rededication of the Campbell grave site, the Razorbacks connection, and the 1882 murder of Jennie Kramer.

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Lake Compounce

9781467123044

$24.99

On October 6, 1846, Gad Norton invited the public to witness a scientific experiment to be conducted at his family-owned lake. The experiment failed, but the crowds of people inspired him to open a recreation area. In 1851, the firm of Pierce and Norton began land improvements. Not only were new attractions added, but corporate outings and outdoor concerts with big bands were also held, providing for a full day of fun and memories. As the oldest continuously operating amusement park in the United States, Lake Compounce now offers 44 rides, including Thunder Rapids, Wildcat and Boulder Dash Roller Coasters, Crocodile Cove, Splash Harbor Water Park, and Bear Creek Campground. During the off-season, the infamous Crocodile Club is held every September, a haunted graveyard runs throughout October, and in December, the park showcases its holiday lights.

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Legendary Locals of Middletown

9781467101202

$24.99

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.

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Riding the Wild Ocean

9781467139021

$24.99

Riding the Wild Ocean is a compilation of author Paul Krantz's wildest adventures over the years, from coastal New England to the Dry Tortugas, all in boats under twenty feet long. Beyond the sheer thrill of his experiences, this is a how-to manual for the serious sailor contemplating an open-ocean voyage in a small vessel. That includes equipping a boat for all-weather, day and night sailing, as well as gaining confidence and knowledge through gradual exposure to extreme conditions in controlled situations.

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Connecticut's Girls of Summer

9781467154192

$23.99

Connecticut has a long history of producing outstanding sports teams and athletes. Two of the greatest teams to come out of the state are the legendary Brakettes and Falcons women’s fast-pitch softball teams. In their seventy-six-year history, the Brakettes are considered the most successful and longest-running organized women’s sports franchise of all time. With forty national championships, three world championships and eleven Olympians, their dynasty remains synonymous with softball excellence. Likewise, the Connecticut Falcons were the most dominant team of the Women’s Professional Softball League, winning the championship title all four years of the WPS existence. The most famous and iconic product of these two teams has been Waterbury’s legendary Joan Joyce, who is considered by many experts to be the greatest female athlete in sports history. Join author Tony Renzoni as he interviews former players and highlights the accomplishments of these two renowned teams and their legendary athletes.

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Savin Rock

9781467116947

$24.99

The area surrounding Savin Rock in West Haven followed a traditional New England path that began as farmland for colonists. After the Civil War, however, that path took a new turn when entrepreneur George Kelsey constructed seaside attractions. After nearly a century of being home to the Savin Rock Amusement Park, once a popular tourist destination, the site had seen better days. The buildings were blighted and business had slumped as automobiles gave people the opportunity to visit attractions farther away. In 1964, Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson imagined a Great Society and declared a War on Poverty. West Haven took advantage of federal money to reclaim the Savin Rock, creating a mix of business, residences, and open, public space. This transition was not without growing pains as locally owned park concessions were eliminated, long-standing businesses were displaced, and residents were uprooted. When plans were proffered to reconstruct the area and line the shore with residential housing, this spurred a grassroots effort by local citizens who worked to keep the shore open to the public. Consequently, West Haven is home to Connecticut's largest stretch of free, public beach, which is used by thousands every summer.

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Bristol Business and Industry

9780738573373

$24.99

Bristol was incorporated in 1785 and quickly became recognized as a clock-manufacturing center and home of the E. Ingraham Company's dollar watch. The town grew with the many immigrant workers who arrived to work for local knitting mills, spring companies, and brass manufacturers. By the 1890s, the strong growth of the town brought an influx of people with different skills who established the Bristol Press, banks, local neighborhood shops and markets, and service industries. In 1920, Bristol Nurseries created new varieties of chrysanthemums that eventually made Bristol known as the Mum City. Redevelopment in the 1960s brought the new Bristol Plaza and changes on Farmington Avenue. In 1979, ESPN started its first broadcast in its new home on Middle Street. With the completion of the new Route 72, Bristol will today continue to offer new opportunities for business and industry to grow.

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Ridgefield

9780738511726

$24.99

Ridgefield has long been a destination-for tourists seeking a picturesque country village, for city dwellers looking for a weekend and summer retreat, and for immigrants in search of a new life. In the first half of the twentieth century, a period that corresponded to the heyday of the picture postcard, hundreds of views were published, depicting the beautiful Main Street, the many inns and resorts, the mansions, estates, village shops, churches, and scenic hills and lakes. Ridgefield: 1900-1950 offers more than two hundred of these glimpses of a bygone time of affluence and change-what one historian has called Ridgefield's golden era.

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Hoops in Connecticut

9781609490836

$21.99

Home to both the University of Connecticut's men's and women's NCAA championship teams as well as the Connecticut Sun WNBA team, this small state has made a name for itself in basketball. Infatuation with the sport started here in 1896 with the first intercollegiate game between Yale and Wesleyan Universities. The roster of Connecticut's round ball greats includes Naismith Hall-of-Famer Calvin Murphy; NBA stars Vin Baker, Marcus Camby, Charles Smith, the late John Williamson, Johnny Egan and John Bagley; and Harlem Globetrotter Alvin Clinkscales. Award-winning sportswriter Don Harrison wows fans with stories of the Nutmeg State's most notable players and coaches through personal interviews and firsthand accounts.

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Norwich Firefighting

9780738555492

$24.99

Beginning in 1769, Norwich inhabitants began fire protection with the use of water buckets and a hand-actuated piston pump named the Torrent. In the early 1800s, the need for an organized fire service paved the way for the first fire companies of the downtown area. A period of rapid growth followed, and the Norwich Fire Department absorbed the Greeneville Fire Department under one title and one chief. Today the career firefighters of the Norwich Fire Department continue to build upon its rich and historic tradition of service to the City Consolidated District. Norwich Firefighting is a pictorial tribute to this honorable department.

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Plymouth, Connecticut

9780738564104

$24.99

During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the town of Plymouth, Connecticut—formerly known as Northbury—was settled only by scattered groups of Indians and hearty newcomers from Europe. As time went on, however, the Town of Plymouth developed into an industrial community composed of nine organized districts: Plymouth, Greystone, Allentown, the Lakes, Pequabuck, Terryville, East Plymouth, and the Holt District. Residents of Plymouth were industrious and inventive from the very beginning. In 1793 Eli Terry founded the clock-making business that became the foremost enterprise in the town's history, and in 1854 the expansion of the Eagle Lock Company fostered the development of Terryville. During the course of the nineteenth century, a plethora of smaller companies developed along the town's many waterways, manufacturing everything from furniture to toys, plows, and hats. Plymouth, Connecticut chronicles the development of the town through the years with a remarkable series of vintage images and informative text.

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The Historical, Statistical and Industrial Review of the State of Connecticut

9780738594613

$21.99

The following pages, which represent the constant labor of a corps of reporters, writers, editors, and printers for several months, is presented to the public. The general idea of a history is a large expensive volume, bound in heavy board covers, associated with a library and accessible only with more or less trouble. That of the publishers is to furnish a History of Connecticut and its representative industries at a low price and in such a portable shape that "he who runs may read." In order to do this at a profit, large editions are printed, enabling the publishers to furnish each part at a price so low that all who wish can possess it. It has been the aim to mention representative mercantile houses and manufacturing establishments in the cities and villages of which this part especially treats, that would be of interest to present and future generations.

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The Great Escape of Edward Whalley and William Goffe

9781609493028

$21.99

Author Christopher Pagliuco reveals the all-but-forgotten stories of these Connecticut heroes.

When Puritans Edward Whalley and William Goffe joined the parliamentary army against King Charles I in the English civil wars, they seized an opportunity to overthrow a tyrant. Yet when his son, Charles II, regained the throne, Whalley and Goffe were forced to flee to the New England colonies aboard the ship Prudent Mary--never to see their families or England again. Even with the help of New England's Puritan elite, including Reverend John Davenport, they struggled to stay ahead of the authorities in Boston, New Haven, and the outpost of Hadley, Massachusetts. Though forced to live out the rest of their lives fugitives, these former major generals survived frontier adventures in seventeenth-century New England, and became embedded in early United States history.

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Ellington

9780738538242

$24.99

Located 16 miles northeast of Hartford, Ellington was incorporated in 1786 and has retained the charm of a New England village and farming community. Originally part of Windsor, it was known as the Great Marsh. Ellington Center, with its town green and 18th- to 20th-century houses, is on the National Register of Historic Places. Japanese business pioneer Francis Hall donated the jewel of the district to his hometown in 1903—the neoclassical-revival-style library. Archival photographs preserve faded memories of schools, churches, townspeople, and a unique dentist's tooth-shaped tombstone. Ellington captures a time when John Hall's Ellington School was known worldwide, Crystal Lake was a popular summer resort, and Daniel Hallady invented the modern windmill.

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The Norwich Free Academy v. New London Football Rivalry

9781609495428

$21.99

Since 1875, southeastern Connecticut has played host to the oldest high school football rivalry in the nation: the Norwich Free Academy Wildcats versus the New London Whalers. This complex and competitive rivalry has inspired mayhem and merriment, from biased officials, cheating faculty and vandalism among students to disco-dancing coaches and marching band rallies. Learn how a fight during the 1951 meeting stopped the game for two years, how the Bulkeley Tigers (who became New London High School in 1951) finished their regular season in 1941 without a loss or tie and how the 1997 game ended a fourteen-game losing streak for the Norwich Free Academy. Join sportswriter Brian Girasoli as he recounts a spirit that transcends the ages and chronicles the evolution of this 135-year-old-rivalry.

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Stratford and the Sea

9780738523996

$26.99

For nearly four centuries, the maritime history of Stratford, Connecticut set the standard for the growing relationship between the United States and the sea. For the long years when ocean and river were the only practical means of travel, and from the struggles for independence to the quest for commerce that played out upon the waves, Stratford's brave sons have navigated both Long Island Sound, whose waters lap their shores, and the wide world beyond. Stratford and the Sea is the story of Captain David Hawley fighting to save the young American Revolution. It is the story of privateer Samuel Nicoll's furious attacks on British shipping in the War of 1812 that forever altered our nation's future. And it is the story of merchant captains like Dowdall, Sterling, and Benjamin who pioneered transatlantic commerce and opened up trade routes to the Orient, establishing American dominance in international trade. But there is more to the story than the men who tell it. Here also-brought to life with 200 vintage photographs, period maps, and antique postcards-is the tale of the rise and fall of the mighty oyster fishery, the birth of decoy carving as a unique American folk art, and the rush of progress and industry brought to town by Igor Sikorsky and his flying boats.

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New Milford Revisited

9781467123648

$24.99

Covering 64 square miles, New Milford is the largest municipality in Connecticut and the southernmost town in Litchfield County. Earliest residents settled around the present-day Village Green, making it the epicenter of town. In the early 1900s, a great fire obliterated a good portion of the downtown buildings, but businesses were quickly resurrected. Establishments such as the Robertson Bleachery, Eastern Lounge, and New Milford Foundry & Machine helped the town rise from the ashes. The 20th century also saw the demise of the tobacco industry that had dominated the area for decades, as several businesses, mostly located in the West Street area, rose to prominence. In later years, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Maggi Company (which would merge with Nestlé), Scovill Manufacturing, Century Brass, and New Milford Hospital all thrived as the town prospered. New Milford's iconic bandstand has been the scene of numerous concerts, including one in 1960 conducted by longtime resident Maestro Leopold Stokowski, and the structure has graced the cover of the Saturday Evening Post. It is no surprise that Fredric March, Vladimir Horowitz, Joan Rivers, Diane von Furstenberg, Eartha Kitt, and Ruth and Skitch Henderson have all chosen New Milford as home.

Upcoming book cover for New Milford Revisited.

Avon

9780738573816

$24.99

Once known as Northington, a northern parish of Farmington, Avon was incorporated in 1830 after the construction of the Farmington Canal. Located at the juncture of the Albany Turnpike, the Farmington Canal, and later the Farmington Canal Railroad, Avon became a transportation and commercial center of considerable importance through the 19th century. Avon Historical Society board member Peter J. Wright, with an introduction from town historian Nora O. Howard, illustrates Avon's past and present in vintage and contemporary images.

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New Haven

9780738544755

$24.99

Home to Yale University and once inhabited by Native Americans and settlers, New Haven has a long and fascinating history.

Originally inhabited by the native Quinnipiac, the Puritans traded blankets and wares in 1638 to acquire land destined to be a prosperous mercantile port. New Haven became a manufacturing center and was the carriage and corset capital of the world, while also being a leader in clocks, firearms, hardware, and oyster harvesting. Charles Goodyear and George W. Bush once called this city home, and Yale has attracted famous people such as Eli Whitney and Bill and Hillary Clinton. Within New Haven, antique and modern views are juxtaposed and vividly display the effects of mass redevelopment and industrial decline in the Elm City, while showing the development of community and economic prosperity in the 21st century.

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Catch'd on Fire

9781609491307

$23.99

Rufus Hawley was a man of extraordinary actions and little means. The Yale-educated pastor served Farmington's Parish of Northington, presently Avon, for forty-eight years through some of the most tumultuous periods in the town's history. Hawley prayed with the Continental army during the American Revolution, supported abolition, searched for lost children, performed surgeries, survived smallpox and floods and established a library. Although he was able to unite a congregation, Reverend Hawley was overcome by heartbreak as loved ones perished and allegations of arson were directed toward him after his meetinghouse burned to the ground in 1818. Join Avon town historian Nora Oakes Howard as she combs through fifty years of journal entries to tell the story of a deeply complex man and a devoted pastor of his community.

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New Haven

9780738524672

$24.99

From the days of the Quinnipiack Indians and the arrival of the first Puritan settlers in 1638, a fascinating cycle of prosperity, decline, and renewal has played out in the streets of New Haven and the quads of Yale University. Home to President Lincoln’s bodyguard and the constitutional delegate whose compromise led to our nation’s bicameral legislature, this Connecticut city has been the stage for a dramatic story of immigration, industry, and defiance.

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Historic Tales of Bethel, Connecticut

9781609493578

$21.99

Bethel, Connecticut, was settled as early as 1700 in the rolling hills of northern Fairfield County. Rooted in hat manufacturing, the town offered many residents employment in the factories of the Hickocks, Judds and Benedicts. Bethel is also the birthplace of celebrated showman P.T. Barnum, who became an international celebrity yet never forgot his hometown. Now most noted for its picturesque downtown, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Bethel retains its small-town appeal while still offering accessibility to both New York City and Hartford. Join town historian Patrick Tierney Wild as he recounts the trials and triumphs that have given this New England town its charm, from the tumultuous days of the American Revolution to the early decades of the fast-paced twentieth century.

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Remembering Groton

9781596295131

$21.99

Famous for its submarine base and centuries of maritime lore, Groton also has been home to some of Connecticut's most historic and heroic personalities. In this collection, meet the patriotic Mother Bailey, who handed over her petticoat on the spot when a soldier approached her for war supplies in 1812, and John Bull, the Eskimo who traveled from the Arctic to testify on behalf of whaling captain John Spicer. From the self-proclaimed prophetess Jemima Wilkinson, who founded her own religious colony, to the millionaire Morton Plant, who built the Griswold Hotel, hailed as the finest summer resort in America, Remembering Groton highlights the people and events that shaped this Thames River town into the vibrant and industrious community we know today.

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The Wise Animal Handbook Connecticut

9780738528137

$16.99

Read-aloud time is about to get a lot more fun! The Connecticut Wise Animal Handbook offers laugh-out-loud animal kingdom advice for kids of every age! Engaging animal photos entertain while charming read-aloud rhymes help jump-start conversations about practical life solutions. The Read Together/Do Together™ experience continues with pull out coloring pages in the back of the book featuring fun facts about special Constitution State animals including the American robin and sperm whale. Enjoy the opportunity to share your own practical wisdom with your favorite little one as you read-aloud… and laugh-aloud….again and again.

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Connecticut Miscellany

9781609498900

$19.99

A presidential portraitist, a two-headed calf and a national landmark that inspires creativity--extraordinary tales abound in Connecticut from Hartford to Bethlehem, from New Haven to Bristol and all points in between. Learn about The Age of Reptiles--a 110-foot-long, 16-foot-high mural skillfully crafted by painter Rudolph Zallinger at the Peabody Museum in New Haven. Visit the Goodspeed Opera House built along the Connecticut River in 1876. Restored in 1963, this small theater continues to bring East Haddam to Broadway. Experience the first broadcast of world-renowned ESPN and its sprawling 128-acre campus in Bristol. Author and historian Wilson H. Faude chronicles these exciting tales and more in this eclectic collection of Connecticut history.

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New Haven in World War I

9781467136211

$21.99

During World War I, New Haven was a hive of wartime activity. The city hummed with munition production from the Winchester Repeating Arms Company, while food conservation campaigns, canning kitchens and book drives contributed to the war effort. Meanwhile, Walter Camp, father of American football, whipped recruits and city residents into shape with his fitness programs. The Knights of Columbus were also busy preparing their Everyone Welcome! Everything Free! huts. And one hero—a brown-and-white dog, Sergeant Stubby—first made his appearance at Camp Yale, home of the 102nd Regiment of the Yankee Division. Using library and museum collections, author Laura A. Macaluso demonstrates how the Elm City contributed its time and money, men and women and one special dog to the first global war of the twentieth century.

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Lake Waubeeka

9781467149464

$21.99

In 1951, a small group of Jewish firefighters from New York City established a summer colony called Lake Waubeeka in Danbury, Connecticut. Today, it is a religiously, ethnically and racially diversified community of some 250 families. The vision of its founders was to create a bucolic environment away from the grit and grime of the metropolitan area. While Waubeekans did not always agree on the directions life on their mountain might take, a profound community spirit bonded homeowners. Over recent decades, Waubeeka has become a predominantly year-round settlement. While community demographics changed, a cooperative spirit has been passed from generation to generation. Join award-winning historian and Waubeekan Jeffrey S. Gurock as he recounts the fascinating developments that make this community so special.