Travel

Go down the shore to Belmar, a unique community settled in 1700 and enjoy nostalgic images of its early days.

Belmar, a unique shore community formerly known as Ocean Beach, was settled around 1700 and has lured summer visitors from near and far for over one hundred years. The beach, boardwalk, Shark River, and Silver Lake were such popular and beloved attractions that many summer residents chose to make Belmar their permanent home. The Borough of Belmar was carefully laid out by developers so that most streets run between the Atlantic Ocean and Shark River, capitalizing on the cool breezes and scenicviews of this area. In the early days there werenumerous luxurious hotels, many of which are pictured in this new pictorial history along withnostalgic images of swimming, boating, and fishing in the early years of this century. Also featured are vintage photographs of Belmar's Main Street shops, restaurants, and community celebrations, which together present a lively view of Belmar's history.

It's called ""The Olympic Village,"" but Lake Placid, New York is so much more than that.

It is called ""the Olympic Village,"" and rightly so. In 1932, Lake Placid hosted the third Winter Olympics and hosted 13th edition of the famed event of 1980 when arguably the biggest upset in sports history, ""The Miracle On Ice,"" occured. Lake Placid has placed an athlete on all but one winter Olympic roster since 1924. This small community continually works to keep international winter sports on the calendar.

First settled as a farming community in 1800, it was home to the famous Lake Placid Club from 1895 to 1980. Today it is known for its beautiful setting amid the Adirondack peaks of New York and for its diverse summer activities making it a year-round international resort.

A history of Sparrows Pointis a history of American ships and steel. Learn about The Point’shistory of industrial and naval progress.

Sparrows Pointwas on the map nearly a century before the city of Baltimore was laid out and just 20 years after the colony of Maryland was established.

After receiving a land grant from Lord Baltimore in 1652, Thomas Sparrow named the area Sparrow's Nest; although he never lived here and his heirs eventually disposed of the 600 acres, his name stuck. In 1886, the Pennsylvania Steel Companypurchased 385 acres from Capt. and Mrs. William Fitzell, and work began immediately on a new plant, a shipyard, and a company town.Furnace Awas fired up in October 1889. That same year, passenger rail service to and from Baltimore commenced. Meanwhile, laborers who chose to reside in the company town rented houses on streets with letters and numbers for names in locations designated by their job and race. By 1916, Bethlehem Steelhad acquired Sparrows Point. Over time, The Pointwould become the world's largest steel mill, supported by a prosperous, self-sufficient town.

Discover the history of the Throggs Neck-Pelham Bay community's early residents and its place in an ever-changing America.

First settled in 1643, Throggs Neck-Pelham Bay lies along the west bank of Eastchester Bay in the Bronx. It was once an area of grand estates and farms and was home to some of the wealthiest people in America, including Collis P. Huntington and Catherine Lorillard Wolfe. Throggs Neck-Pelham Bay offers a unique glimpse into the past, through carefully preserved images and a thoroughly researched text. The images in this volume cover all of the communities included in the charter granted to John Throckmorton by the Dutch in 1642.

Called Vriedlandt or Land of Peace by Dutch authorities, the area eventually fell prey to the burdens of war during the American Revolution. The images in Throggs Neck-Pelham Bay depict all aspects of life, from work to play. View the early modes of transportation used by the residents, the schools and churches they attended, the homes they lived in, and the activities they enjoyed. Readers will delight in the memories of yesteryear and the images of a young and undaunted America.

With nearly two hundred vintage photographs from public and private collections, Belleville offers rare insight into the town's explosive growth.

Brimming with a rich history and local flavor that has gone largely undocumented for more than three hundred years, Belleville began as a small Dutch settlement in the 1670s and has grown into a busy suburb of 32,000 people, located only fifteen miles west of New York City. Situated on the west bank of the Passaic River, early Belleville was a center for early industry and water transportation and is noted as the birthplace of America's industrial revolution. From the legendary secret tunnels running beneath the Dutch Reformed Church to the beauty of Belleville Park, which sits beside one of the largest annual cherry blossom tree displays in the nation, Belleville tells the story of an often forgotten but noteworthy era in the turbulent development of early America. Belleville shows the appeal the bustling town held for many of the nation's most influential figures, including inventor Thomas Edison and famed architect Charles Granville Jones. The town was also a notable stop on Gen. George Washington's retreat from New York City to Philadelphia during the early days of the Revolutionary War.

Discover the history of USA's first suburb and how the American Dream of owning a home became a real possibility for many.

When developer Abraham Levitt and his two sons conceived the idea for Levittown in 1946, they were probably unaware of the future impact of their radical concept - to build cellarless, affordable tract housing on Long Island farmland. Levittown
became the prototype suburban community that has
been mirrored in towns throughout America and around the world. This delightful photographic history chronicles the growth and development of Levittown as returning World War II GIs flocked to it in droves, attracted by the promise of the American Dream of becoming homeowners. Despite criticism of its "stunning conformity," Levittown and its residents thrived as they raised families, started businesses, and created a close-knit community that exists to this day. This enchanting collection of photographs reveals the joys and struggles of Levittown's founders and residents as they carved their niche in American history.

Clayton depicts and documents the history of this diverse New York community.

The town of Clayton, located in northern New York State, was established on the shores of the mighty St. Lawrence River. At the turn of the last century, Clayton was in its heyday, and was one of the most famous resort destinations in the northeastern United States. During this period, Clayton was a place of affluence, its economy and culture built on the timber trade, shipping, boat building, and tourism industries. This book highlights the collection of Lester Corbin. Mr. Corbin, known as the ""Dean of the Thousand Islands Photographers,"" dedicated his life to compiling the photographic history of Clayton and the surrounding Thousand Islands Region. Whether shooting his own photography or restoring the collections of photographers who went before him, Mr. Corbin was able to develop one of the most extensive collections in the area. Every photograph in this book is taken from an original glass plate or negative found in the collection.

A fascinating history of Otisco Lake Community, documenting this New York State Finger Lake area's beginnings.

With Otisco Lake Community, Roger N. Trendowski chronicles this New York State Finger Lake area's history from the late 1800s to mid-1900s. Gathered from many local archives, private collections, and town historians from Otisco, Marcellus, and Spafford, the unique published and unpublished images show the area's natural beauty. The pictures transport us to the past where some of the same adventurous and entertaining activities still remain today.

Paterson, New Jersey: A place of comings and goings for generations.

Images of America: Patersonexplores the city's past with vintage photographs and interesting history and folklore. Some notables associated with the Silk City include Larry Doby, who broke the color barrier in the American League, shuttle astronaut Kathryn Sullivan and actress Sue Ann Langdon. An industrial giant envisioned by Alexander Hamilton, Paterson gave birth to the famed Colt revolver, the modern-day submarine, the locomotives that linked America's coasts, and the engine that powered Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis.

Also included are historic buildings such as the Fabian, the theater that Lou Costello frequented for premieres and Paterson's Danforth Library, which was designed by architect Henry Bacon, who was the creator of the Lincoln Memorial.

When Buffalo was incorporated as a city, the East Side represented a vast forested area and farmland that would one day be booming with industry.

By 1832, the beginnings of the major arterials of Genesee, Sycamore, Broadway, William, Clinton, and Seneca were there. These streets were laid out in 1826 and represented the seeds of the East Side's explosive growth. The development of railroads and the Buffalo Belt Line, constructed in 1883, created a semicircle pattern that outlined the East Side. Industries began sprouting up, eager to use their proximity to the belt line to transport wares all over the country. Immigrants from Germany, Poland, and Ireland, along with African Americans from northern and southern states, began establishing their lives around these industries. Access to land, water, roads, and rail lines and eager immigrants and natives looking for work led to the development of Buffalo's East Side industry, an immensely diverse industrial base and workforce.

The images in this collection capture the diverse history of Georgetown.

Georgetown, a thriving neighborhood in the nation's capital, was established in 1751 as an independent city. As the land to its east was being developed into Washington, DC, the once sleepy river town grew and evolved. George Washington's adopted descendants lived down the street from where Kennedy lived before Camelot; Julia Child walked past the home of Robert Todd Lincoln; and a successful community of free black Americans was built around the corner from what had previously been a slave market. Georgetown depicts the history of a community whose roots span far beyond the prestigious university and upper-class neighborhood for which it is known. The images capture mansions and slums, thriving businesses and crumbling facades, an industrial revolution, and the closing of the C&O Canal.

Restless spirits walk beside the murky waters of the Chesapeake Bay, linger among the fetid swamps and roam the manor halls.

These are the tormented souls who refuse to leave the sites of their demise. From pitiless smugglers to reluctant brides, the ghostly figures of the Eastern Shore are at once terrifying and tragic. Mindie Burgoyne takes readers on a spine-tingling journey as she recounts the grisly events at the Cosden Murder Farm and the infamous legend of Patty Cannon. Tread the foggy lanes of Kent Manor Inn and linger among Revolutionary War dead to discover the otherworldly occupants of Maryland's most haunted shore.

The cultural and criminal history of downtown Manhattan comes to life in this far-reaching exploration of a legendary street.

Originally a Lenape trail running the length of Manhattan Island, The Bowery has become one of the most notorious streets in America. Developed in stages by the Dutch, the British, and then Americans, this stretch of street has continually risen from its own ashes, experiencing a seemingly endless cycle of popularity, poverty and prosperity.

The Bowery has been celebrated as a haven of culture, entertainment, and theatre. But is has just as often been denigrated as New York's "skid row." Home to bums, bohemians, criminals, artists, performers, and the rich and poor alike, The Bowery has attracted the most diverse population of any place in New York City's history. Travel down the Bowery with New York City historian Eric Ferrara, as he explores its rich, fascinating, and at times, troubling past.

Uncover Ulster County's hidden history of unsavory characters and stories of its wicked past.

Situated in the scenic Hudson Valley, Ulster County is a lovely location to make a home and raise a family, but it wasn't always so pleasant. Unsavory characters and immoral events have sullied its name. In the 1870s, the Shawangunk Mountains inspired fear rather than awe, as groups like the Lyman Freer and Shawangunk gangs robbed and terrorized locals, descending from the protection of the wooded peaks. Kingston was torched, arson blazed in Kerhonkson and even the Mohonk Mountain House was threatened by flames. In 1909, the Ashokan Slasher's bloody crimes and sensational trial captured headlines across the country. Discover these and other salacious stories buried in Ulster County's history.

Explore the history of our nation's capital through this history of its bridges.

In the late 1700s, the first bridges, now completely gone, connected the new Federal City to the outside world. Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, more and bigger crossings arose to support industry, allow the expansion of suburbs, commemorate cultural and civic leaders, and enhance the aesthetics of the District’s waterfronts and parks. Although the city abandoned civic-minded, commemorative, and monumental constructions for utilitarian highway monoliths in the mid-twentieth century, a recent renaissance has seen a welcome shift to walkability and beauty instead of brute utility.

Using the city’s bridges as an index of the times, author and D.C. native Bob Dover tracks the growth, decay, and rebirth of the District from the 1750s to today.

Never before seen photographs depict the interesting history of Delaware Horse Racing.

Although Delaware is a small state, it has a rich history of horse-related activities, one of them being horse racing. From the early 1900s, horses have been used for various reasons, including farm work, means of transportation, pasture ornament, pleasure riding, and the popular sport of horse racing. Delaware Horse Racing takes the reader back decades to the good old days of popular tracks, such as Brandywine Raceway, Georgetown Raceway, Delaware Park Raceway, Dover Downs Raceway, and Harrington Raceway, where Standardbreds and Thoroughbreds raced hard and fast on half-mile and five-eighths-mile dirt tracks. Gathered from the collections of horsemen and horsewomen, previously unpublished historical photographs show legendary owners, trainers, drivers, and racehorses.

Visit the alleys of Philadelphia's Kensington and Fishtown neighborhoods for stories from the Speakeasy War and more.

The docks and alleys of Philadelphia's riverward neighborhoods teem with forgotten stories and strange histories. In the overlooked corners of Kensington and Fishtown are the launching of the Industrial Revolution, the bizarre double suicide of the Rusk twins and the violent Cramp Shipyard strike. With a collection of his "The Rest Is History" columns from the Fishtown Star, local historian Kenneth Milano chronicles little-known tales from the Speakeasy War of 1890 to stories of seldom-recognized hometown hero Eddie Stanky, who went on to play for the 1951 New York Giants. Join Milano as he journeys into the secret history of two of the city's oldest neighborhoods.

Read the remarkable story of one of the most unique and picturesque places in the Adirondacks, written by Sagamore's director, Beverly Bridger.

Great Camp Sagamore was built by renowned American architect William West Durant and bought by Alfred Vanderbilt in 1901 to be his family's Adirondack retreat. Vanderbilt and his wife, Margaret, welcomed family and friends, who enjoyed its sprawling grounds and elegant yet rustic buildings for decades. After Margaret's death, the camp changed hands and began to decline until it was rescued by preservationists, finally became a National Historic Landmark in 2000 after attentive restoration efforts. Today, visitors to the camp participate in maintaining its grandeur, learning about and preserving the past.

Baseball in Newark is a fascinating look at the city's local baseball tradition from the mid-nineteenth century through today. While the Bears of yesteryear merit considerable attention, the return of the team under the leadership of former Yankee Rick Cerone offers an added ingredient to the story. As part of the city's recent renaissance, the return of the Bears played a critical role in reviving the city's downtown district and attracting people to Newark for an evening's entertainment. Baseball in Newark features a variety of photographs culled from the Newark Public Library, the New Jersey Historical Society, and the collection of the Newark Bears.

Hockey in Syracuse retraces the history of the eight professional teams that have taken the ice in Syracuse in six different leagues since 1930.

Each team has its own colorful story, beginning with the Syracuse Stars of the International Hockey League. The Twinklers have the distinction of capturing the first Calder Cup ever awarded. Other teams included the Warriors (1951–1954), the Braves (1962–1963), the Blazers (1967–1977), the Eagles (1974–1975), the Firebirds (1979–1980), and the Hornets (1980–1981). The present-day Crunch brought hockey back in 1994 and have provided Syracuse fans with thrills on the ice ever since. Salt City teams have won four playoff championships and have set several all-time professional hockey records that still stand today. Hockey Hall of Famers from these teams include Keith Bingo Allen, Gord Drillon, Phil Esposito, Syd Howe, and Dave Sweeney Schriner. Syracuse truly has a rich hockey heritage.

A historic guide to Washington, D.C.’s neighborhoods, featuring photographs, maps, and beautiful drawings.

- Get off the National Mall and enjoy nine walking and driving tours of Washington, D.C.’s historic neighborhood

- Discover the hidden history of the nation’s capital with tales of political intrigue, scandal, romance and tragedy.

- Experience the overlooked architectural and cultural treasures in such neighborhoods as Georgetown, Dupont Circle, Adams Morgan and Mount Vernon Square.

Owner of A Tour de Force Guided Tours, D.C. historian Jeanne Fogle leads her readers through the hidden sites and history of Washington, D.C.’s neighborhoods. Charming sketches by Edward Fogle and vintage photographs accompany each tour, casting a new light on the city. Visitors and local alike will be surprised and delighted by the discoveries that can be made beyond the monuments.

Gay and Lesbian Philadelphia is a historical look at the neighborhoods, events, and people that have been a part of this community. The 1920s saw the birth of private dance bars on Rittenhouse Square. It was a time when drag shows in straight bars were the order of the day, as was the presence of men in drag during the annual Mummer's Parade on New Year's Day. The pre-Civil Rights era, when segregation was the status quo, saw the proliferation of African American house parties in neighborhoods such as North Philadelphia, where black gays and lesbians formed a community. During the 1950s and 1960s, Rittenhouse Square was the site of informal public gatherings. These gatherings of friends and strangers helped set the stage for the Annual Reminder, the first public protest in support of "homosexual equal rights," which took place every Fourth of July at Independence Hall. Throughout all of these eras, members of the community faced challenges, celebrated victories, and continued to try to blend their lives with those of their gay and straight neighbors.

One of the oldest amusement parks in the United States, and one of the last surviving “trolley parks,” Waldameer Park has provided generations with fun-filled afternoons.

Originally beginning as a picnic area known as Hoffman’s Grove on the banks of Lake Erie in Northwestern Pennsylvania, the Erie Electric Motor Company leased the park in 1896 and renamed it “Waldameer,” translated literally as “Woods by the Sea” in German. A trolley park’s main purpose was to entice people to ride the new-fangled trolley car on the weekends, and Waldameer accomplished that in spades. Initially, the park’s main attraction was its beach on the lake, a popular destination for people to go and escape the heat of summer, but over the years, Waldameer Park changed and grew significantly. In the early 20th century, rides like Dip the Dips, Ravine Flyer, and Mill Run grew to be the main attractions at the park. Over the past three decades, Waldameer Park has grown into a modern amusement park, while maintaining its beloved nostalgic atmosphere. Today, visitors cool off in the Water World water park and enjoy thrill rides like the Comet, Steel Dragon, X-Scream, and Ravine Flyer II.

Trimper's Rides! Synonymous with Ocean City, MD for generations of thrill seekers...step right up and enjoy the ride!

No trip to Ocean City, Maryland, is complete without a visit to Trimper's Rides. The unforgettable bright lights, carousel music, and elated screams from riders on the Tidal Wave are cherished memories for generations who return to the park annually. The evolution and success of Trimper's Rides embodies the American dream. It began when an enterprising German immigrant named Daniel B. Trimper and his large family took a chance on a little-known seaside town. They built a top-notch family-entertainment experience that continues to delight visitors today. The Trimpers rebuilt after storms, endured wartime challenges, and experienced periods of rapid growth and prosperity. Trimper's Rides chronicles this journey with nostalgic images of past attractions and the people who made Trimper's Rides the destination for family fun.

Take a fascinating journey through the history of Irvington, New Jersey with more than 200 vintage photographs and anecdotes from the locals who experienced it.

Like a cherished old family album, this collection of more than two hundred fascinating photographs of Irvington brings to life people, places, and events of a bygone era. Although the Irvington depicted here—from the time of the Civil War to the 1970s—has changed significantly, its memory remains fresh in the minds of past and present residents alike.

Culled from the extensive collections of the Irvington Public Library and Irvington Historical Society, this superb assemblage of images will stimulate many memories. Alan A. Siegel takes us on a delightful journey, starting when Irvington was a tiny village known as Camptown, to the twentieth century when Irvington was transformed almost overnight into a busy industrial and residential suburb of Newark.

Shown too are the vital contributions made by successive waves of immigrants who flooded into Irvington during the first half of the twentieth century

Herkimer Village depicts the interesting history of this community through rare and vintage photographs.

The village of Herkimer, incorporated on April 6, 1807, was the first village in Herkimer County and was named after Revolutionary War hero Gen. Nicholas Herkimer. First settled by the Palatine Germans in 1725, the village's ideal location at the juncture of the Mohawk River and West Canada Creek made it the focal point of the county, and it was soon designated the county seat. The village population grew with the development of mills and factories, prompting the construction of elaborate homes, churches, diverse shops, and the New York Central Railroad, which ran directly through the village center with four main line tracks. Herkimer Village provides a snapshot of the daily life and important events in this village's colorful and dynamic history.

The Erie Canal was completed in 1825 and became the backbone of an economic and cultural explosion that defined the image of New York.

The canal's development spurred successful industry and a booming economy, sparking massive urban growth in an area that was previously virtually unexplored wilderness. People poured west into this new space, drawn by the ability to ship goods along the canal to the Hudson River, New York City, and the world beyond. Erie Canal is a compilation of 200 vintage images from the Erie Canal Museum's documentary collection of New York's canal system. Vintage postcards depict life and industry along the canal, including not only the Erie itself but also the lateral and feeder canals that completed the state-wide system.

Join Michele S. Davidson as she documents Nether Providence's fascinating growth and development over the last three centuries.

In 1682, John Sharpless settled in Nether Providence Township on a 1,000-acre tract of land along Ridley Creek that had been granted to him by William Penn. Other settlers soon followed, establishing Nether Providence as a small, successful, farming community. Over the next two centuries, Nether Providence grew into a thriving manufacturing center with 14 operating mills along the township's two creeks. At the turn of the 19th century, Nether Providence became a summer resort area rivaling the Main Line of Philadelphia, with such famous residents as Dr. Horace Howard Furness, a well-regarded Shakespearean scholar and the brother of architect Frank Furness, and Alexander Kelly McClure, the owner of the Philadelphia Times and an assistant adjunct general appointed by Pres. Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War. In 2007, Wallingford, the largest community in Nether Providence, was named by Money Magazine as the ninth best place to live in the United States.

Hightstown Borough and East Windsor Township are two neighboring New Jersey communities steeped in history.

Over the years, the two towns have seen numerous important developments in agriculture and the area has served as a hub for small-town commerce and railroad travel. Several notable historic figures made their way through the region over the years as well, including Clara Barton, the Marquis de Lafayette, Horace Greeley, Phineas T. Barnum, and Woodrow Wilson.