Ralph Ely, founder of Alma, selected 10 acres of old forest on the bank of the Pine River in 1853. In this central-Michigan wilderness, he built a log cabin, a log store, and two steam-powered mills�a sawmill and a gristmill. At first, his growing settlement was called Elyton, but within a few years, it was renamed Alma, memorializing a battle in the Crimean War. Alma was energized by the acquisition of millionaire lumberman and entrepreneur Ammi W. Wright, who poured his resources into th...

The rich heritage of descendants of English, Dutch, and German settlers in the Hunterdon County population centers of Clinton, Flemington, and Lambertville is presented here. Life among the rolling hills of northwest New Jersey and in the three small towns that became centers of that area's population has been faithfully recorded by residents since the Civil War, capturing the rural character of their landscape.

Elgin was named by a city founder, James T. Gifford, after his favorite hymn. The city shares its name with 20 cities in 15 states and 8 countries. Elgin is situated on the banks of the Fox River, 35 milesnorthwest of Chicago, the city with which Elgin had thriving business exchanges in agricultural and industrial goods. The city�s world-wide fame, for the most part, has come from its watch factory and Mr. Gail Borden�s milk company. Pianos, shoes, books, and even chewing gum were also man...

New Paltz was established in 1678 by a small group of Huguenot refugees and their families. These pioneers settled into the fertile Wallkill River Valley with the majestic Hudson River to the east and the Shawangunk Mountains defining the western border. These families endured what today would be insurmountable odds, yet for generations they survived and constantly improved their quality of life. The homesteads of these patentee families still stand along historic Huguenot Street and are t...

In 1837, Henry Janes applied for a post office called Black Hawk for the southern Wisconsin settlement where he ran a ferry across the Rock River. The postmaster general, however, noticed a town already by that name in the Iowa part of Wisconsin Territory, and he assigned the name Janesville, with Janes as postmaster. Two years later, Janes moved his family west, but the community grew to become the Rock County seat, and by 1860 it was Wisconsin's second-largest city. Today more than 62,00...

Join author and historian Terry Ruscin as he reveals Henderson County's forgotten yet colorful history complete with its own cast of characters and historic landmarks. Who composed a blockbuster opera a few miles from downtown Hendersonville? Who were the record-setting McCrary twins, and why were they famous? These questions and many more are answered in this exciting volume of obscured history. From James Brown's 1950s performance on Hendersonville's Main Street to the rumors of illegal ...

Named for Daniel Nelson, who arrived with his family in 1814, Nelsonville grew to become a boomtown by the mid-1800s. Coal mines and brick factories were its major employers, and the town attracted emigrant workers from England. Two major routes, the Hocking Canal and Hocking Valley Railroad, not only provided transportation for the area but also a means to export coal. The canal suffered attacks by Gen. John Hunt Morgan and his Confederate cavalry during the Civil War and was ultimately d...

Located in southeast Oakland County, the area now known as Clawson was first settled in the 1820s. Farming was the primary industry during the first 100 years, but in the 1920s, Clawson began to develop into a "bedroom" community within the 2.2 miles that now comprise the city limits. Through a large collection of photographs from the Clawson Historical Museum, Images of America: Clawson documents the people, places, and events that have contributed to Clawson's rich heritage. Join author ...

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...

In 1969, in the Anthracite Coal Region of Northeastern Pennsylvania, the Dickson City, Olyphant, and Throop school districts merged to become the Mid-Valley School District. Soon afterward, plans were made to build the new Mid-Valley Junior-Senior High School. The plans were put on hold indefinitely. In 1977, the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry condemned the elementary schools in Olyphant and Dickson City and ordered them closed. Some residents wanted a new school built; othe...

Nestled in the midst of the Mid-Ohio Valley along the Ohio River, Wood County exists as one of West Virginia's most populous areas. A unique history drives forward the county's diverse communities, and today's residents enjoy a varied palette of opportunities offered by both metropolitan centers and smaller, more rural hamlets. Wood County, West Virginia honors an integral chapter of The Mountain State's storied past, offering readers the opportunity to meet a variety of the county's perso...

Geneva Lake camps provided education, activities, spirituality, and community in a healthy environment away from the city. The first sites were located on the western shores of Geneva Lake, with Camp Collie established in 1874; seventeen more followed. Although most camps were spiritually based, they differed in what they offered and who they served. People attending the camps came from all income levels and many cultures. Adult- and family-oriented camps provided a setting for vacations o...