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A beast of a tale, for true!

Twelve-year-old Hatcher Hampton eagerly embarks on his first “men’s” fishing trip, a family tradition. He accompanies Grampa Grump and his older brother Hunter to the Big Fish Fishing Rodeo on Bayou Vivré. The $500 prize is just enough to save his family from eviction. Hatch is determined to show up his brother and win the cash reward.  Misadventure soon unfolds in the bayou backcountry. The Hamptons go up against the one-armed man Lazarre and discover a legend of the swamp. Hatch comes face-to-face with his greatest fear and learns important lessons about self and family. This middle-reader is a rollicking and offbeat tale that will surely delight the boy in everyone.

Lessons in gentility and etiquette from our first president.

Written by a mother-daughter duo, this guide provides essential etiquette to live by in a hectic, twenty-first century society. The authors emphasize that George Washington, while subject to great stress, always maintained an air of comfortable ease. From everyday social interactions to table manners, this book explains how to present your best self, despite the pressures of modern day life.

Since the 1930s, two valleys nestled amid California’s High Sierra peaks have enraptured explorers, skiers and winter sport enthusiasts worldwide.

Olympic Valley made a name for itself as the host of the 1960 Winter Olympics. Meanwhile, just over a high ridge, Alpine Meadows was developed by devoted local skiers and Bay Area families. In spite of avalanches, fires, floods, public opinion and the whims of mountain weather, determined entrepreneurs Wayne Poulsen, John Reily and Alex Cushing persevered to lay the foundation for two ski resorts, now known collectively as Palisades Tahoe.

In this updated edition, local award-winning author and ski historian Eddy Ancinas shares tales of the colorful characters whose exploits and imagination contributed to the unique history of these two valleys. 

Forgotten Fighters and Unknown Exploits

More than twenty thousand Hispanic Americans served in the Civil War. When Cuban-born Loreta Janeta Velázquez’s husband would not allow her to join him on the battlefield, she assumed the role of First Lieutenant Harry T. Buford to be near him. Philip Bazaar, born in Chile, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his courageous exploits during the assault of Fort Fisher. The spying efforts of Floridian Maria Dolores “Lola” Sánchez and her two sisters led to a Union defeat at the Battle of Horse Landing. Union Admiral David Farragut, of Spanish descent, was not only the navy’s first admiral, but he was also the man who uttered the famous phrase, “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.”

Delving into the lives of these figures and more, A.J. Schenkman uncovers this often-overlooked aspect of Civil War history.

Father Jean Pierre, a missionary priest from Brittany, France, answered a call to serve in sparsely populated Shreveport, where he chose to remain when a yellow fever epidemic struck in 1873. From a perspective told largely through his own words, Father Pierre provides the reader a glimpse of his “fearful steps strengthened by hope.” His unique insights extend even to the secular history, framing the development of Shreveport and the surrounding region in the middle of the nineteenth century. Gradually emerging as someone widely respected and admired for his intellect and ability, Father Pierre’s story culminated in a heroic choice to sacrifice his life in the service of strangers when the epidemic ravaged the city. A trio of authors celebrates the life of this Shreveport martyr.

Pirates? A disappearing island? A brand-new technology that would change the world? It isn't science-fiction, this is the history of Wellfleet, Massachusetts, and its neighbor, Billingsgate Island.

Originally settled by Europeans in the 1650s as Billingsgate, Wellfleet became a town with an important, if overlooked history, located between the "tip'? and the "elbow'? of Cape Cod. Today, the town may be famous for its oysters, but there is so much more to this small town than what may be immediately apparent. In 1717, the pirate "Black Sam'? Bellamy was sailing his ship nearby when it crashed, sending 4 tons of gold and silver, as well as 143 men, to a watery grave-- the shipwreck was discovered in 1984, the first of only two confirmed pirate shipwrecks ever recovered. By the time of the American Revolution, Wellfleet was well-known not just for their oysters, but their success in the whaling industry. As whaling declined in the late 19th century, it wasn't long before the spotlight once again shone on Wellfleet with Guglielmo Marconi built America's first transatlantic radio transmitter on the coastal bluff of South Wellfleet. Perhaps the most interesting story about Wellfleet isn't about Wellfleet at all, but Billingsgate Island. Generations lived there and built homes, wharves, a school, a lighthouse, and even founded a baseball team. By 1922, the sea swallowed this Wellfleet island, leaving nothing but a brick-strewn shoal, visible only at low tide. Sometimes called the "Atlantis of Cape Cod,'? locals can still access the island by boat on the occasions the tide leaves the land exposed, a perfect spot for picnics or shellfishing.

“In this fascinating book, you will learn about a part of our country’s history that has not been thoroughly documented. I guarantee you will be proud of what these ‘grandmas’ did to serve America in a time of great need. In so doing, they carved a path that other women for many generations have since benefitted from. I include myself in that very grateful group of women who today stand on the shoulders of these awe-inspiring pioneers.” —Gen. Janet C. Wolfenbarger, USAF (ret), first female four-star general in the Air Force, chairperson of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services

Contributors to this unique memorial include the family of military women and those who preserve their history. A portion of the proceeds from this book will be donated to Honor Flight Dayton, an Ohio chapter of the Honor Flight Network, Inc. The cover art is by aviation artist Craig Kodera.

From a booming crossroads to a quiet town, follow author Seán Duffy and photographer Paul Rinkes as they tour Wheeling, WV through the ages.

The convergence of the Ohio River, the National Road, a remarkable bridge, and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad transformed Wheeling into a transportation hub. Fed by an influx of immigrant labor, the city prospered, adding industrial muscle. But global economic changes brought the machine to a sudden halt. In Then & Now: Wheeling author Seán Duffy and photographer Paul Rinkes explore a city still recovering from that trauma, a city with a proud past and an uncertain but hopeful future.

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

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

Huge Moments in Florida History

When Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León landed in Florida in 1513, the world was changed forever. Florida has been an influential center for many important historic events, including clashes of European empires, Indian wars, civil rights struggles and the Cold War–era space race to the moon. Other remarkable, lesser-known historic episodes include the Matanzas Massacre, the Land Boom and Bust of the 1920s and several major election issues. These incidents not only shaped the state, they also influenced the development and helped structure the identity of the entire nation. Author Randy Jaye leads readers through an exciting journey spanning more than five hundred years of Florida’s history.

Authors Ryan Starrett and Josh Foreman uncover all-but-forgotten elements of Vicksburg history.

Vicksburg had an especially inauspicious start when its inhabitants were massacred by locals. The generation of the city’s official founding beheld vigilantes, duelists and an early incel roaming its streets. Citizens experienced the horrors of war: hunger, diarrhea and death. About 150 years later, their descendants hid in fear from a deranged killer on the loose. In between, the city overloaded a steamboat with recently released POWs and contributed to the greatest maritime disaster in U.S. history. In the midst of war and suffering, an intrepid group of religious sisters worked to educate and nurse their fellow people. An immigrant family from Germany established a bottling empire that made them the embodiment of the American dream. Join authors Josh Foreman and Ryan Starrett as they explore the land and people who make Vicksburg one of the South’s most visited and recognizable cities.

Take a holiday to beautiful Virginia Beach and discover the area's rich history, dating back to the 17th century.

Virginia Beach offers a variety of attractions, but few who visit know that there is an area with a history that dates back to the 17th century. Many early structures remain intact and appreciated, while others fell into ruin and exist only in photographs and memories. Then & Now: Virginia Beach is a road trip through the past and present.

Nicknamed "Twin City'?, Winston-Salem is a city full of dualities.

The city of Winston-Salem is the product of the merging of two neighboring towns: the industrial, business-orientated town of Winston, and the religious, historical town of Salem. When the city of Winston-Salem formed in 1913, the combination pooled the strengths of both towns, defining the character of this city. Today, Winston-Salem is the fifth most-populous cities in North Carolina, and has been listed among the top ten cities to retire in the United States.

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.

Discover Wilmington's enduring spirit in these images of past and present.

Since 1739, Wilmington has seen centuries of change along the banks of the Cape Fear River to the beaches of the Atlantic. Through the years much has been lost to war, neglect, and progress, but in many places the past is well preserved and still visible today.

On November 19, 1906, the School of the Ozarks was chartered by the State of Missouri.

The poverty-stricken Ozarks had limited educational opportunities, but when the first students enrolled, the school did not depend on tuition dollars. Instead, each student worked at the school in exchange for an education. Today, the College of the Ozarks is a liberal arts college where students still work for their degrees. The institution is recognized for its emphasis on academics, faith, patriotism, and vocation, and it continues its commitment to the mission “to provide the advantages of a Christian education for youth of both sexes, especially those found worthy, but who are without sufficient means to procure such training.” Located near Branson, Missouri, the campus hosts thousands of visitors each year who enjoy Williams Memorial Chapel; Edwards Mill; and the Keeter Center, modeled after a historic building on the Point Lookout campus. Visitors discover a unique college where generations of students have gained a life-changing education.

Gwen Simmons is the director of Lyons Memorial Library at the College of the Ozarks and an alumna of the institution. Most of the images featured in this book are a part of the college’s archival collections at the library, alumni center, and museum.

Ghost stories from Florida's Haunted Lighthouses have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery!

Welcome to the spooky shores of Florida!

Stay alert! Ghosts lurk around every corner. Even the most unexpected places might be haunted by wandering phantoms. 

Did you know St. Augustine is home to the most haunted lighthouse in all of Florida? Or that ghostly pirates stalk the lighthouse on Garden Key in search of buried treasure? Can you believe that when the sun sets at Carysfort Reef Light, the dead... come alive?

Pulled right from history, these ghostly tales will change the way you see Florida's Haunted Lighthouses, and have you sleeping with the light on! 

Adapted from Haunted Florida Lighthouses by Heather Leigh, PhD

Do ghosts lurk at the historic Laura Ingalls Wilder homestead?

Welcome to spooky Northeast South Dakota! 

Stay alert! Ghosts lurk around every corner. Even the most unexpected places might be haunted by wandering phantoms. 

Did you know that a ghostly Lady in White haunts Fort Sisseton Historic State Park? Or that at South Dakota State University, a music-loving spirit sometimes plays the pipe organ? Can you believe a terrifying, Bigfoot-like beast stalks the citizens of Little Eagle?

Pulled right from history, these ghostly tales will change the way you see Northeast South Dakota forever, and have you sleeping with the lights on! 

Adapted from Ghosts and Legends of Northeast South Dakota by Deborah Cuyle

Encounter the spirits of North Central Texas—wealthy families lingering in their mansions, notorious outlaws still trapped in their jail cells.

Welcome to spooky North Central Texas! 

Stay alert! Ghosts lurk around every corner. Even the most unexpected places might be haunted by wandering phantoms. 

Did you know that on stormy nights, ghosts bound in chains roam the halls at The Old Collin County Prison? Or that in Arlington, a haunted bridge echoes with screams of the dead? Can you believe the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas is home to a haunted elevator?

Pulled right from history, these ghostly tales will change the way you see North Central Texas forever, and have you sleeping with the lights on! 

Adapted from Haunted North Central Texas by Teresa Nordheim

Welcome to the spooky shores of Puget Sound! 

Stay Alert! Ghosts lurk around every corner. Even the most unexpected places might be haunted by wandering phantoms. 

Did you know that ghostly shipwrecks and phantom sailors lurk beneath the waves of Puget Sound? Or that restless pioneers lost on the Oregon Trail haunt Olympia's Sylvester Park? Can you believe a long-dead brown bear takes evening strolls through the streets of Tacoma?

Pulled right from history, these ghostly tales will change the way you see Puget Sound forever, and have you sleeping with the lights on! 

Adapted from Haunted Puget Sound by Ira Wesley Kitmacher

The Stories Behind the Albums

Carolina beach music—those often-soulful songs about the beach, parties, that special love, dancing or just relaxing in the sun—has long been a mainstay of culture in the Southeast. Yet until the late 1960s, you needed an impressive collection of 45s if you wanted to hear those songs in your home or at a party. But beginning with Atlantic Records’ Beach Beat in 1967, that music slowly became available on albums from Bell, Warner Bros., Ripete and other labels. Through interviews and firsthand accounts, author Rick Simmons examines the stories behind those classic albums, the people who created them and the artists and songs that contributed to the phenomenon known as Carolina beach music.

Puzzle your way through the Golden State

Discover the Great State of California through this 100-puzzle puzzle book in the best-selling Great American Road Trip series. Eureka! You've found it. From Avenue of the Giants to Zzyzx Road & Mineral Springs in Baker, the word finds and other puzzles will be sure to entertain, educate and whet your appetite for a real or armchair journey through the Golden State.

The Garden State After the Great War

Post–World War I life was dramatically different for New Jersey than it had been prior to the war. By 1920, the war was over for the Europeans, but it was still on for America until President Harding signed a paper in a local living room after a golf game. Harding’s out-of-wedlock child was born in Asbury Park, and Atlantic City began the beauty contest that would become Miss America. Prohibition hit what was an unwilling state, and the governor tried to keep New Jersey liquor legally flowing, while bootleggers and rumrunners made illegal liquor generally available. Joseph Bilby and Harry Ziegler detail this frenetic era in the Garden State.

Take a spine-tingling plunge into Florida's pirate-filled past! 

Meet Florida's spooky pirates!

Stay alert! Ghosts lurk around every corner. Even the most unexpected places might be haunted by wandering phantoms. 

Did you know that the city of St. Augustine is positively packed with ghostly pirates? Or that on Gasparilla Island, you might just spot a headless buccaneer and his "spirited" steed galloping down the beach? Can you believe a three-hundred-year-old ghost ship and its cursed crew still haunts the waterways of the Florida Everglades? Shiver me timbers!

Pulled right from history, these ghostly tales will change the way you see Florida forever, and have you sleeping with the lights on! 

Adapted from Ghosts and Legends of Florida's Pirates by Heather Leigh, PhD

Founded in 1914, Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park is one of the leading zoos in North America. From humble beginnings as a small collection of animals, it transformed into a state-of-the-art home to more than seven hundred animals, including many threatened or endangered species. A small family of Asian elephants, including an unusual set of twins, play a crucial role in both education and conservation efforts to protect these majestic animals. The zoo collaborates with its nonprofit partner, Friends of the Zoo, to provide visitors with experiences that excite, memories that endure and knowledge that inspires global wildlife conservation.

Take a streetcar ride through the Crescent City!

Snowballs, second lines, balconies, and gardens—when you’re in New Orleans, you won’t want to miss any of the sights and sounds! In this colorful new picture book, hop on the streetcar at St. Charles Avenue and follow the rolling rhymes past Uptown mansions and Garden District greenery. Switch to the red line and glide by Mid-City homes and through the historic French Quarter. This book is your family’s ticket to the wildlife, buildings, and culture that make New Orleans a place unlike any other! Hold on tight to the handrail, because with Marion Rea Brian’s charming storytelling and Jennifer Lindsley’s light-hearted illustrations, you’re in for the ride of your life!

Local Luminaries, Famous Passersby & Everyone in Between

Since its founding in the early 1800s, Kalamazoo has welcomed a variety of notable characters who have shaped the community’s legacy in their own special way. Some, like Orville Gibson and Derek Jeter, are nationally recognized, while others, such as Sue Hubbell or Donald Bonevich, may be lesser known. Abraham Lincoln and Flora Temple briefly passed through town, and Mary Jackson and Gwen Frostic were among those who came here to attend college. Others, like Darwin and Opal Brown (aka Santa and Mrs. Claus) or Gene Rhodes (aka Gene the Pumpkin Man), were lifetime residents.

From founding fathers to early innovators, groundbreakers to entrepreneurs, artists to authors and athletes to entertainers, author Dianna Higgs Stampfler celebrates fifty figures in Kalamazoo-area history.

Over 100 illustrations describe the building styles of each historical era and highlight some 60 buildings of particular importance.

The French Quarter, New Orleans’ historic center, is the most interesting sixty-six square blocks in America. Known as the Vieux Carré, and locally as the Quarter, it is a unique community which has evolved over the past three hundred years. Founded in 1718 by the French, the colony came under the control of the Spanish in 1762. They would hold it until the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Despite devastating fires in 1788 and 1794, traces of each generation of occupants can still be seen in the the Quarter’s wrought-iron balconies, hidden courtyards, and grand ballrooms, although for the most part the architecture is Spanish.

Telling the story of its growth by analyzing its architecture, Historic Buildings of the French Quarter traces the history of the Quarter from its origins to the present. Over one hundred illustrations describe the building types and styles of each historical era and highlight some sixty individual buildings of particular importance. Similar in format to Vogt’s previous books, Historic Buildings of the French Quarter is designed to be an easy-to-use, definitive guide to New Orleans’ most unusual neighborhood.

Now in paperback!

Substitute teacher Victor Kennedy begins a middle-school American history class by writing one word on the chalkboard: Tuskegee. Over the next several days, the elderly veteran teaches students about the Tuskegee Airmen, brave men who fought racism and prejudice to fly more than 1,500 missions during World War II. The students learn about segregation and how the victories of the Tuskegee Airmen helped move the United States on a path toward racial equality. In Tuskegee Airmen: American Heroes, exciting battles against evil abroad and at home come alive for a new generation.

Now in paperback!

Decode the story of the Sioux who helped win the war.

In World War II, code making and code breaking reached a feverish peak. The fabled Enigma cipher had been broken, and all sides were looking for a secure, reliable means of communication. Many have heard of the role of the Navajo Code Talkers, but less well-known are the Sioux Code Talkers, who used the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota dialects. Told by the great-niece of John Bear King, who served in the First Cavalry as a Sioux Code Talker, this informative title explores not only the importance of the indigenous peoples to the war but also their culture and values. Follow the seven Sioux who put aside a long history of prejudice against their people and joined the fight against Japan.

This presentation of the priorities for followers of Jesus Christ describes what is of greatest importance for living a faithful and Christian life. Designed to acquaint the reader with the central tenets of biblical faith, the book draws from historical Baptist doctrine. Offering different aspects of the personal faith of the author, a Baptist pastor, each chapter begins with a statement of belief, including I Believe in Prayer, I Believe That Jesus Saves, and I Believe in Christian Living.

The law of universal truth, namely the law of attraction, is explained in Rhonda Byrne's recently published and popular book, The Secret. The idea rests on the principles of visualization. Positive thoughts and beliefs attract positive situations in life. Bill Little adapts these principles and translates them into a language better understood in the realm of Christianity. Christians skeptical about the term visualization are often confused about how it relates to their spiritual lives. Little uses biblical teachings and passages to interpret Byrne's techniques. With the right focus Christians can greatly benefit from these practices and become stronger in their own faith.

Hearn paints life on a marshy, eclectic Gulf Coast island in the middle of the 19th century. Chita is a young white girl who is orphaned by a shipwreck and then adopted by a Spanish family on the island.

From the best-selling book "R is for Rocky Mountains" this graphic and colorful print of a ski resort quad lift is the perfect addition to any ski house. Seen from below you can see the colorful soles of the skiers and snowboarders from this unique angle. This colorful print will brighten the decor of all skiers and snowboarders from Aspen to Vail and Steamboat Springs to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Park City Utah and beyond.

From the best-selling book "R is for Rocky Mountains" this graphic and colorful print of a ski resort gondola is the perfect addition to any ski house. Modeled on Aspen, Colorado's famed red gondolas, this colorful print will brighten the decor of all skiers and snowboarders. From Aspen to Vail and Steamboat Springs to Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Park City Utah, this gondola print is a must-have.

The iconic home of the Chicago Cubs and one of the greatest American ballparks, Wrigley Field is captured in this bright, graphic print from the best-selling book "C is for Chicago". Featuring the world-famous red and white "Wrigley Field home of the Chicago Cubs" sign and the ivy covered walls of the outfield, this print is perfect for any Cubs fan or anyone who loves Chicago. Printed on high-quality paper, this print is ready for framing.

This graphic print of the Field Museum of Chicago's world-famous "Sue" Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur. Sue is the largest and most complete T.rex specimen and on display at the museum. This bright, bold print is ideal for anyone who is a dinosaur lover. Printed on high-quality paper, this print is ready for framing and the perfect gift for anyone who loves T.rex Dinos!

A graphic print of Chicago's favorite players' jerseys from the book "C is for Chicago".

The ultimate office, man-cave or fan-cave decoration for the Chicago sports fan, this full-color matted poster print features the jerseys of five Chicago sports legends - Michael Jordan #23 of the Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs legend #14 Ernie Banks, "Sweetness" Walter Payton #34 Chicago Bears jersey, the "Big Hurt" Frank Thomas' #35 of the Chicago White Sox, and Chicago Blackhawks icon, #9 Bobby Hull.

The poster art is from "C is for Chicago," the beloved alphabet book that features the things that make Chicago great, including Chicago Sports Legends. This bold, graphic print is printed on high-quality paper and is ready for framing. This print makes the perfect gift for fans of Chicago sports.

The ultimate office, man-cave or fan-cave decoration for the Boston sports fan, this full-color matted poster print features the jerseys of five Boston sports legends - Boston Red Sox legend Ted Williams #9, the great Larry Bird #33 of the Boston Celtics, iconic Boston Bruins player Bobby Orr #4 and the winningest Super Bowl Quarterback of all-time, Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots. The poster art is from "B is for Boston," the beloved alphabet book that features the the things that make Boston so special, including the most iconic Boston players. This bold, graphic print is printed on high-quality paper and is ready for framing. This print makes the perfect gift for fans of Boston sports.

It was a common story in the 1980s: downtowns were dying.

Stuart was right there with the ill-fated. Businesses had largely abandoned Stuart’s historic buildings, leaving the streets deserted. The St. Lucie River, which should have been an asset, was more of a liability, befouled with pollution, some of it from the city’s sewer system. The southernmost leg of Interstate 95 hadn't been completed yet, meaning US 1, the town’s main thoroughfare, was clogged with traffic that had no intention of stopping in this dirty backwater. Indeed, downtown was in such bad shape that Martin County government was thinking of relocating its courthouse. But the city had one thing going for it: a core group of citizens who fought back to restore downtown into an award-winning showpiece. Author Blake Fontenay shares the story of Stuart’s revitalization.

Aloha, Texas!

Texas may be famous as the birthplace of both Willie Nelson and western swing, but its thriving ukulele community also boasts a rich heritage. Say howdy to the cowboy who plays ukulele and washtub bass at the same time. Don’t leave Austin’s famous music scene without visiting one the country’s biggest ukulele clubs. Jeff Campbell picks his way across the Lone Star State, where the ukulele jams with reggae among the eastern pines and a former Singing Bellhop of Amarillo attempts to strum for fifty hours straight.

Nannie Berger Hairston was a crusader for justice in twentieth-century Virginia.

Nannie Berger Hairston was born in West Virginia in 1921, half a century after the end of the Civil War. She attended segregated schools, graduated, married and started a family. When Nannie’s husband, John, lost his job in the coal mine, the Hairstons moved to Southwest Virginia. It was the height of Jim Crow, and yet, against great odds, she and John became leaders in the community, advocating for civil rights and social justice. Nannie Hairston’s advice was sought by the powerless as well as the powerful. At the time of her death in 2017, she had taken her place as an icon for truth, justice and love.

Local author Sheree Scarborough uses Nannie Hairston’s own words to tell her story.

Learn about efforts underway to save the historic and environmentally important Fourth Street Preserve.

IIn 1670, the first officially deeded land in Lewes was granted by the Duke of York to the town’s earliest settler, Helmanias Wiltbanck—30 of the original 104 acres of Wiltbanck’s beloved preserve remain pristine and undeveloped today, right in the heart of Lewes. Three families owned this land for 312 of the past 355 years. Their tales involve attacks by pirate ships and the British, death and survival during the “fever years” and a prominent but forgotten judge who helped write the original Delaware Constitution and fund its Revolutionary War troops.

Local author and preservation leader Michael Rawl tells these stories and unfolds the long history of this piece of the heart of Lewes.

Dr. Leo Mallette is an adjunct faculty at Pepperdine University’s doctoral program. He has collected postcards depicting Rancho Mirage starting with the dude ranches in the 1940s and accelerating with the country clubs in the 1950s.

The city of Rancho Mirage is a low-density resort town with a population that was about 17,000 during the 2020 census. It is in the Coachella Valley, near Palm Springs, and about 110 miles east of Los Angeles. Rancho Mirage encompasses an approximately three-mile-wide swath that includes most of the area south of Interstate 10, extending south past the Whitewater River, Highway 111, and into the Santa Rosa Mountains. It was incorporated in 1973 and is home to many world-class golf courses.

Utilizing historic photographs, Sandy Mitchell Pavick shows how faith is integral to the history of Ashtabula County. 

Among the first to form churches were Congregationalists, Methodists, and Presbyterians, followed closely by Episcopalians, Baptists, and Roman Catholics. The intrepid, itinerant preacher Joseph Badger was one of the area’s first clergymen and made the two-and-a-half-month trek in 1801 from Connecticut to Ashtabula County, which was then part of the Connecticut Western Reserve. The history of Ashtabula’s churches is an interesting and varied one. Churches here were a part of several efforts to effect social change, including the abolitionist movement, the Underground Railroad, and the suffragette movement. They are also the home of beautiful stained-glass windows, some by Tiffany Studios; hand-hewn wooden pews; and original artwork by talented clergy and parishioners. The many congregations that survive continue to make a difference in their communities.

Sandy Mitchell Pavick has lived in northeast Ohio for more than 25 years and is active in the Ashtabula County church community. She is a full-time writer and has penned two previous titles for Arcadia Publishing. For this book, Pavick has amassed images, many of which have never been published, from dozens of church archives as well as from private collections and Ashtabula County libraries, museums, and historical societies.

Poignant but animated by a stubborn hope.--Christianity Today

For years, Ryan Schnurr, editor at Belt Magazine, watched media coverage of Lake Erie algae blooms with a growing sense of unease. An Indiana native, he wanted to learn more about the role the Maumee River--Lake Erie's largest tributary and the center of the region's largest watershed--played in the lake's environmental woes. So in the summer of 2016, he walked and canoed the length of the river from its headwaters in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to its mouth in Toledo, Ohio. As he traverses the waters and banks like a modern-day Thoreau, Schnurr walks us through:

- The history of the river, including its formation by glaciers

- Its function in Native American and American history

- How industrialization changed it

- How current economic and environmental forces are still shaping it today.

Part cultural history, part nature writing, and part personal narrative, In the Watershed is a lyrical work of nonfiction in the vein of John McPhee, Edward Abbey, and Ian Frazier with a timely and important warning at the core. What is happening in Lake Erie, Schnurr tells us, is a disaster by nearly any measure―ecologically, economically, socially, culturally.

A slim but pressing travelogue for readers who are interested in nature writing at its most local level.

A succinct and impassioned call to reimagine the small liberal arts college, by two veteran educators.

Private liberal arts colleges have struggled for decades; now, as the COVID-19 pandemic widens cracks latent in many American institutions, they are facing a possibly mortal crisis. In The Post-Pandemic Liberal Arts College: A Manifesto for Reinvention, Steven Volk and Beth Benedix call for small colleges to seize this moment and reinvent themselves. With the rise of rankings that set peer institutions against each other, tuition that outpaces income, creeping pre-professionalism, and a race to build student “customers” the splashiest new amenities, many private liberal arts colleges have strayed from their founders’ missions. If they could shed the mantle of exclusivity, reduce costs, facilitate true social mobility, and collaborate with each other, the authors argue, they might both survive and again become just, equitable, accessible institutions able to offer the transformative and visionary education that is their hallmark.

Educators, students, parents, and anyone invested in the future of higher ed should read this book.

Located along the west bank of the Willamette River at the falls in Oregon, the West Linn area offers a vibrant and interesting array of geological history, including ice age floods and the Willamette Meteorite. It is a significant historic site for Native Americans because of fishing and trading at the falls, and it was a settling place for early pioneers at the end of the Oregon Trail. It was known as an important hub of the paper and electric production industry.

The West Linn Historical Society has been sharing “History Without Walls” since 2014.

A phantom stagecoach materializes on Weatherford’s Main Street, the galloping hooves of invisible horses tugging witnesses back towards the nineteenth century. A stroll through the enchanting Chandor Gardens might lead to an encounter with its creator, renowned English portrait artist Douglas Chandor. The apparition of a former judge lingers around Parker County Courthouse, while the Old Jail Museum’s corridors are filled with disembodied voices and echoing footsteps. Visitors to Old Greenwood Cemetery might hear the quiet sobbing of the woman who was murdered by a jealous lover or feel a cold nudge against their hands when they pass by a canine buried alongside his owner. Author Teal Gray walks through miles of Weatherford's history to unwind years of its haunted lore. 

Color your way through Boston!

Best-selling author-illustrator Martha Day Zschock introduces young readers to the beautiful and exciting city of Boston. Young travelers and locals alike can color the boats in the harbor, visit the duckling statues and Swan Boats in Boston's parks, and explore museums. Color in ice cream and lobster and historic sites as you celebrate all that Boston has to offer!

A Century of Faith

The first Mass was offered for what would eventually be known as St. Rita Church in the humblest of places, a cobbler’s shop on East Custis Avenue in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria. The ladies of the yet-to-be-established parish provided its name—St. Rita of Cascia is the patron of impossible causes. The first small church was built on Hickory Street in Mt. Ida and a parish was founded on September 21, 1924. Through depression, war and post-war growth, political and social change and into a new millennium St. Rita Church has grown under its namesake’s patronage. A beautiful new church was built in 1949 and a school was founded in 1952. The St Rita Centennial Committee tells the stories of a century of community.

In the days after 9/11, the country was on high alert. So when an alarming incident occurred just off the Texas coast on the early morning hours of September 15th, authorities immediately assumed another terrorist attack had taken place. A towing vessel collided into a support pillar of the Queen Isabella Causeway, causing an 80-foot section of the bridge to tumble into the ocean. Unfortunately, the gaping hole left in the bridge was not visible to cars traveling to and from South Padre Island to the mainland city of Port Isabel, Texas. Robert Espericueta, along with his cousins, happened to be in the only other boat on the waters that night. Espericueta collaborates with author Juan Carmona to track the extraordinary events of a bewildering catastrophe and a heroic rescue.

Through historic images, explore how Malvern, Ohio grew from an isolated area to a desirable destination in the Sandy Valley.

The first pioneers, Moses Porter and Richard Vaughn, arrived in this isolated area, now known as Malvern, Ohio, in 1806. Later, Rev. William Hardesty had a vision of a community at this spot, laying out the village of Troy in 1834. This was followed by the creation of another small community nearby named Lodi in 1836. By 1840, Troy was renamed as Malvern, and it was later incorporated in 1869. It is the birthplace of telephone industry pioneer Theodore Vail and nationally known artist Clyde Singer and home to early major-league baseball pitcher Edward Poole. As commerce developed here, a total of five clay product industries were delivering materials across the United States at approximately 1,000 tons daily. Paving brick, building brick, hollow building tile, sewer pipe, and fire brick from Malvern, Ohio, was widely recognized and desired. The superiority of the product from this small village earned gold medals at world fairs.

Author Jason N. Lombardi, former caretaker of the Hardesty family cemetery, previously served as historian for the Malvern United Methodist Church and cofounded the Malvern Historical Society. Photographs from the author’s personal collection and the archives of the Malvern Historical Society, along with images gathered from community members, have merged to produce the first formal publication of Malvern, Ohio, history in more than 50 years.

A rowdy red-light district, secret tunnels, and scathing newspaper editorials. 

Once home to sheep herders and ranchers, the railroad brought a new breed of pioneer to Flagstaff. Entrepreneurs and outlaws alike flocked to the growing town, some finding success and others finding their end at Greenwood Cemetery. When saloons and bawdy houses rebelled against new blue laws, quick-thinking mayor Thomas E. Pollock found a compromise that appeased most locals. Incorrigible characters like Commodore Perry Owens and Ben Doney could be found in town at the Parlor Saloon, while Dutch May Prescott kept the red-light district in the black. 

Author Susan Johnson uncovers the weird and wicked side of Flagstaff. 

Two adorable bears set out to find the source of an irresistible aroma and wind up smack dab in the middle of the most exciting place on earth—a festival! 

Join Hannah Bear and LuLu on a thrilling journey as they explore the blinking lights, the spinning rides, and delicious food! The adventurous cubs sample every delectable delight at the big autumn event, from spicy cracklins, pecans, and pralines to other Louisiana treats. As the wind picks up, Hannah Bear and LuLu catch a whiff of something truly special that leads them through the pumpkin patch and across Bayou Bridge. They even encounter an alligator! Follow Hannah Bear and LuLu to the perfect spot with the most delicious smell of all.

With humor, curiosity, and a dash of mischief, Hannah Bear and LuLu's Festival to Remember celebrates the joy of exploration, the love of family, and the warmth of home. Get ready for a wild ride with these adorable fuzzy cubs!

The Walnut Street YMCA and YWCA opened in September 1940 to much excitement and anticipation within the African American community in Wilmington, Delaware. Jeanne D. Nutter, PhD, an oral historian, has compiled two other books on African Americans in Delaware. She has amassed an array of historical images from the archives and collections of the Walnut Street YMCA, the Delaware Historical Society, the Washam family, and numerous members of the local African American community.

During segregation, the building became the center of cultural, athletic, and civil rights activities of African Americans in the area. Both youth and adults benefited from the numerous offerings. The activities were impressive, with an award-winning basketball team and an expansive swim program that produced outstanding swimmers and divers. The beautifully designed facility offered an indoor swimming pool, bowling alley, auditorium, cafeteria, library, gymnasium, workshop, game room, meeting rooms, and dormitories. Care was taken to enhance the interior with paintings by noted African American artist Edward Loper Sr. and others. The exterior was adorned with sculptural friezes that paid homage to such luminaries as Marion Anderson, Booker T. Washington, Paul Robeson, and George Washington Carver. The illuminated clock tower became a beacon for the community.

Ghost stories from Bay City have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery! 

Welcome to the spooky streets of Bay City, Michigan!

Stay alert! Ghosts lurk around every corner. Even the most unexpected places might be haunted by wandering phantoms.

Did you know a sinister Victorian lady terrorizes those who visit the Bay City Antiques Center? Or that the ghost of a little girl browses the bookshelves at Sage Library? Can you believe the former caretaker of the USS Edson still lovingly tends the ship… even from beyond the grave? 

Pulled right from history, these ghostly tales will change the way you see Bay City forever, and have you sleeping with the lights on!

Nantucket ghost stories have never been so creepy, fun, and full of mystery! 

Welcome to the spooky shores of Nantucket!

Stay alert! Ghosts lurk around every corner. Even the most unexpected places might be haunted by wandering phantoms.

Did you know that a ghostly sea captain with a whale-oil lantern wanders the waterfront on foggy nights? Or that a two-hundred-year-old pastor still calls an island church home? Can you believe that locals love living on Nantucket so much...some of them never leave?

Pulled right from history, these ghostly tales will change the way you see Nantucket forever, and have you sleeping with the lights on!

Traveling through Time 

While Montana’s roadside historical markers give motorists an introduction to the state’s colorful history, there's much more to explore. Priests Pass and Helena’s Morelli Bridge were displays of ambition and fortitude. Conversely, the story The Black and White Trail represents the folly of one Doc Siegfriedt. Once thriving and strategically located along rails and roads, the towns of Beaverton and Taft are lost to history. While striking geological features like Tower Rock and picturesque byways like Harding Way are enduring vistas. Historian Jon Axline takes readers along the aboriginal trails, territorial roads, historic bridges and fascinating stopping points connected to Montana’s lively and exciting transportation history.

Puzzle your way through the Golden State

Discover the Great State of California through this 150-puzzle puzzle book in the best-selling Great American Road Trip series. Eureka! You've found it. From Avenue of the Giants to Zzyzx Road & Mineral Springs in Baker, the word finds and other puzzles will be sure to entertain, educate and whet your appetite for a real or armchair journey through the Golden State.

Meet the men from Southwestern Illinois who served in the Civil War. Learn about their lives prior to enlistment, follow them into battle, and bear witness to their legacy.

The men of southwestern Illinois, both white and Black, rallied to the Union banner when the Civil War broke out. Lewis Martin, an escaped slave, enlisted in the Union army and suffered horrendous injuries at the Battle of the Crater. Shurtleff College’s entire 1864 class joined up, and so many men from McKendree College served in the Illinois 117th that it became known as the “McKendree Brigade.” Some of the volunteers came from pioneer American stock, like Franklin Moore, whose forefathers fought in the War of 1812 and the Revolution. Others, such as Swiss-born John Kuhn, were immigrants. Author John J. Dunphy follows the men from southwestern Illinois who risked their lives to end the Southern rebellion.

Moosehead Lake is the largest lake in Maine, covering nearly 75,000 acres in the Highlands Region. Greenville, located on its southern shore, became the gateway to the lake early on because of its location and by being the last village to get supplies before the North Woods.

The area of Blair Hill in Greenville was at first the farm of early settler Edmund Scammon and his family, but it soon became famous for its view of Moosehead Lake. Successful business leaders like Victor Macfarlane and Andrew Jackson Sloper built summer homes on Blair Hill to enjoy the climate and scenery. The Highlands area on the southern side of Blair Hill was developed for vacationers and contained small affordable cabins as well as the famous Moosehead Coffee House. From stately mansions to simple cabins, the retreats constructed here were as varied as the people who built them.

Local authors Sean and Johanna Billings explore the fascinating history of this area and its people.

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

In September 1918 Elizabeth Kalb boarded a train to Washington, DC to fight for voting rights for women.

For over two years, Elizabeth lived and worked at the National Woman’s Party headquarters a block from the White House. Letters she wrote during that time describe detention at the Capitol and an arrest at the White House, raising money, serving in the organization's Tea Room and struggling through the 1918 flu epidemic. Elizabeth draws the reader into a world of intense partisanship, battles with police, and diverse personalities united in a common cause. Suffragists ensured that politicians could not ignore women’s rights.

Author Shirley Marshall uses this eyewitness account to create an indelible portrait of life within the National Woman's Party.

America's Oldest Black Swim Club/

When it opened in July of 1959, the Nile Swim Club welcomed over one thousand people to its pool. The only problem that day, remembers Bill Mellix, then 13, “None of us knew how to swim.” In the 1930s, an African American middle class began moving into Yeadon, leading to one of the nation’s first Black suburban enclaves. By the end of the 1950s, Ebony magazine dubbed Yeadon Philadelphia’s “Black Mainline.” The town remained majority white however, and strict racial segregation was enforced, including the local pool. Typical for the time, white residents maintained it as a private swim club to avoid public desegregation laws. The response of Yeadon’s African Americans proved unique. They built their own pool and opened it to all, regardless of race. It attracted members from the Philadelphia area, including New Jersey and offered a variety of programming. Celebrities such as Harry Belafonte and members of the Supremes visited. Decades later, hip hop icon D.J. Cash Money and actor Will Smith started out at the Nile as MCs. Join author Robert Kodosky as he reveals the incredible history and legacy of the Nile Swim Club and the vibrant landmark it remains today.