Travel

From Ice Age mastodons to Colonial taverns to the Playboy Club Hotel, Vernon Township covers the vast sweep of the community's rich and diverse heritage. This tour of Vernon's past includes antique images of homes, farms, stores, taverns, businesses, schools, churches, and industries. Also depicted are the evolution of local transportation from horse to train to automobile, notable past residents, and the growth of recreation from summer camps to fine hotels. Many of the unique historical views, some of which were reproduced from the original glass-plate negatives, have never before been published.

High Point State Park and the Civilian Conservation Corps explores the history of the fascinating landmark, which was a gift of Colonel Anthony and Susie Kuser to the people of New Jersey in 1923. The famed landscape firm Olmsted Brothers of Brookline, Massachusetts, was retained to design the park's facilities. The job of carrying out many of the proposals in the plan fell to the Civilian Conservation Corps, a Depression-era federal agency that combined work relief efforts with conservation work. The laborers, known as the CCC boys, developed the layout of the park from 1933 to 1941. Much of their work remains and is still used by visitors today.

All Hail the Chief in the Garden State

Thousands of people came out to support Franklin D. Roosevelt when he visited the state in 1936 and proved their support at the polls four consecutive times. After voting Republican for most of the two decades following L.B.J., New Jersey once again became the battle state in 1992 when H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton made it their prerogative to win the state. Before Donald Trump took week-long working vacations from his Golf Club at Bedminster, other Commanders in Chief sought out the benefits of resting at the Jersey shore. Cape May's Congress Hall Hotel served as a "Summer White House" for Benjamin Harrison Richard Nixon spent the last thirteen years of his life as part of the Saddle River community.

Author Peter Zablocki presents the heated elections, political events and key moments of the President in the Garden State.

The revolutionary Battle of Monmouth signaled the end of major combat in the North. Centuries later, reminders of the conflict remain. The Covenhoven House, the Village Inn, Marlpit Hall, the Craig House and the homes of Thomas Seabrook and the murdered Joseph Murray stand open to the public today. Visitors can also behold safehouses for the wounded—such as Old Tennent Church, St. Peter’s and Old First Church—and tread along the same ground as George Washington, General Sir Henry Clinton, Alexander Hamilton and the Marquis de Lafayette. Devoting attention to these sites and to the Battle Monument in Freehold, the Revolution’s most prominent and enduring symbol, historian Randall Gabrielan leads a tour through Monmouth County’s revolutionary heritage.

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

Manalapan Township and Englishtown Borough-- originally a part of the township--share a long and rich history dating to the Revolutionary War.

From the late 19th to the mid-20th century, the township was composed of several small villages that sustained themselves through farming. In creating this book, author Richard J. Dalik seeks to preserve the significance of this thriving stage of the communities' heritage. The collection includes fascinating photographs, engravings, and postcards illustrating the early rural way of life in these areas, as well as some early views highlight the Battle of Monmouth--fought mostly on the farmlands of Manalapan Township--and other historical landmarks of that period. Vintage images of farms, mills, houses, schools, churches, streets, and families are presented together with informative captions to transport the reader to an earlier time and another Manalapan.

Here, with over 200 vintage photographs, images of Middletown presents a dramatic view into the realm of our suburban villages and neighborhoods.

Middletown Township has the distinction of being one of the earliest settlements in New Jersey. Although the township does not have any large photograph archives, author Randall Gabrielan has carefully gathered images from many private and public sources.

This fascinating new addition to the Images of America series offers a glimpse into the unique history of Scotch Plains and Fanwood, New Jersey.

This wonderful new book contains more than 200 fascinating photographs, maps, and prints and brings to life the people, places, and events which have defined Scotch Plains and Fanwood over the centuries. These images invite us to explore the area's rich history from the time of its first settlement, in 1684, to the present day.

Scotch Plains and Fanwood were originally one community, also encompassing the area now known as Feltville or Glenside Park. From the beginning, the region played a critical role in American history. The Battle of the Short Hills, from June 14 to June 30, 1777, between the British under General Howe and the Revolutionary Army under George Washington, took place here. During the nineteenth century, Scotch Plains became an important stop on the Swift Sure stage line between New York and Philadelphia. As New York City burgeoned during the nineteenth century and the railroad arrived in Central New Jersey, Scotch Plains and Fanwood became a bedroom community of the metropolis. Finally, in 1895, Fanwood was chartered independently. Later, Feltville became part of the Union County Park System.

Local authors Richard and Suzanne Bousquet have brought together a unique collection of photographs and maps from both the Historical Society of Scotch Plains and Fanwood and from private collections. They have combined this superb collection with informative captions to create a fascinating journey down memory lane that will be enjoyed by old and young, resident and visitor alike.

Timothy Regan's new photographic history of New Brunswick chronicles the city's development and uncovers its role in the development of New Jersey.

New Brunswick, founded in 1681, developed as a major shipping and stagecoach center by the mid-1750s. The cargo carried to and from New Brunswick via steamships and the Camden and Amboy Railroad shaped the development of the city and the state far more than many realize. Vintage images of long-forgotten hotels, taverns, and houses are featured in Mr. Regan's work, many of which were built in response to the growth of the city's shipping industry. New Brunswick is significant historically in the field of education as well; the evolution of Rutgers College--chartered as Queens College in 1766 by King George III of England--is covered in this volume. Also included are images of notable early residents, including poet and renown journalist Joyce Kilmer.

Tens of thousands of Monmouth County Scouts have taken pride in the art of tying a square knot, the pageantry of the court of honor, and projects that benefit the local community. Monmouth Council Boy Scouts contains a distinctive collection of images featuring an inside view of the Order of the Arrow and the other Boy Scout programs, the camps at Forestburg, Burton-at-Allaire, and Quail Hill, hiking trips to Philmont, National Jamboree tours, and many other Boy Scout events.

From North American Phalanx and Scobeyville to the now suburbanized Colts Neck, this visual history documents the fascinating history of this Monmouth County township.

Colts Neck, the Monmouth County township known by that name only since 1962, has witnessed a rapid pace of change in its recent past. The once-rural community has been adapting to suburbanization but longtime residents yearn to preserve memories of the municipality's heritage, and in particular, recollections of two well-known communities. Colts Neck's North American Phalanx was one of America's best-known, nineteenth-century cooperative communities, and as such has garnered the interest of philosophers and social scientists. In a completely different historical vein, Colts Neck embraces Scobeyville, widely known as the home of Laird's. Synonymous with New Jersey distilling, Laird's has produced the Apple Jack beverage for many years.

Join author Joan Williams as she takes you on a journey into Morristown, New Jersey's past and brings it back to life as it was.

For many Americans, Morristown evokes pictures of ragged troops huddled in log huts, shivering in the bitter cold of winter--but there is more to the history of the town than its important role in the Revolutionary War. By the early 19th century, Morristown was a thriving community, whose growth was accelerated by such projects as the Morris Canal and the railroad. It was finally incorporated in 1865 and the city attracted wealthy New Yorkers who built magnificent mansions, many of which can still be seen today. In 1878, the Library and Lyceum opened, bringing art and culture to the booming town. Immigrants were also attracted to Morristown and the Association of Work Among the Italians was founded in 1898 (later renamed Neighborhood House as the ethnic population diversified further), which instructed the new immigrants in English and provided services for their children.

The 20th century saw many changes. The first trolley rumbled around the Green in 1909, and motor cars soon appeared on the streets. Young men and women went off to two world wars to serve (and many to die for) their country. With the 1960s came urban renewal. As many old buildings were destroyed, corporations took the place of many of the large mansions and new highways were developed. Yet, still, in the quiet back streets, and among some of the old buildings, a hint of the past can still be seen. This piece will delight young and old, visitor and resident alike.

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.

This history celebrates the fascinating process of research and development at the Princeton, NJ lab with stunning photographs selected from thirty thousand stills in RCA's collections.

Color television, transistors, lasers, digital memory, computers, liquid-crystal displays, medical electronics, and digital video-these technologies define modern civilization. This visual history tells the story of invention or innovation at this Princeton, New Jersey research facility.The center's engineers, physicists, chemists, technicians, and shop workers developed radar, sonar, and TV-guided missiles during World War II. In 1951, RCA renamed the labs for its visionary leader, David Sarnoff, and the center continued its groundbreaking work for RCA's product divisions and patent-licensing department. General Electric bought RCA in 1986 and donated the David Sarnoff Research Center to SRI International, a nonprofit research institute. Ten years later, the center became Sarnoff Corporation, a company that provides innovative client solutions, licenses patents, starts companies, and sells products. Masterfully framed and lighted, these rare images reflect American confidence in the promise of technology at its twentieth-century peak and illustrate a sometimes unusual world within a social life of awards, gardens, picnics, and sports teams.

Moorestown depicts the history of this important agricultural and social hub.

Settled in 1682 by Quakers, Moorestown grew quickly into an important agricultural and social hub. Local farms and nurseries were considered the best in the state with their superior produce and specimen plants, and the coming of the railroad in the 1860s brought industrial leaders who helped the town to grow and prosper beyond its agrarian roots. It became the home of Eldridge R. Johnson, cofounder of the Victor Talking Machine Company, and Alice Paul, a women's suffrage champion. Moorestown provided easy access to New York City and surrounding urban centers, and it continued to be a mix of sought-after residential neighborhoods, working farms, and thriving businesses. Since 1904, the Moorestown Improvement Association has been instrumental in the town's growth, with contributions including funding the first artesian well, purchasing land for the first parks and athletic fields, and registering the town in the National Register of Historic Places.

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.

The summer retreat of Stone Harbor at the Jersey shore is shown here in pictures from its earliest days.

On a barrier island near the southern tip of the Jersey shore lies the borough of Stone Harbor. Resting between the shore and the salt marshes, Stone Harbor was recognized in the early 1900s as a natural summer retreat. Stone Harbor presents the development of this popular vacation destination with historical pictures and the previously unpublished photographs of Percy J. Cole. As seen through the lens of this talented photographer, Stone Harbor in the 1930s through the 1970s represents days remembered as those of ideal summers at the shore.

Stone Harbor has the distinction of being one of the earliest planned resorts. The Risley brothers were responsible for transforming idyllic dunes into broad avenues for a town that boasted all the modern utilities. Photographs of the construction scenes that brought about this change, architectural overviews of the first ""cottages,"" other scenes from the then sparsely populated town, and wildlife photographs from the only town-supported heronry in the United States are just part of what make up this beautiful collection. Stone Harbor includes a look at the nautical life of this seaside resort, which is home to the Comet class sailboat.

Little Silver, a fascinating visual journey through New Jersey's past, will delight and educate both the avid historian and the casual observer.

Featuring many previously unpublished photographs, Little Silver Volume II explores the community's growth from the late-nineteenth century to the present. A companion to the first volume, this exciting collection of images harks back to the days when city dwellers traveled to Little Silver Point by steamboat to spend their summers.

Celebrate the 75th anniversary of the incorporation of the Borough of Little Silver with this unique glimpse of times gone by. Included in the book are images from the Julia Parker Collection, providing an in-depth look at the Parker homestead, which was willed to the Borough of Little Silver to be developed as a historic site. Also featured are the houses, schools, and recreational areas that contributed to the tranquility of this unique American community. Old timers will recall the stores and businesses that thrived in the middle of the century, and young readers will learn of the local heroes and world-famous people who lived in Little Silver. Parades, special events, and sporting activities are featured as well.

Little Silver Volume II highlights the people and places that left a lasting impression on the history of the town.

Much like the building material of the same name, the township of Brick has a sturdy and reliable history.

In 1850, when the New Jersey Legislature created Ocean County among a region of virgin woodland. The new township was named after its most prominent resident, Joseph W. Brick, the industrious and successful owner of Bergen Iron Works; as Brick’s and other local industries expanded, more and more people began to call the town their home.Brick Townshiprecords these lives of these founders, as well as the events and places that helped them shape their community. By 1920, parts of the township had declared their independence, and the remaining parts of Brick began to evolve into a resort community. Brick continued to be an intimate but prosperous resort area into the 1950s, when the Garden State Parkway opened, and the subsequent residential and commercial development created dramatic growth in year-round residents.Brick Townshipcaptures scenes of life in Brick from 1850 to the 1950s and beyond—from the early European settlers to the suburbanites who now call Brick their home.

For a century and a half, Montclair has been known as one of America's most attractive residential suburbs. Yet for an equally long period, it was a simple, rural settlement. Some of the finest homes are shown in these pages.

As one historian put it, when the trains came in 1856 they ""completely changed the character of our town from a sparsely settled agricultural region to a community of elegant suburban homes."" Elegant homes remain, and at the opening of the latest century, they lured a new surge of refugees from Gotham. This history meanwhile reflects the rich mix of race, ethnicity, and opportunity that went into the making of the town. Montclair presents various aspects of the town, from Washington's Headquarters, to Italian immigrants laying pipes, to the No. 29 trolley climbing past the Food Fair.

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.

Winner of the New Jersey Studies Academic Alliance Authors Award for Nonfiction

New Jersey's land records and deeds are unlikely sources for a thrilling tale but reveal little-known, fascinating history. A detailed story of the founding of the Garden State 350 years ago is preserved in these papers. The state's boundaries were drawn in such documents centuries ago, even if the authors never stepped foot in North America. The archives hide heroes, like the freed African Americans who fought for their right to own their piece of the state. And of course, there are the bizarre and mysterious tales, like the silk baron's castle and the assault against a sixteen-year-old maiden during the throes of the American Revolution. Join land title expert Joseph Grabas as he combs through these all-but-forgotten stories of the pursuit of happiness and property in early New Jersey.

Atlantic City Revisited documents the fascinating history of this famous New Jersey city.

In 1854, a group of engineers and railroad businessmen drew a straight line from Philadelphia to the New Jersey coast, built a railroad along the line, and created Atlantic City. From the 1850s to the 1950s, the city attracted the creme of American society and the working class alike and gave birth to the beauty pageant, rolling chair, boardwalk, saltwater taffy, jitney, and the successful Monopoly board game. But the onset of air travel in the 1950s and the aging grand hotels brought Atlantic City to its knees. The opening of Resorts International in 1978 and the prosperous gaming business that followed in its wake helped the city rise from its own ashes, and a year-round tourism industry exploded. Garish and opulent casino hotels replaced many of the boardwalk dowagers, and new palaces transformed the once desolate marina section into a vibrant destination.

From rural outpost to a vital, colorful landing spot, discover the fascinating story of Weekhawken and the people who made it what it is today.

Although less than one square mile in area, Weehawken's rich history extends more than 400 years to when Dutch explorers first dropped anchor in Weehawken Cove. The town commands a unique location overlooking the Hudson River, with sweeping views of New York City. Its story begins with Weehawken's early bucolic estates, the idyllic attractions of the magnificent Palisades, and its notorious hidden dueling grounds, where Alexander Hamilton met his end at the hands of Aaron Burr in 1804. By the mid-19th century, a shift toward urban industrial development changed the landscape, as evidenced by the iconic 1883 Weehawken water tower and the sprawling, long-gone 1890s Eldorado Amusement Park that brought throngs of visitors via the largest passenger elevator in the world at that time. The construction of the Lincoln Tunnel as well as the developments of the town's neighborhoods, commerce, and government all helped to shape Weehawken's past and future.

With a history dating back to 1664, Summit, New Jersey, has evolved from a pastoral town of farms and rolling hills to a populous suburb of Manhattan.

Though the land was originally purchased in the 17th century, it wasn’t until the late 1800s, as the area began shifting from farmland into wealthy estates, that Summit was incorporated into a township. In the early days of the community’s development, many residents were seasonal, but this changed as it became easier to live in the country and work in the city. In this original collection of images, author and local historian Patricia E. Meola takes readers on a journey into Summit's past. Through nearly 200 postcard images, Summitcelebrates a city known for its tree-lined streets, the reputation of its public and private schools, the activism of countless city volunteers, and its thriving opportunities for culture.

Denville, the ""Hub of Morris County,"" has retained its small-town atmosphere since its early days as a stop for stagecoaches.

Iron and good soil attracted the first settlers, but today, its scenic lakes, vibrant downtown, and many festivals attract tens of thousands each year. In this superb image collection from the archives of the Denville Historical Society & Museum, more than 200 images and informative text fill the pages of this township's history. Along with the photographs of buildings, such as the grand Wayside Inn, landscapes, and locals of Denville, are historical figures such as George Washington and William Penn, as well as local legends "Uncle'? Jeddy Cooper and Rock Etam.

The pictorial history and the comprehensive, informative, and often humorous captions which accompany them will delight, fascinate, and amuse young and old, resident and visitor alike.

Cranford celebrates the 125th anniversary of its founding in 1996. To commemorate the event, two local historians, Robert Fridlington and Lawrence Fuhro, have joined forces to create a wonderful new history of the town. This book is a nostalgic look back at the town's roots, with over 200 fascinating photographs dating from 1871 to the 1940s. These images bring to life the town's rich heritage--its Victorian downtown district, school ""daze,"" special events, and faces forgotten and familiar. We see Cranford's origins as a sleepy river village dependent on farming and milling, and its growth as a suburb from the late nineteenth century to the end of World War II. Many of these remarkable pictures have never before been seen by the public, and the authors have uncovered images and stories long forgotten, such as the town's African-American baseball teams and efforts to make Cranford the state capital.

Over 200 vintage and rare photographs document the fascinating history of Long Branch.

Long Branch's rich and varied past makes it one of Monmouth County's most important historic places. Although much of the physical evidence of its earlier days is gone, historian Randall Gabrielan has gathered a collection of images that vividly represent the New Jersey city that became a mecca for presidents, financiers, and gamblers. In Long Branch People and Places, tour stately summer homes, visit hotels of the gilded age, and behold Long Branch's famed Ocean Pier--widely considered a 19th-century engineering marvel. Through this collection of more than 200 photographs, discover how Long Branch developed into a significant resort in the 1800s, and gain insight into its business power, educational life, and spiritual being.

A beautiful and historic town in New Jersey and home to the famed Princeton University, this amazing collection of photographs reveal images and recollections of the town's deep history.

Princeton celebrates this amazing New Jersey town that has managed to remain quaint and charming while becoming a renowned center for education and research. The historic borough and bucolic township are seen in a panorama from Colonial-era Quaker farms to the hi-tech research boom of the 1950s and 60s in this marvelous new photographic compilation. The superb image collection of the Historical Society of Princeton has provided spectacular views of this famous community. Over 200 images and interesting text about the town and college fill the pages of this fabulous history. Along with photographs of landscape and locals are others of George Washington, victorious at Princeton after the most critical battle of the War of Independence, and Albert Einstein lounging on his porch in fuzzy slippers.

The 20th century can truly be said to have America's century.

As the nation reached its position among the world powers, American towns and cities changed at an unprecedented pace. As we grow further away from these times, we strive harder to preserve these fading memories for ourselves and the generations who come after us. The American Century series documents and celebrates our most recent history--featuring images of faces and places which were taken within living memory and yet that already seem to belong to a long-past era. Enter the Keyport of the 20th century, a small borough in New Jersey that may not seem very important today, but holds the nickname "Pearl of the Bayshore. '?

Around and About Basking Ridge, Liberty Corner, and Lyons documents the history of these communities who played pivotal roles in our nation's beginnings.

Basking Ridge, Liberty Corner, and Lyons form the nucleus of Bernards Township, a region with a history as fascinating as it is long. Originally chartered in 1760 by King George II, the area figured prominently in the American Revolution: Lafayette's troops were quartered here; General Lee was arrested at Widow White's Tavern; and General Washington visited Lord Stirling's estate. After the Civil War tourism and other industries flourished, and the arrival of the railroad in 1872 brought further economic boom to the area. The mid-nineteenth century also brought exciting developments in the art of photography, and the camera has since been used as a tool of both discovery and preservation in the three villages.

Middlesex Borough explores this town's unique history from its incorporation in 1913 to the mid-1900s with vintage photographs and fascinating text. During the presidency of Woodrow Wilson, residents of the westerly portion of Piscataway Township, at the urging of George Harris, decided to secede from Piscataway and form an independent town. The newly created Middlesex Borough consisted of large farms owned by the Stout, Reidy, Conover, Giles, Guernsey, and Harris families, with clusters of small homes bordering them. The Central Railroad of New Jersey passed through the town, bringing new residents to Middlesex from New York City and fostering the development of small factories and workers' houses in the Lincoln section, the housing developments of Pierce Estates and Dewey Park, and, later, the spacious homes and properties in the Beechwood Heights section of the borough.

The Wildwoods: 1920-1970 follows a path of progress and preservation in a beach community situated along the Atlantic Ocean in historic Cape May County.

Starting out in the 1920s, vintage postcards illustrate this shore town's transformation from a sleepy seaside resort into a summer vacation hot spot. Look through a window into the past and see Zaberer's Restaurant in North Wildwood, the Starlight Ballroom on the boardwalk, and the Wingate Motel in the center of Wildwood.

Join local historian Helen Henderson as she recounts the rich heritage of Matawan and Aberdeen.

Called New Aberdeen by early settlers and later known as Middletown Point, the area covered today by the communities of Matawan Borough, Aberdeen Township, Cliffwood, and Freneau has a long list of stories to tell. With over 180 historic photographs of the area--many rare and previously unpublished--Around Matawan and Aberdeen creates a comprehensive and insightful look back at its development from 1890 to the 1960s.

The story of Trenton begins in 1678, when 20 Quakers left Yorkshire, England to travel to America.

They wintered in the fort at Burlington, New Jersey, and, in the spring of 1679, set sail for the lands they had purchased at the head of the navigable waters of the De La Warr River. Approaching rocky outcroppings in a sharp bend of the river, they stopped and began to build the village that would become the capital city of New Jersey. Trenton traces the city from these beginnings to more recent times, and just about everything in between, concentrating on the era of photography: from 1850 to 1960. The authors have masterfully compiled this volume, which blends images of the places and people that make Trenton so unique, with the stories of the important, timely events that helped to shape the history of Trenton.

This fascinating new book introduces us to the landed gentry of the Somerset Hills, with over 200 images bringing to life these colorful families and their magnificent estates.

After the Civil War, a class of industrialists and financiers amassed great fortunes while building the infrastructure of an expanding nation. Much of this money and power was concentrated in New York City, which quickly became crowded and unsuitable for the building of large estates. Many wealthy businessmen began to look eagerly toward the pastoral beauty of New Jersey as a site for their luxurious homes. Modeling itself on the English aristocracy, this uniquely American plutocracy sought to establish country seats, requiring acreage on a grand scale but in close proximity to New York City. Men such as George Seney, president of the Metropolitan Bank of New York, began purchasing property in Somerset County in the early 1870s, and soon many others were purchasing land in the county from the local farmers. We meet the great families themselves, from the Seneys, Drydens, Stevenses, Pfizers, and Roeblings, to the Forbes, as well as such famous individuals as Jackie Kennedy and King Hassan II of Morocco. We are shown around the great estates, and see the stone masons, wood carvers, and other artisans and tradesmen who created them.

Tova Navarra's new visual history of Howell and Farmingdale presents a wealth of vintage images and carefully researched information on the area's past.

The book's focus on the social and cultural aspects of Howell's history is particularly appropriate, given the remarkable ethnic diversity of the region. Howell is a vibrant and unique New Jersey community whose character and heritage are lovingly conveyed by this resident author. At once rural and suburban, contemplative and yet very active, Howell is today an intriguing mixture of old and new. Age-old churches and Buddhist temples stand near a dualized highway and large department stores, and an experimental theater company flourishes in the midst of horse, chicken, and sheep farms. The development of Howell's numerous cultural, social, commercial, and religious institutions is documented here in an interesting and informative manner.

Fascinating images from 1800 to 1980 document the evolution Neptune and Shark River Hills, from shore wilderness to modern communities.

Neptune and Shark River Hills are neighboring New Jersey towns that grew from two different but distinctly American traditions. Neptune is the child of traditional agrarian roots, developing from a patchwork of early 1800s farmsteads into an urbanized shore hub intersected by major highways. Shark River Hills lay undeveloped until the 1920s, and it was American entrepreneurism that sparked its development as a planned community. ""The Hills"" was a buyers' package pitched to the dream of owning a summer place at the Jersey shore. Images from 1800 to 1980 document the evolution of these coastal towns from shore wilderness to modern communities, just a toll's throw from New Jersey's Garden State Parkway. Farmsteads and country values characterized early Neptune. Captured here are images of the area's schoolhouses, fire companies, merchants, and townspeople. Resurrected are fondly remembered landmarks like Storyland Village and the Neptune Music Circus. Celebrated are Neptune natives such as actor Jack Nicholson, explorer Ike Schlossbach, football star Bob Davis, and rock 'n roller Southside Johnny. Scenes of Shark River Hills from the early 1900s offer a window into a simpler time in an idyllic place, when locals worked and played on""Shack River. "" Images of summer sojourners beckon from riverbank clambakes, dockside competitions, and country club socials. A year-round bedroom community today, few recall ""The Hills"" Poor Farm, its daredevil aviator, or the treasure rumored to be buried in ""Money Hill. ""

For more than one hundred years, Ocean Grove New Jersey has provided a retreat to those wishing to return to a life of religious renewal and recreation by the shore.

In 1869, a group of ministers and religious faithful established a permanent Methodist camp meeting community on the North Jersey shore. A state charter was issued one year later, and the community of Ocean Grove was born. Following the example set by other camp meetings, Ocean Grove became a center for religious revivals. The town continued to flourish as railroad and steamship lines transported passengers eager to escape the nearby crowded cities. For more than one hundred years, Ocean Grove has provided a retreat to those wishing to return to a life of religious renewal and recreation. Ocean Grove is a detailed look at the growth of this unique seaside community. Home to the largest aggregate of Victorian and early-twentieth-century structures in America, Ocean Grovecontinues to provide its visitors with a glimpse into the past. Ocean Grove has maintained its custom of holding summer camp meetings for over one hundred-thirty years. These annual revivals have attracted such notable speakers and guests as William Jennings Bryan, Booker T. Washington, and Presidents Grant and Roosevelt to the Great Auditorium. Since its conception, Ocean Grove has been home to an uncommon history, making Ocean Grove a treasure.

Founded in the eighteenth century, Millville began as a South Jersey hub of commercial and industrial activity.

The hum of machinery in the mills, glasshouses, and foundries meant prosperity for the young town, which would eventually become the second-largest producer of glass in the country. Through the years, Millville residents maintained a proud tradition of hard work and family involvement, and they sought to preserve their community's rural charm. In leafing through the pages of this volume, old-timers will fondly reminisce about the heyday of the town when grand Victorians, an opera house, and a popular amusement park existed. Newcomers will marvel at the way things used to be, noting also certain unmistakable similarities. While the landscape has changed, the small-town traditional values and community pride remain.

Once part of Newark, Nutley has grown from a weekend getaway for tired New Yorkers and a permanent home for artists and writers into a charming small city.

Though only three square miles in area, Nutley boasts over 125 acres of park land, as well as the beautiful Third River which runs through the town. In Nutley, town historian and author John Demmer presents a fascinating look at the changes the town as undergone, as well as the life of its residents through the years. Demmer also illustrates Nutley's earliest commercial industry, the brownstone quarry, as well as the textile and banker's safety paper industry.

Keyport documents the early businesses and architecture of this town, chronicling its history from 1860 through the 1970s.

During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the Keyport neighborhoods of Browns Point, Lockport, and Mechanicsville had distinct commercial and industrial districts that have all but disappeared today. Timothy E. Regan's new book on Keyport offers a glimpse into the lives of these early businesses and the citizens who created them, along with a look at the remarkable architecture of this bayside town. This fascinating overview of life in Keyport from 1860 through the 1970s also includes an in-depth look at the men and machines of the Keyport Fire Department, one of the oldest and proudest fire departments in New Jersey. Dedicated civil servants like the firemen have worked together with skilled tradespeople and entrepreneurs over the years to make Keyport a wonderfully dynamic and vibrant place to live, and Mr. Regan's book honors the commitment and the memory of these people.

Discover the resilience of a community with an unusual proclivity towards natural catastrophes and its citizens' unwavering strength.

One hundred pounds of trade goods was the price paid to the Lenape Indians in 1681 for the land where Bound Brook now stands. The town slowly took shape and by the time of the Revolutionary War, it had grown to 35 families. Toll roads, railroads, canals, industry, and commerce all began to evolve in Bound Brook which by 1891, had an established town government, as well as a swelling population and economy. Along with this tremendous growth, a library, a hospital, schools, churches, and hundreds of homes were built to accommodate the ever-increasing number of residents. Sadly, however, natural disaster tended to disrupt what was normally a prosperous but quiet life in Bound Brook. When the Raritan River flooded nearly every year, it caused severe damage to the center of town. In 1881, a disastrous fire destroyed all the buildings in one Main Street block. In 1896, flooding caused the lime at the L.D. Cook lumberyard to ignite by spontaneous combustion. Fortunately, after each disaster Bound Brook survived and rebuilt, emerging stronger and more united. Its history, people, and spirit have made Bound Brook one of the best places to live in New Jersey and havemade Bound Brook an inspiring and unforgettable book.

A reflection of the community through the eyes of this fourth-generation resident, Long Hill Township chronicles the area's history from the Civil War through the early 1970s.

Long Hill Township, composed of five distinct boroughs located along the Passaic River, has existed for hundreds of years as a lush, vibrant community in northern New Jersey. Once the homeland of the Lenape Indians, the five boroughs of Long Hill Township (formerly Passaic Township) developed independently to support one another in the fields of industry, agriculture, education, and transportation, creating a bustling and eclectic small-town community in the midst of nature's splendor. From images of a leisurely buggy ride in the lazy afternoon sun to others of families working together in the fields or on the site of a new stone church, Mary Lou Weller's remarkable new photographic history of Long Hill documents the past of the township in moving detail.