In 1824, Hervey Bliss, who according to Duane DeLoach�s Blissfield�s First 150 Years stood �about five feet, three inches tall, with a somewhat florid complexion and . . . blue eyes,� left Monroe County, blazed a trail 20 miles through the woods, built a log cabin, and founded the village of Blissfield on the west bank of the River Raisin. In 1826, George Giles, a neighbor of Bliss in Monroe County, moved onto land on the east side of the river in a place he called Lyons. Before the river ...

Waukegan, Illinois has a long history, with a rich and varied heritage. Countless individuals, businesses, and organizations have contributed to that heritage, and continue today to contribute to the legacy of this community. One of Waukegan's most notable citizens was Jack Benny. Throughout his long career he regularly cited his hometown and its influence on him, and he often contributed to the city with his many appearances. But he wasn't the only person to bring fame to Waukegan. Edward...

The Catskills (“Cat Creek” in Dutch), America’s original frontier, northwest of New York City, with its seven hundred thousand acres of forest land preserve and its five counties—Delaware, Greene, Sullivan, Ulster, Schoharie; America’s first great vacationland; the subject of the nineteenth-century Hudson River School paintings that captured the almost godlike majesty of the mountains and landscapes, the skies, waterfalls, pastures, cliffs . . . refuge and home to poets and gangsters, tyco...

Apopka, Florida, started out as a place once dubbed "Big Potato" by the Native Americans of the area and was formerly known as the "Fern City," but it is now most notably considered the "Indoor Foliage Capitol of the World." Once-thriving fragrant citrus groves have been replaced by climate-controlled greenhouses and fields of landscaped nurseries and subdivisions. The second largest city in Orange County, Apopka is located in the northwest region of the county. It functions today as a bed...

Over 200 never before published photographs are presented in this pictorial history, which spans the early 1800's through the early 1950's. As we approach the end of the century, this new book looks back at over one hundred years of Canandaigua's history, with photographs of the people, places, and events that have defined the proud and vibrant community we know so well today. Readers will be fascinated by the immense changes that have occurred since the early days, but will also draw conn...

The story of Dowagiac�s first 100 years may ring familiar to other small cities across the United States. After Dowagiac was established on a railroad line in 1848, new settlers arrived and had the opportunity to establish large-scale factories in the young village. This growth would last for afull century, fueled by the Round Oak Stove Company and other manufacturers in the city. Because of its manufacturing base, immigrants moved to Dowagiac, and the small city enjoyed strong business an...

Once heralded as the �Queen City of the Plains,� Alliance, Nebraska originated as a simple railroad junction called Grand Lake. Founded on true pioneer spirit in 1887, Alliance has grown from a farm and ranch community into a major retail center for Box Butte County. The Knight Museum showcases over 200 images in this new book, depicting the history and growth of Alliance during its 113-year history.Although there are many anonymous threads that make up the social fabric of Alliance, reade...

Uncover the history of Evansville, Wisconsin through vintage images in this pictorial history. The Evansville area was settled in 1839 and the village platted in 1855 on the hopes that the railroad would come through. It was named for Evansville's first physician, Dr. John M. Evans. When the railroad arrived in 1863, Evansville's prosperity was assured. There were many opportunities for growth in agriculture, manufacturing, and commerce. The Chicago and Northwestern Railroad offered passen...

Around Hornell tells the tale of western New York's "Maple City" and its neighbors, the rural towns of Canisteo, Dansville, Fremont, Hartsville, Hornellsville, and Howard. The region is set in the dramatic countryside between the Finger Lakes and the Appalachian Mountains, home to the deep gorges of Stony Brook State Park. Great arks floated down the Canisteo River to markets in Baltimore, and for more than a century, Hornell roared with round-the-clock work in the Erie Railroad shops. Hor...

Originally called Deer Creek, Roseburg was the creation of entrepreneur Aaron Rose. After becoming county seat for Douglas County in 1854, the city�s growth was assured. Roseburg became the bridge between the populated Willamette Valley and the mining districts of Southern Oregon. Situated in a panoramic valley created by the North and South Umpqua Rivers, Roseburg�s population increased dramatically over the next 155 years. In 1872, the Oregon and California Railroad arrived and the city ...

Lehigh County has transformed throughout the years and now is a far cry from its rural identity only 50 years ago. Today Lehigh County is known as an important link to the metropolitan areas of New York City and Philadelphia.

Since its opening in 1867, the Tunbridge World's Fair has drawn hundreds of thousands of people to its one-of-a-kind event, showcasing the best of regional agriculture and entertainment. The fair, originally intended to determine who owned the fastest horse or best-looking cow, began as an improvised event in farmer Elisha Lougee's North Tunbridge pasture and quickly grew into the complex it is today, with well-developed fairgrounds centered around a half-mile racetrack. During the 1929 fa...