15+ [Must Read] Popular Books On Local History

Lost Cleveland is an engrossing excursion into the city's rarefied architectural air during its heyday as the sixth-largest city in the country. Author Michael DeAloia recounts the histories of seven culturally significant and iconic architectural gems that defined Cleveland's position of wealth and importance during the industrial age. Inspired by noble visions of Clevela Lost Cleveland is an engrossing excursion into the city's rarefied architectural air during its heyday as the sixth-largest city in the country. Author Michael DeAloia recounts the histories of seven culturally significant and iconic architectural gems that defined Cleveland's position of wealth and importance during the industrial age. Inspired by noble visions of Cleveland's most elite residents, these structures reflect the vigor and imagination that suffused city leaders. From Severance Hall, still home to the C ... [Read More]

"Morbidly fascinating and wickedly entertaining." -- The Plain Dealer The second volume in Bellamy's popular series includes 13 more incredible true stories of Cleveland crime and disaster, including . . . - Martha Wise, Medina's not-so-merry widow, who poisoned a dozen relatives with arsenic--including her own husband, mother, brother, niece, and nephews--because she enjoye "Morbidly fascinating and wickedly entertaining." -- The Plain Dealer The second volume in Bellamy's popular series includes 13 more incredible true stories of Cleveland crime and disaster, including . . . - Martha Wise, Medina's not-so-merry widow, who poisoned a dozen relatives with arsenic--including her own husband, mother, brother, niece, and nephews--because she enjoyed attending funerals; - The legendary Torso Murders, which baffled Cleveland safety directory Eliot Ness, two Cuyahoga County c ... [Read More]

In rich first-person narrative, Dogtown tells the strange, dark story of a wilderness ghost town that has enthralled artists, writers, and eccentrics—and of a brutal murder committed there. Documenting its history and lore, East explores the possibility that certain landscapes wield their own unique power. The area known as Dogtown—an isolated colonial ruin and the surrou In rich first-person narrative, Dogtown tells the strange, dark story of a wilderness ghost town that has enthralled artists, writers, and eccentrics—and of a brutal murder committed there. Documenting its history and lore, East explores the possibility that certain landscapes wield their own unique power. The area known as Dogtown—an isolated colonial ruin and the surrounding 3,600-acre woodland in historic seaside Gloucester, Massachusetts—has always exerted a powerful influence over artists, w ... [Read More]

Eloise, which started out as a poorhouse, later became known as Wayne County General Hospital. From only 35 residents on 280 acres in 1839, the complex grew dramatically after the Civil War until the total land involved was 902 acres and the total number of patients was about 10,000. Today, all that remains are five buildings and a smokestack. Only one of them, the Kay Bea Eloise, which started out as a poorhouse, later became known as Wayne County General Hospital. From only 35 residents on 280 acres in 1839, the complex grew dramatically after the Civil War until the total land involved was 902 acres and the total number of patients was about 10,000. Today, all that remains are five buildings and a smokestack. Only one of them, the Kay Beard Building, is currently used.In Eloise: Poorhouse, Farm, Asylum, and Hospital, 1839-1984, this institution and medical center that cared for tho ... [Read More]

Originating as simple one- or two-room storefront operations, Cleveland's department stores grew as population and industry in the region boomed throughout the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th. They moved into ever larger and elaborate structures in an attempt to woo the shopping dollars of blue-collar and genteel Clevelanders alike. Stores such as Halle's, Originating as simple one- or two-room storefront operations, Cleveland's department stores grew as population and industry in the region boomed throughout the late 19th century and the first half of the 20th. They moved into ever larger and elaborate structures in an attempt to woo the shopping dollars of blue-collar and genteel Clevelanders alike. Stores such as Halle's, Higbee's, May Company, Bailey Company, Sterling-Lindner-Davis, and others both competed with and complemented one another, all the while leaving ... [Read More]

The Schuylkill River got its name, meaning "hidden river," from Dutch settlers who discovered its mouth sequestered behind the Delaware River's League Island. It later became a river of revolutions. Along its banks Revolutionary War battles were fought, and George Washington's army famously camped at Valley Forge. Later the river helped fuel the Industrial Revolution with The Schuylkill River got its name, meaning "hidden river," from Dutch settlers who discovered its mouth sequestered behind the Delaware River's League Island. It later became a river of revolutions. Along its banks Revolutionary War battles were fought, and George Washington's army famously camped at Valley Forge. Later the river helped fuel the Industrial Revolution with coal from Schuylkill County shipped to Philadelphia via the Schuylkill Canal. The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad began here and grew into the la ... [Read More]

If fresh water is to be treasured, the Great Lakes are the mother lode. No bodies of water can compare to them. One of them, Superior, is the largest lake on earth, and the five lakes together contain a fifth of the world's supply of standing fresh water. Their ten thousand miles of shoreline bound eight states and a Canadian province and are longer than the entire Atlanti If fresh water is to be treasured, the Great Lakes are the mother lode. No bodies of water can compare to them. One of them, Superior, is the largest lake on earth, and the five lakes together contain a fifth of the world's supply of standing fresh water. Their ten thousand miles of shoreline bound eight states and a Canadian province and are longer than the entire Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the United States. Their surface area of 95,000 square miles is greater than New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachuse ... [Read More]

In the days following the Battle of Birch Coulie, the decisive battle in the deadly Dakota War of 1862, one of President Lincoln’s private secretaries wrote: “There has hardly been an outbreak so treacherous, so sudden, so bitter, and so bloody, as that which filled the State of Minnesota with sorrow and lamentation.” Even today, at the 150th anniversary of the Dakota War, In the days following the Battle of Birch Coulie, the decisive battle in the deadly Dakota War of 1862, one of President Lincoln’s private secretaries wrote: “There has hardly been an outbreak so treacherous, so sudden, so bitter, and so bloody, as that which filled the State of Minnesota with sorrow and lamentation.” Even today, at the 150th anniversary of the Dakota War, the battle still raises questions and stirs controversy. In Birch Coulie John Christgau recounts the dramatic events surrounding the ... [Read More]

Mississauga is Canada's sixth largest city and its largest suburban municipality. Toronto's upstart western neighbour, with its multicultural population of more than 700,000, is a place not only of endless subdivisions and monotonous industrial parks, wide thoroughfares, and even wider expressways, but also of some distinctive older communities, notable lakefront and river Mississauga is Canada's sixth largest city and its largest suburban municipality. Toronto's upstart western neighbour, with its multicultural population of more than 700,000, is a place not only of endless subdivisions and monotonous industrial parks, wide thoroughfares, and even wider expressways, but also of some distinctive older communities, notable lakefront and riverside parks, and occasionally bold architecture. Hazel McCallion, Mississauga's octogenarian mayor, is a national celebrity and a municipal icon. H ... [Read More]

Located in the lower northeast section of Philadelphia, Frankford was first settled by Swedish immigrants in the mid-seventeenth century, and it rivaled Philadelphia itself in notoriety. At one time, Frankford was considered one of the most thriving manufacturing areas in the state. Built along the banks of Frankford Creek, which flows into the Delaware River, Frankford gr Located in the lower northeast section of Philadelphia, Frankford was first settled by Swedish immigrants in the mid-seventeenth century, and it rivaled Philadelphia itself in notoriety. At one time, Frankford was considered one of the most thriving manufacturing areas in the state. Built along the banks of Frankford Creek, which flows into the Delaware River, Frankford grew for centuries and witnessed many of America's historical events and people. In 1854, it became a part of the city of Philadelphia. Frankford wa ... [Read More]

In the early part of the twentieth century, as traditional communities in Philadelphia that had been swallowed up by the Consolation Act of 1854 grew more dense, an area known as Northeast Philadelphia came into its own. Development of Roosevelt Boulevard, the Market-Frankford Elevated Railway, and the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge facilitated access to large swaths of undeveloped In the early part of the twentieth century, as traditional communities in Philadelphia that had been swallowed up by the Consolation Act of 1854 grew more dense, an area known as Northeast Philadelphia came into its own. Development of Roosevelt Boulevard, the Market-Frankford Elevated Railway, and the Tacony-Palmyra Bridge facilitated access to large swaths of undeveloped land. Lower Northeast Philadelphia focuses on the area following the path of the Delaware River north to the city limits at the Poquessing Creek ... [Read More]

Cleveland's Lake View Cemetery reveals the profound effects the cemetery and the City of Cleveland had on one another. Founded in 1869, this garden cemetery served as an escape and a model for Cleveland parks and suburbs, such as University Circle, Little Italy, East Cleveland, and Cleveland Heights. Lake View is home to cultural, economic, and political leaders and thousa Cleveland's Lake View Cemetery reveals the profound effects the cemetery and the City of Cleveland had on one another. Founded in 1869, this garden cemetery served as an escape and a model for Cleveland parks and suburbs, such as University Circle, Little Italy, East Cleveland, and Cleveland Heights. Lake View is home to cultural, economic, and political leaders and thousands of others from all classes, races, and religions. This rich diversity is manifested in the natural and man-made landscape, which features the ... [Read More]

On November 11, 1994 in Philadelphia, sixteen-year-old Eddie Polec was brutally beaten to death on the front steps of his own church. What became one of the most infamous crimes in the city's history generated worldwide headlines, due to the fact that dozens of frantic calls for help to 911 operators went unanswered.Written with the full cooperation of the Polec family, In On November 11, 1994 in Philadelphia, sixteen-year-old Eddie Polec was brutally beaten to death on the front steps of his own church. What became one of the most infamous crimes in the city's history generated worldwide headlines, due to the fact that dozens of frantic calls for help to 911 operators went unanswered.Written with the full cooperation of the Polec family, In Eddie's Name is about a seemingly ordinary father, his family, and their struggle to overcome this extraordinary tragedy. Rather than seek reveng ... [Read More]

California has always been our Shangri-la–the promised land of countless pilgrims in search of the American Dream. Now the Golden State’s premier historian, Kevin Starr, distills the entire sweep of California’s history into one splendid volume. From the age of exploration to the age of Arnold, this is the story of a place at once quintessentially American and utterly uniq California has always been our Shangri-la–the promised land of countless pilgrims in search of the American Dream. Now the Golden State’s premier historian, Kevin Starr, distills the entire sweep of California’s history into one splendid volume. From the age of exploration to the age of Arnold, this is the story of a place at once quintessentially American and utterly unique. Arguing that America’s most populous state has always been blessed with both spectacular natural beauty and astonishing human ... [Read More]

The foulest crimes and worst disasters in Cleveland history are recounted in these 15 incredible-but-true tales. Each no-holds-barred account delves into one of this city's most notorious moments, from the 1916 waterworks collapse to the Cleveland Clinic fire to the sensational Sam Sheppard murder trial. The gripping narratives deliver high drama and dark comedy, heroes an The foulest crimes and worst disasters in Cleveland history are recounted in these 15 incredible-but-true tales. Each no-holds-barred account delves into one of this city's most notorious moments, from the 1916 waterworks collapse to the Cleveland Clinic fire to the sensational Sam Sheppard murder trial. The gripping narratives deliver high drama and dark comedy, heroes and villains, obsession, courage, treachery, deceit, fear, and guilt--all from the streets of Cleveland. ...more ... [Read More]