The simple lifestyle once shared by many families on rural farmlands in Cordova is but a dream of yesteryear, as those days are long gone. Early settlers spread into the adjacent communities of Sanga, Bethany, Pisgah, Lenow, and Morning Sun, and children from these areas went to the original brick Cordova School. Families held social gatherings at the school and local churches. At one time, 92 percent of the fresh flowers sold in Memphis were grown in Cordova; thus the town's motto: "Farms, Flowers, Fellowship." Though it was eventually annexed by the City of Memphis, many historic homes and buildings still remain in the old town area in the heart of Cordova.

Located in the heart of Washington State, Kittitas County is a diverse and beautiful landscape, from the mountains, lakes, and forests in the west to the semiarid shrub-steppe with agricultural lands leading to the Columbia River in the east. When the settlers of Ellensburg sought to break away from Yakima County and establish their own county, they wanted to gain autonomy as well as increase the chances of the county seat, Ellensburg, becoming the state capital. The Washington Territorial Legislature established Kittitas County in 1883, and just a few years later, the arrival of the Northern Pacific Railroad quickly aided in the settling of the county. Soon, coal was discovered in northwestern Kittitas County, which provided a boom in settlement and the expansion of the upper county population. Today, Interstate 90, which follows an old Native American trail, brings people from the Seattle area into Kittitas County, much as the trial has for millennia.

Like many small towns, Oakboro experienced its development and growth because of the coming of the railroad. Called Five Roads for a time after the five intersecting trading paths, then Furr City after the store at the crossroads owned by C.C. Furr, the little community was the center of rural life. Oakboro and the surrounding area grew rapidly with the increase in rail commerce, and in 1915, the town was incorporated. Early landowners operated businesses and built stores, churches, and homes. Cotton gins, textile mills, roller mills, and lumber industries flourished soon afterward. Many of the original buildings were destroyed by fire or were demolished to make way for more modern structures, and few photographs from those early days remain. Oakboro preserves as much of the town's heritage as possible by showcasing its events and people in 20th-century photographs.

The Karoo is big sky country; a land of vast plains punctuated by flat-topped mountains, conical hills and secluded valleys, a land of scrubby bushes and hardy trees, where pioneers carved roads out of rock to set down roots in an unforgiving environment.

Here dreams are born, legends are made, and outcasts find sanctuary. It is also an ancient place, whose story is revealed through geology, fossils and artefacts, and whose human lineage predates any written history. Today, the people who inhabit it must manifest the same fortitude that sustained those who left their footprints in the primieval mud.

In Hidden Karoo you will find all this, and more. Through a series of superb photo-essays, this majestic place is revealed as a land where conservation and neglect are seldom far apart, where one town boasts splendidly restored buildings, while along a dusty road lie forgotten villages waiting for... something. Could it be a renewal, or a slow death? There’s nothing novel about the movement of people from country to city, and the Karoo mimics other parts of the world where rural areas become derelict as they are depopulated.

Hidden Karoo presents a snapshot of the region, offering a glimpse into towns and villages, farms and churches, public buildings and private homes, all against a backdrop of awe-inspiring landscapes. Through words and pictures, it prompts us to consider what was, what is and, perhaps, what might be. One constant about the Karoo is change. A book can do no more than capture a moment in time or depict fragments of a place, but in doing so, it bears witness to the past and offers the hope that there may yet be a future for this unparalleled part of our country.

The High Ridge in Lake County is a timber wilderness with roaming cattle that was forever changed in 1916 when 40-year-old William John Howey arrived. At age 16, Howey left the family farm in Odin, Illinois, to sell insurance, automobiles, railroad lands, and pineapples. His greatest lifetime achievements were creating the world's largest citrus empire and founding the "City Inevitable." He pitched Tent City in 1918 where the Bougainvillea Hotel, then the Floridan Hotel, once stood to house thousands of investors arriving by automobile, train, and steamboat. When the town was incorporated in 1925, half a million trees were maturing, and profits were ripe for the picking. In 1927, the Howey mansion and wooden bridge completions were celebrated with an open-air opera. Howey's accomplishments surpassed his dreams, with a few exceptions: the 15-story city hall and failed attempts at becoming governor. The Securities Exchange Act of 1933 ignited his downfall. When Howey died in 1938, the groundwork had been laid for those who followed.

By 1833, when Warren County was officially created by the State of Missouri, its pages of history were already filled with the lives of famous people. It would become the final resting place of American pioneer and trailblazer Daniel Boone after the Spanish government promised him land in return for bringing settlers. In 1804, when Lewis and Clark and their corps visited, it was the last settlement of whites in the newly purchased Louisiana Territory. This led German-born writer Gottfried Duden to come and see what made this area so appealing to the American pioneers. He returned to his homeland and in 1829 published A Report on a Journey to the Western States of North America, filled with glowing descriptions of a promised land. His book opened the floodgates of German immigrants coming to this nation in the 1830s, and by 1850 nine out of ten residents were German born or of German descent--the largest concentration of German Americans in the state.

In the fall of 1859, Agrippa Cooper made camp with five other families at Brower Springs in the Cache Valley. The following autumn brought 20 more families to the area--including John Bair, William H. Lewis, Francis Stewart, and Robert D. Petty, and thus the town of Richmond began to grow. It is a common belief that Richmond was named in honor of Charles C. Rich, an LDS Church apostle. Throughout the early 1900s, Richmond thrived as a hub of commerce and industry, with the population reaching almost 5,000. Today, Richmond takes pride in its agricultural roots and celebrates the longest-running Holstein dairy show west of the Mississippi River with the Black and White Days.

Bull Creek Valley was traditionally a hunting ground and, possibly, a temporary settlement for ancestors of the Cherokee. Before the turn of the 19th century, however, it became known as Riceville after the first white settler, Joseph Marion Rice, and his wife, Margaret, built the area's first homestead. Rice, well known for allegedly shooting the area's last buffalo in 1799, put Riceville on the map by opening a stock stand for drovers bringing their animals over the mountain to sell in South Carolina markets. After Rice arrived, more families began to settle in this beautiful valley; their names describe current locations, such as Jones Cove, Shope Creek, Dillingham Circle, Reed Road, and Parker Road. Riceville soon became the center of a thriving community with two schools, several churches, a handful of stores, and two post offices. Today, Riceville is known for its natural beauty--large rolling expanses of farmland and undeveloped tracts of forest.

In the early 1960s, architect and visionary Clarence Kettler and his brothers, Milton and Charles, dreamed of building a unique new town modeled after a European planned community. This town would be family oriented and would emphasize recreation with open space and a sense of community. With careful planning, their vision, which included schools, places of worship, a golf course, shopping areas, and recreational amenities, was realized--Montgomery Village. Over time, as the Village grew, farms were replaced by well-manicured residential areas and mature trees. Each community adheres to architectural standards and community covenants set by the developers to help maintain continuity and home values. Today, more than 40,000 people call Montgomery Village home. Montgomery Village takes pride in its active volunteers, parks, and recreational facilities and its commitment to maintain and enhance the natural environment and coexist with our many species of wildlife. Though no longer a new town, the Village continues to serve as an admirable and viable model for communities everywhere. The year 2011 marks Montgomery Village's 45th anniversary.

The villages of Elmore and Genoa have held a friendly rivalry since the 1860s. Though each has made its own name in Ottawa County, Ohio, both share a rich heritage that instills small-town curiosities with a strong sense of community pride. Elmore is known as being the home of Schedel's Arboretum and Gardens, the headless motorcyclist ghost, the Elmore car, and professional softball pitcher Carl "Sox" Wainwright. Not to be outdone, Genoa, one of the major producers of white lime in the country, showcases world-renown artist Jan Pugh and National Register of Historic Places sites such as the Genoa Town Hall and the Old School Privy. Both area histories have boasted pioneers that tamed the Black Swamp, prosperous businesses, major transportation centers, and stories of overcoming personal tragedies. Elmore and Genoa takes readers back to a time that was simpler to see two villages grow into places where the past can come alive through the actions and memories of its people.

Well known for its oil and gas production, Kermit was originally founded by ranchers needing a supply hub in an isolated area of West Texas. An 1876 campaign by Col. Ranald S. Mackenzie helped rid the area of Comanche Indians, and prompted by the state's policy for free use of its land, ranchers quickly moved in. This population growth resulted in the establishment of Winkler County in 1887. Competition between nearby towns for the title of county seat lasted until 1910, when Kermit's offer of free lots won it the designation. Though the town later experienced a drought, which severely crippled the population, the discovery of oil on ranchland owned by Thomas G. and Ada Hendrick in 1926 helped the town boom. Today Kermit's economy is sustained by ranching and oil and gas production.

This is a book that takes the reader on a detailed tour of many of the shores of Britain and Ireland and explains the reasons for their remarkably different scenery. Why, for example, do the rocky coastlines of Western Scotland and Ireland contrast so markedly with the sandy beaches of East Anglia? It describes how the complex coastline of North Wales evolved over some seven million years and also traces the ways in which the human impact has changed all our coastlines from prehistoric times to the present day. Crumbling cliffs, stark headlands, coral beaches, shingle spits, sand dunes and salt marshes - all are here, as are stories of Gaelic speakers, fisherman's tales, saints and shipwrecks. One of the book's most distinctive features tells how the author took part in one of the National Trust's most successful initiatives, termed Enterprise Neptune; how it was conceived and how it has led to the acquisition of more than 775 miles of shoreline to be conserved for the nation in perpetuity. The book also explores how famous artists, writers, poets and composers have been inspired by coastal scenery to produce some of their most important works. And what does the future hold? What changes can we expect along our shores? The concluding chapters examine the escalating threats resulting from increasing human occupation and development and from the impact of climate change. They outline some of the ways in which the National Trust is responding to these challenges and how it is planning to manage our coastal environment for many years to come.

Krum is one of the crown jewels of North Texas. Located north of Fort Worth and just west of Denton, Krum was once famous for an award-winning strain of wheat. The town even established three grain mills to accommodate wheat production. Over a million pounds of grain were shipped in 1900, when Krum was known as the largest wagon grain market in the United States. The town now serves northwest Denton County as a center for agricultural, financial, and emergency services, with its citizens as Krum's major asset. Descendants of many of the original settlers are still here by preference and are proud to tell the world they live in Krum. Why go anywhere else?

Located 25 miles south of Toledo, North Baltimore and its neighboring communities have seen dramatic changes since being settled in the 1830s. Pioneers labored to establish small farms and villages in the midst of what was then the Black Swamp, gradually achieving modest but precarious success. Then, in the 1880s, oil was discovered. The area flourished, attracting speculators, turning farmers into millionaires, and transforming quiet villages into rough-and-tumble boomtowns. It was a colorful period that also brought large homes, imposing commercial buildings, and grand town halls. However, by 1915, the oil field was depleted, and North Baltimore and its neighbors returned to their existence as quiet towns. Since then, many of the beautiful old buildings have disappeared, obscuring evidence of the area's dynamic history. With over 200 pictures, many from private collections, North Baltimore and Its Neighbors helps ensure that this history will not be forgotten.

Westerly is a stunning coastal community located in Rhode Island's southwest corner. It is rich in history, being the first town incorporated in the King's Province and the fifth town in the colony. These pages offer a glimpse of everyday life in old Westerly as well as amusing mishaps and historical events that have been hidden until now. Many colonial patriots, such as Benjamin Franklin, left their footprints upon the sandy soil of this tranquil place. Westerly also abounds with commercial heritage, such as the shipbuilding industry on the banks of the Pawcatuck River and the granite industry, which made Westerly famous. In addition this volume captures the tragic events that touched the majestic shores and strong citizens of Westerly.

The ever-changing face of Watertown is captured in this fascinating collection of postcard images dating from the early 1900s to the present. The postcards in this book come primarily from the extensive collection of W. F. Jannke III. He has presented an entertaining history of the city, from the changing face of its business district to the different forms of recreation once enjoyed by its inhabitants. Other images highlight scenes of calamitous events, most notably the 1914 cyclone. All will find this work to be a most engaging guide to the way life was lived in Watertown in "the good old days."

In the early stages of Wisconsin's statehood, Vermonters settled in an area in east-central Wisconsin. Poy Sippi is a fine example of the pioneers' thirst for adventure, exploration, and hard work ethic. The lakes, creeks, and swamps did not impede this thirst. A small town nestled between two hills, Poy Sippi reminded the settlers of their eastern homes. The interaction of families within the neighboring communities brought about strong bonds and the development of eastern Waushara County. This is their story, told through vintage photographs.

South of the Finger Lakes, where four rivers converge, the Lands of the Painted Post have served people as both a thoroughfare and a gathering place for millennia. This region's location within a passageway through the hills, its navigable water routes, and its tremendous potential for mill sites and agriculture rendered Painted Post a favored site for human settlement. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Painted Post experienced unprecedented cultural, social, and economic change. That history is vividly illustrated in Painted Post.

When settler George M. Johnson arrived in the area now known as Wayne, Michigan, in 1824, he may have only imagined that the site of his log cabin would later become home to a bustling, thriving, progressive city. Incorporated as the Village of Wayne in 1869 and the City of Wayne in 1960, its growth was heavily influenced by the development of railroads and the Chicago Turnpike, and it has evolved into a prosperous and multi-ethnic community. Through a collection of rare photographs drawn from the Wayne Historical Museum, author Valerie Latzman takes readers on a visual tour of Wayne's history, exploring the community's agricultural, industrial, commercial, and social origins. Discover the influential places, people, and events that have contributed to Wayne's unique heritage.

An adaptation of the famous poem about a Christmas Eve visitor, set in Ireland.

From the 1890s through the 1920s, the postcard was an extraordinarily popular means of communication, and many of the postcards produced during this agolden agea can today be considered works of art. Postcard photographers traveled the length and breadth of the nation snapping photographs of busy street scenes, documenting local landmarks, and assembling crowds of local children only too happy to pose for a picture. These images, printed as postcards and sold in general stores across the country, survive as telling reminders of an important era in Americaas history. This fascinating new history of Carroll and Boone Counties showcases
more than two hundred of the best vintage postcards available.

Part One This book is based on the true story of Jesse Fredrick Warren a 24 year old French Polisher by trade who was living in Bethnal Green, East London with his wife Amelia and their two young daughters Elizabeth and Beatrice. The start of the Great War in 1914 brought with it an end to regular employment and the beginning of great hardships for Jesse and his young family. By the February of 1915 they were destitute and starving. There was no money for food, gas or coal. Like so many other young men who found themselves in the same situation, there was only one option open to him: without telling his wife he signed on and volunteered for Kitchener's Army. It was not for King and Country that he joined up but to put food on the table for his wife and children. For this he was taken to France where he walked through the gates of hell. Part Two This is the continuing story of Jesse and Amelia Warren now living in Walthamstow, East London from the end of the Great War which against all odds he survived, until their deaths many years later...but firstly it takes the reader back to the meeting of a young couple who were to survive many hardships including two World Wars. It tells of their family, the good times they shared together and the bad times but also it tells of many hilarious moments that will certainly make the reader smile.