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A curated collection of newsletter articles reveals some fascinating local history.

Packet boats were a critical lifeline for those who lived along the North River in Norwell, Massachusetts. At a time when roads were rough and unreliable, the river offered the surest passage for goods, mail, and travelers.

Like those packet boats of old, the Norwell Historical Society’s newsletter, North River Packet, makes important connections, linking us with our past. This curated collection of newsletter articles, oral histories, cemetery tour scripts, and even a play, reveals some fascinating local history.

Discover the sensational 1878 Otis Safe Robbery when Herbert Otis and a band of Boston rogues carted off a 600-pound safe from Pleasant Street, only to bungle their fortune. Walk alongside Juliette Hammond, the first woman to vote in Norwell. Read about everyday townspeople who recall tales of dairy farms on Cross Street and trips to the general store on “the Hill.” 

Traversing and Taming Treacherous Terrain

Today, people enjoy the convenience of Colorado’s roads without realizing that beneath lie the original Ute and Spanish trails, mountain men’s pathways, and early military wagon roads. The cultural landscape of western Colorado has undergone immense changes since the mid-sixteenth century. The rapid advancement of transportation technology has enabled the conquest of complex climate zones and challenging regional topography. Early western Colorado inhabitants once migrated on footpaths that followed the path of least resistance, traversing lush meadow corridors between rugged mountain ranges, paralleling the river bottoms, and enjoying the welcome shade of cool canyon trails in the high desert. The early Ute people, Spanish explorers, mountain men, and U.S. topographical engineers developed resourceful ways to make travel less strenuous and cover greater distances. Historian David P. Bailey chronicles their early treks, which paved the way for the first major thoroughfare through western Colorado.

Preserving Pride through Art

Cheyenne’s downtown demonstrates an ongoing appreciation for public art. Melding art and history, bronze statues decorate the streets of Wyoming’s capital city. Following the completion of thirty-five sculptures on Capitol Avenue, the project exploded with the addition of more than fifty bronzes. The citywide installation immortalizes symbols of the American West. The Cheyenne Children’s Museum includes several statues celebrating paleontology. Others pay tribute to remarkable women like Lakota Sioux Princess Blue Waters and Louisa Swain, the first woman to vote in Wyoming Territory. Near Cheyenne Regional Hospital, the Healers of the West monument honors a notable doctor and nurse. And of particular pride is the statue of champion cowboy Verne Elliott riding a wild buffalo, commemorating the visit of President Teddy Roosevelt at the 1910 Frontier Days celebration.

Authors Starley Talbott and Michael E. Kassel return to complete the story behind the city’s inspired and ambitious display of the Cowboys State’s unique culture and heritage.

There’s Spirits in them Hills

The wild and ferocious history of the Black Hills has been well documented in cinema and literature—their paranormal past and present less so. From Sturgis and Deadwood to Rapid City and Spearfish, ghastly tales litter the rugged landscape where notorious characters like Wild Bill Hickok, Potato Creek Johnny, and Jack McCall left their mark. Unsolved mysteries like Lame Johnny’s lost treasure and the legend of the Spearfish Sasquatch are shared with each generation. The spectral remnants of menace and murder linger from eerie episodes involving Big Foot Meyers, Poker Alice, and a slain Sturgis mayor.

Author Deborah Cuyle takes readers on a tantalizing tour through the spooky and supernatural side of this infamous western outpost. 

From fond memories to lasting legacies. 

The streets of Fairfield have played host to a multitude of businesses over the years. Some have come and gone without much fanfare, but others have left a lasting impression on the community. 

Many locals started their lives as “Bunney babies,” delivered by Dr. Gordon Bunney at the Empire Street hospital bearing his name, and grew up playing Donkey Kong and Pac-Man at the Gold Mine arcade at the Solano Mall. People shopped at Freitas Toggery, Pinkerton Hardware, and Napadashery and then met up with friends at places like the Solano Theatre and Pepperbelly's Comedy Club. If you were looking to buy a car, there was no better place to go than Woodard Chevrolet or Chet Monez Ford.

Fairfield also welcomed innovative companies like Explosive Technology, which was founded in 1965 and helped put the first men on the moon. 

Join accidental historian Tony Wade as he shares mercantile memories from Fairfield's past.

Just fifty miles south of San Francisco stands Pigeon Point, one of California's tallest lighthouses. 

Named for the infamous wreck of the Carrier Pigeon on her maiden voyage, the beacon began operations in 1872 and has warned mariners away from the treacherous rocky shoals nearby for over 150 years. It has served as a home for many keepers and their families during its lifetime. 

The vantage point is not only perfect for signaling ships at sea, but it also gave Richard Fairchild, the second lighthouse keeper to serve at Pigeon Point, a view of a gunfight in 1875 that ended in the death of local wharf manager. Other memorable keepers include Henry Holbrook, who went on to become a private detective, and Jesse E. Mygrants, who was both the longest-serving keeper at Pigeon Point—from 1924 to 1941—and had the distinction of being kidnapped by rumrunners desperate for a ride to their rendezvous. 

Today, the lighthouse serves as a historical landmark, whale watching point, and incredible stargazing spot. 

Join author JoAnn Semones as she explores the unique history of the Pigeon Point Lighthouse.

The Battle for North America

In the mid-1750s, New York was caught in the crossfire as the British and French struggled for control of North America. During the French and Indian War, the Adirondack Mountain region saw numerous military encounters around Lakes George and Champlain while Sir William Johnson, Robert Rogers, John Stark, Phineas Lyman, and others carved their names in the annals of American history. Powerful fortifications rose and fell as the English and the French brawled; forts such as Fort William Henry, Fort Ticonderoga, and Fort Saint-Frederic/Fort Crown Point housed troops, endured sieges, and received their own battle scars over the course of the war. Author Marie Danielle Annette Williams uncovers the complex history of the Adirondacks during its most tumultuous time.  

Creating an Island Community

Vineyard men and women, Islanders, off-islanders and immigrants contributed their energy and enthusiasm to create the Martha’s Vineyard community.  Generations of businessmen and women catered to locals and tourists, welcoming newcomers to this Island paradise.

Native Americans of the Wampanoag tribe have lived on the Island for thousands of years. Their leaders helped bring the Indians together with the white men, led by Thomas Mayhew, to a peaceful relationship. The founders of Oak Bluffs created a town for both Methodist gingerbread cottages and vacation homes. Whaling captains built the county seat of Edgartown. It was sea captains and shipyard workers who developed the commercial harbor of Vineyard Haven, for centuries a refuge for sailors. 

Presidents Clinton and Obama visited the Vineyard, granting the Island national prominence. The Vineyard is a mix of old businesses and new, of Blacks and whites, of immigrants and Natives, working for a tranquil resort community.

Historian David McCulloch called the Vineyard home. Local John Alley was a leader of the secession movement and Craig Kingsbury’s head made a startling cameo in Jaws.  

Thomas Dresser describes how dozens of Islanders have contributed to the unique atmosphere of Martha’s Vineyard.

100 years of cruising from Chicago to Santa Monica.

Opened in 1926, Route 66 was one of America's original highways. In modern times, the Mother Road is an icon of nostalgia and kitsch, but behind each pit stop is a uniquely human story. From Alberta Ellis, who created safe havens for African American travelers in the first half of the twentieth century to Bob Waldmire and Angel Delgadillo, who worked to preserve the history of the route after the interstates came through, the people behind these places are what truly make them special. 

Just off the well-traveled path are places like the Santa Fe Internment Camp, where many Japanese Americans were forcibly relocated during World War II, and the Apache Death Cave near Two Guns, Arizona, said to be the site where many Native Americans lost their lives. Visit the Amboy Crater, a dormant volcano in the Mojave Desert of California that hints at the distant geological past, and the town of Baxter Springs, which was once a major part of America's Main Street. 

Author Brain Clune brings to life the tales that left a legacy along Route 66. 

Across the high plains and rugged mountain passes of the Oregon Trail came thousands of settlers seeking a new life, and for many, the burgeoning city of Eugene became their new home.

The newcomers were fur traders and farmers, physicians and soldiers, teachers and hoteliers—each of them adding a new facet to the region’s character and identity. Among them were Norton E. Winnard, a frontier doctor and a founder of the Eugene Hospital, and Judge J.J. Walton, who helped establish the University of Oregon.

Many of them found their final resting place at the Eugene Pioneer Cemetery, a Civil War–era burial ground that stands as a testament to the time they lived in, and the lingering influence of those first arrivals. Set against the backdrop of the nineteenth century’s great upheavals, this collection brings to life the intertwined destinies of pioneers, immigrants and Native people in the Pacific Northwest.

Drawing from archival photographs, letters, and public records, author C.J. Lake illuminates the human stories behind Oregon’s extraordinary everyday pioneers.

A buffalo ranch, banana stand wars, and the world’s largest surfboard. 

Since its founding in 1889, Orange County has captured the world's attention with its iconic attractions, stunning beaches, and vibrant communities. Dig a little deeper, and you’ll find a treasure-trove of hidden gems. From lion safaris and an alligator farm to roaming buffalo, the theme parks of Orange County once offered a wide variety of thrills before fading into obscurity. The county is also the site of one of the most infamous UFO sightings in history, documented by Rex Heflin’s Polaroid camera in 1965. A plethora of famous rock stars, athletes, and actors have left their mark, although many of their local haunts have long since disappeared. Social justice movements and dramatic showdowns are woven into the tapestry of the county’s history alongside tales of aviation, agriculture, and the innovative businesses that took root here.

Join author and historian Chris Epting as he shines a light on offbeat and exotic tales of the O.C.

Millions visit Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market each year—drawn by the food, the shops, and the rich sense of history. But behind the brick and granite walls are stories that most visitors (and even many locals) have never heard.

Faneuil Hall, opened in 1742 as a gift from wealthy merchant Peter Faneuil, was a marketplace and meetinghouse. While vendors sold meat, fish, and produce from first-floor stalls, the upstairs Great Hall hosted fiery debates and spirited gatherings on the issues that helped shape Boston and the nation—from the fight for independence to the struggle for civil rights. By the 1820s, Faneuil Hall could not keep pace with the needs of a booming Boston. Enter Quincy Market, three grand market houses that brought new life to the waterfront. Yet the market was nearly lost in the mid-20th century—until a bold reinvention in the 1970s turned the historic buildings into a national model for urban revival. Packed with colorful characters and forgotten chapters of Boston’s history, this book is perfect for everyone who wants to see the city with fresh eyes.

In 1867, “The Little Village in the Grove” began as the Round Lake Camp Meeting Association. Forty acres of land adjacent to a beautiful lake were purchased by the Troy Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church to hold revivals. Round Lake Village emerged from a camp meeting site, attracting as many as 20,000 revivalists on summer weekends to become a center for education and culture.

In 1884, camp meeting trustees planned and constructed a 2,000-seat indoor meeting space called Round Lake Auditorium, which has remained the village’s social center. Full streets of Victorian-style homes were built. Hotels, a science museum, and centers for education along with resident halls were constructed, which sadly have not survived. Today, the village’s long, narrow streets of beautiful historic homes with distinctive porches remain from the early days of the village.

Ron Kase is a sociologist residing in New Jersey. He is a retired professor of social science and senior academic administrator. He discovered Round Lake while visiting the area and understood the untold story of a magical place should be shared with everyone. Scott Rigney is Round Lake’s village historian. Rigney and his extended family have been residents of the village since 1966. He is president of the Association to Preserve/Protect/Plan Round Lake and is actively involved with every endeavor related to the village’s future. 

Maine gravestones from the 1800s were decorated with snapped flower buds, broken tree branches, and cracked columns to reveal that those buried below died before their time. From lightning strikes to shipwrecks, accidents to disease—and even a sensational murder—there were many causes for these untimely deaths. Bessie Oliver came home to South Portland to die, bringing secrets she’d kept from her family that wouldn’t be revealed for one hundred years. In Biddeford in 1878, Rose Vincent became a victim of a sensational murder perpetrated by her jealous boyfriend. Priscilla Burnham was a pauper in Scarborough who lived most of her life under town care and was buried twice without a gravestone. Award-winning cemetery historian and guide Ron Romano uncovers how mysterious symbols, epitaphs, monument forms, and cemetery landscapes tell the stories of those whose lives were cut short.

The first major biography on Cole Porter in over two decades, this delightfully entertaining life story of one of the most important musicians and composers of the twentieth century follows Cole from Peru, Indiana to jazz age Manhattan, Hollywood and beyond. 

Meet the New England revolutionary Patriots who became Michigan pioneers.

The counties of South Central Michigan are the resting place of more than forty Revolutionary War Patriots. These men fought pivotal battles like Ticonderoga, Princeton, Bennington, Saratoga, and Yorktown, and when the fighting was done, they pioneered through western New York and across the Ohio Valley before claiming Michigan as their final home. Moses Cook of Massachusetts fought in some of the most lethal battles of the Revolution and endured a deadly winter in Valley Forge. Massachusetts native Lothario Danielson helped to squash a homegrown rebellion and authored a report on meningitis. Only one month after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Connecticut native William Maples was inspired to join the Connecticut militia. 

Exploring the lives of these men before and after the war, local authors David Van Hoof and Linda Hass tell the stories of these unsung heroes of the indomitable American spirit.

Celebrate the ingenious, pioneering, and creative women who made the Circle City what it is today.

A diverse group of incredible women shaped Indianapolis as we know it today. But they’ve often been omitted from its history books—until now. These women include Civil War heroes, suffragist leaders, trailblazing educators like Eliza Blaker, famed entrepreneurs like Madam C.J. Walker and Christel DeHaan, and unsung heroes like Madge Oberholtzer. Women founded community cornerstones like the Indianapolis Museum of Art and the Children’s Museum. One Indianapolis woman was the “mother of science fiction,” one wrote every episode of I Love Lucy, and another was a palm reader with a celebrity clientele. Other women in the Circle City have been pioneering athletes, trend-setting artists, and fierce community organizers, including the woman who saved the Indiana Pacers.

Author and lifelong Hoosier Ashley Petry celebrates these amazing women.

Explore the haunted history of Oklahoma’s saloons, bars, brothels, and speakeasies.

Saloons and brothels were often the first businesses to spring into existence when the boomtowns of Oklahoma were formed overnight in the state’s early history. During Prohibition, they entertained in the shadows, and their stories have often been left untold. But those stories, and the forgotten women who were often at the center of them, still shaped an indelible legacy. Sometimes their echoes linger in the present, from a saloon patron who continues to tip a McAlester bar from the great beyond to the phantom of a Tulsa brothel worker that appears with enough energy to flip over a pizza pan. Brooke Montoya embarks on a journey through the haunted history of Oklahoma’s saloons, bars, brothels and speakeasies.