Local History

Granny Clampett, on the TV sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies, described the War Between the States as "when the Yankees invaded America" and, indeed, it was! Their invasion of America, however, goes back much farther than the conflict of 1861-1865. It began as soon as they dropped their anchor in Plymouth Bay. Since that time, they have meddled, cheated, and lied their way into every nook and cranny of American life.

Carson's full-scale treatment of American history combines scholarly exactness with evocative passages that lead the listener to a clearer understanding of the people and events, the triumphs and the shortcomings, which have shaped this nation. Starting with the "filling out" of the West, this fourth volume goes beyond the standard historical facts and events of these formative 50 years of American history.

In The Other Side of the River, his eagerly awaited new book, Kotlowitz takes us to southern Michigan. Here, separated by the St. Joseph River, are two towns, St. Joseph and Benton Harbor. Geographically close, they are worlds apart, a living metaphor for America's racial divisions: St. Joseph is a prosperous lakeshore community and 95 percent white, while Benton Harbor is impoverished and 92 percent black. When the body of a black teenaged boy from Benton Harbor is found in the river, unhealed wounds and suspicions between the two towns' populations surface as well.

Dear Traveler, Welcome to the WanderStories™ tour of the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. We, at WanderStories™, are storytellers. We don’t tell you where to eat or sleep, we don’t intend to replace a typical travel reference guide. Our mission is to be the best local guide that you would wish to have by your side when visiting the sights. So, we meet you at the sight and take you on a tour. WanderStories™ travel guides are unique because our storytelling style puts you alongside the best local guide who tells you fascinating stories and unusual facts recreating the passion and sacrifice...

The story of John Robert Mortimer (1825-1911) encompasses both the beginnings of archaeology as a scientific study and the details of a life lived entirely in one small corner of the East Riding of Yorkshire. During the second half of the nineteenth century archaeology made the transition from antiquarian pursuit to fledgling academic discipline. Mortimer, a corn merchant from Driffield, was of central importance, laying many of the foundations on which the subject came to be built. He devoted most of his adult life to the systematic and careful examination of large numbers of prehistoric ...

Dear Traveler, Welcome to the WanderStories™ guide to Chinese cuisine and table manners. We will tell you about the eight main schools of Chinese cookery, the delicious Peking duck, about eating out and table manners, and finally about the Chinese custom of tea drinking. We, at WanderStories™, are storytellers. We don’t tell you where to eat or sleep, we don’t intend to replace a typical travel reference guide. Our mission is to be the best local guide that you would wish to have by your side when visiting the sights. So, we meet you at the sight and take you on a tour. ...

In 1631, when the Dutch tried to develop plantation agriculture in the Delaware Valley, the Lenape Indians destroyed the colony of Swanendael and killed its residents. The natives and Dutch quickly negotiated peace, avoiding an extended war through diplomacy and trade. The Lenapes preserved their political sovereignty for the next 50 years as Dutch, Swedish, Finnish, and English colonists settled the Delaware Valley.

Yorkshire in the Civil Wars is more than a history of the momentous events of the English Civil Wars as they affected Yorkshire but also a detailed and enthralling account of the economic and social impact of the conflict on England’s largest county. Jack Binns was born in Keighley in the West Riding of Yorkshire and educated at the local grammar school and at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge. Before taking early retirement in 1992, he taught history at Scarborough Sixth Form College. He is the author of many published articles on local history, particularly in the seventeenth century. ...

William Elliott Hazelgrove provides the exciting and sprawling history behind the 1933 World's Fair, the last of the golden age. He reveals the story of the six millionaire businessmen, dubbed The Secret Six, who beat Al Capone at his own game, ending the gangster era as prohibition was repealed. The story of an intriguing woman, Sally Rand, who embodied the World's Fair with her own rags to riches story and brought sex into the open.

Black Eden chronicles the history of Idlewild, a Michigan black community founded during the aftermath of the Civil War. As one of the nation’s most popular black resorts, Idlewild functioned as a gathering place for African Americans, and more importantly, as a touchstone of black identity and culture. Benjamin C. Wilson and Lewis Walker examine Idlewild’s significance within a historical context, as well as the town’s revitalization efforts and the need for comprehensive planning in future development.

Embark on a fascinating exploration of time and history with our new eBook, "Unearthing the Past." This compelling guide will take you deep into the roots of genealogy intertwined with the untold tales of local history. "Unearthing the Past" serves as a welcoming gateway for anyone delving into the intriguing world of local history and genealogy. The first chapter warms up your curiosity, setting a solid introduction to local history and genealogy, driving home the intrinsic connection between the two. Finding your bearings, chapters two and three equip you with the necessary compass for ...

There were, Peter Thompson notes, some 150 synonyms for inebriation in common use in colonial Philadelphia and, on the eve of the Revolution, just as many licensed drinking establishments. Clearly, 18th-century Philadelphians were drawn to the tavern. In addition to the obvious lure of the liquor, taverns offered overnight accommodations, meals, and stabling for visitors. They also served as places to gossip, gamble, find work, make trades, and gather news.

From the Lowcountry's first recorded duel to old-fashioned summers at the "hottest spot in town," this book will captivate you with stories of people, events, and places that have all but vanished from memory. Find out the real history behind some of Charleston's beloved mansions and learn about the early plantations and their owners. Join the authors as they relate the riots and romance, the preservation and politics—and even a ghost story—from Charleston's hidden history.

During the bitter winter of 1786-87, Daniel Shays, a modest farmer and Revolutionary War veteran, and his compatriot Luke Day led an unsuccessful armed rebellion against the state of Massachusetts. Their desperate struggle was fueled by the injustice of a regressive tax system and a conservative state government that seemed no better than British colonial rule.

From the Tampa Bay area to Naples and the Everglades, this guide covers all of Florida's coastal cities, towns, nature preserves, wilderness areas, and beaches on the state's western shore. Information on watersports is given, plus details on eco-treks into gator territory, hot air balloon rides, airboat excursions, biking trails, cycling routes, and historic walking tours.

Author Thomas Healy resurrects a forgotten saga of race, capitalism, and the struggle for equality in this fascinating, forgotten story of the 1970s attempt to build a city dedicated to racial equality in the heart of “Klan Country”.

On December 9, 2001, Kathleen Peterson was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in her Durham, NC home. Her scalp was laced with deep incisions, and her blood was strewn from outside to inside the house. The sinister truth of that night turned her murder into North Carolina's most enigmatic criminal case, capturing media attention across the globe.

We all know of Theodore Roosevelt being the US president from 1901 to 1909, an American politician, statesman, soldier, conservationist, and naturalist. BUT few know of him being an acclaimed historian. Roosevelt’s The Winning of the West quickly became a bestseller. The first edition of his book sold out in little more than a month and helped establish Roosevelt as a literary man and scholar, placing him on a path toward future greatness.

People are often surprised when they learn of the worldwide adventures of Michael J. Hawron Not just because of the extent of his travels or the remarkable experiences he’s had, but because he’s made a life with his family in the small town of New Boston, Texas. Putting down roots in a town thousands of miles away from the people you know can be as harrowing as immigrating to an entirely new country, but the right house, in the right town, with the right people can make all the difference in the world. ˃˃˃ After settling in New Boston during an unplanned detour, Hawron has learned ...

On a cold winter night in 1928, three deputies are sent to arrest a man they know little about. They don’t know he’s on the run from a string of dark acts that stretch for 15,000 miles or why he’s shown up in the middle of Idaho. They don’t know that a far-off court has charged him with lunacy. They just know they need to arrest him. This gripping chronicle—filled with more than a dozen murders—twists and turns like a dust devil on a hot July day.