Books in series
#2
Lost Ski Areas of Southern California
2012
The snow-laden slopes of the San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains have beckoned Southland skiers since the 1930s. Many once-cherished ski areas have disappeared, yet their history remains. A short drive from the sun and sand, places like Rebel Ridge and Kratka Ridge offered snowy escapes. Thrilling races were held at the First International Pine Needle Ski Tournament in North Hollywood, while the San Diego Ski Club boasted Dorothy McClung Wullich, the first female member of the National Ski Patrol. Ingrid Wicken, ski historian and founder of the California Ski Library, chronicles Southern California's lost mountain getaways and the vanished ski areas that introduced everything from rope tows to artificial snow.
#4
Lost Capitals of Alabama
2014
Explore the history of the lost state capitals of Alabama.
#6
Lost Sandusky
2015
SANDUSKY BUILT ITS REPUTATION on the appeal of a picturesque lakefront and the opportunities of a manufacturing hub. Not only did its factories keep pace with the transportation industry, but the Ohio city also boasted the headquarters of international paper maker Hinde and Dauch and enough crayon production to be called the "Color Capital of the World." The amusement park at Cedar Point helped launch a new form of entertainment that continues today. But while the town remains a vacation destination and retains some heavy industry, it misses much of its former glory. Join M. Kristina Smith in revisiting those landmarks of Sandusky's past.
#7
Lost Fort Ellis
A Frontier History of Bozeman
2015
Established in 1867 in the Gallatin Valley of Montana, Fort Ellis played a key role in the development of the Montana frontier. From post commanders attacking the town to restoring order when riotous mobs got out of control, explore the ambivalent, albeit contentious, relationship from 1867 to 1886 between the civilians and soldiers in whimsical but dramatic fashion. Competing visions of economic and military conditions on the frontier led to a complex relationship that has all the drama of a Hollywood western. Join MSU-Billings history professor Dr. Thomas C. Rust as he examines the fort's impact on the social and economic development of early Bozeman, the problems of military command and the dynamics of the soldier-civilian interaction on Montana's frontier.
#10
Lost Towns of Eastern Michigan
2015
Many of eastern Michigan's old boomtowns and sleepy villages are faded memories. Nature reclaimed the ruins of some while progress paved over the rest. Discover the stories of lost communities hidden in plain sight or just off the beaten track. The vanished religious colony of Ora Labora fell into a state of near-constant inebriation when beer became the only safe liquid to drink. Lake St. Clair swallowed up the unique currency of Belividere along with the place that issued it. Abandoned towns still crumble within Detroit's city limits. Alan Naldrett delves into the fascinating history of eastern Michigan's lost settlements.
#11
Lost Ski Areas of Southern Vermont
2010
Jeremy Davis of the New England Lost Ski Areas Project brings lost locations back to life, chronicling their rich histories and contributions to the ski industry.
Hidden amongst the hills and mountains of southern Vermont are the remnants of sixty former ski areas, their slopes returning to forest and their lifts decaying. Today, only fourteen remain open and active in southern Vermont. Though they offer some incredible skiing, most lack the intimate, local feel of these lost ski trails. Jeremy Davis, creator of the New England Lost Ski Areas Project, looks into the over-investment, local competition, weather variation, changing skier habits, insurance costs and just plain bad luck that caused these ski areas to succumb and melt back into the landscape. From the family-operated Hogback in Windham County to Clinton Gilbert's farm in Woodstock, where the very first rope tow began operation in the winter of 1934, these once popular ski areas left an indelible trace on the hearts of their ski communities and the history of southern Vermont.
#12
North Williston
: Down Depot Hill
2011
Today there is a tranquil section of Williston, Vermont known as North Williston. But it wasn't always that way; at one time it was a thriving village in its own right. North Williston gained importance coinciding with the predominance of the railroad, from the late 1800s and early 1900s. The trains brought passengers, freight, and mail to Williston. Numerous industries sprang up close to the tracks. With the decline of the importance of the railroad, businesses in North Williston closed. North Williston became the industrial and commercial section of Williston and attracted such businessmen as Smith Wright and John Whitcomb, who used the area as a base to acquire significant wealth and influence. Other North Williston industries included a rake factory, a cheese factory, the Fay and Whitcomb lumber and grain business, a blacksmith shop, and a creamery.
#13
Lost Virginia Beach
2011
Join author and historian Amy Waters Yarsinske as she takes one final stroll through a Virginia Beach lost to time.
The Oceanfront's Cottage Line, the music halls of Seaside Park and dunes so large they dwarfed the old Cape Henry lighthouse are a memory. Gone, too, are many of the city's iconic landmarks and open spaces, lost to storm, fire and the relentless onslaught of post-World War II development. With a deft hand and rare vintage images, historian Amy Waters Yarsinske recalls a time when the likes of Chuck Berry and Ray Charles played beneath the sizzling lights of the Dome and locals shagged the night away at the Peppermint Beach Club.
#16
Lost Myrtle Beach
2014
Myrtle Beach has long been a favorite vacation spot for families across America, giving parents and children alike a lifetime of memories. The Myrtle Beach Pavilion, considered by many to be the heart of the city since 1908, was demolished in 2007. The Ocean Forest Hotel was as beautiful as a castle, and resembled one, during its forty-four-year span. Members of World War II's Doolittle Raid trained at the Myrtle Beach General Bombing and Gunnery Range, which eventually became Myrtle Beach Air Force Base until its closure in 1993. Join author Becky Billingsley for a trip back in time as she examines some of the city's most memorable attractions.
#17
Lost York County
2009
On October 17th, 1947, a fire started near Newfield. It grew quickly and moved east, destroying Goose Rocks Beach, Fortune's Rock and parts of Cape Porpoise. Hundreds of historic buildings perished. The 1947 blaze was unique in the scope of its devastation, but fire has claimed countless landmarks over the years in York County, Maine. Development projects, neglect and weather have doomed many more. Lost York County presents rare photos of many of these buildings, preserving the visual record of lost town halls, churches, schools, homes and hotels, from Kittery to Saco. In this collection of many never-before-seen images, Steven Burr offers a tribute to places and memories seized by time.
#20
Lost Maine Coastal Schooners
From Glory Days to Ghost Ships
2010
Dramatic true stories of New England maritime history, with photos. Large, wooden-hulled schooners graced the seas of coastal Maine for more than a century as vessels of trade and commerce. With the advent of steam-powered craft, however, these elegant four-, five-, or six-masted wooden ships became obsolete and vanished from the harbors and horizons. The Edward Lawrence, the last of the six-masters, became her own funeral pyre in Portland Harbor, burning to ash before everyone’s eyes. The Carroll A. Deering washed ashore with no trace of her crew, empty as a ghost ship except for three cats and a pot of pea soup still cooking on the stove. In this testament to the beauty of the Maine coastal region, maritime history enthusiast Ingrid Grenon tells the story of these magnificent relics of the bygone Age of Sail and celebrates the people who devoted their lives to the sea.
#21
Lost River Towns of Boone County
2010
When Boone County was officially founded in 1799, a local population was already growing by the day. The Ohio River offered settlers access to this new frontier west of the Alleghenies, and soon many vibrant communities were established along the banks of the Ohio. Today, once thriving towns like North Bend, Belleview and Touseytown, built to last through generations, have all but vanished. The unforgiving current of the Ohio River washed many away, while modern transportation construction dispatched the remaining towns. Fortunately, through the efforts of editor Bridget Striker and a skilled team of local historians and archivists at the Boone County Public Library, these sunken homesteads have been unearthed. Peer into a bygone way of life through this comprehensive collection of vintage photographs and engaging historical accounts.
#22
Lost Shreveport
Vanishing Scenes from the Red River Valley
2010
Over the course of many decades, the city of Shreveport witnessed dramatic growth and ever-changing landscapes. Mule-drawn railways gave way to electric streetcars, and what was once the Confederate capital of the state became today's vibrant commercial hub of northwest Louisiana. Drawing from their extensive image collection, authors Joiner and Roberson depict the forgotten scenes and lost stories that form the complex layers of Shreveport history. From the famous performances of Pawnee Bill's Wild West Show to the infamous red-light district, from the decline of vigilante justice to the victims who perished from yellow fever, Joiner and Roberson recover and remember lost Shreveport.
#23
Lost Bluegrass
: History of a Vanishing Landscape
2011
The Bluegrass region has come to define what makes Kentucky a place unlike any other. What began as the homeland of native tribes developed into ideal farmland for early settlers. Development continued as the region evolved into the premier breeding grounds for world-famous thoroughbreds, helping to bring the Bluegrass international recognition as the epicenter of American horseracing and equestrian culture. Yet development of the region has never stopped. The rolling hills, limestone fences and legendary horse farms that once defined the landscape continue to vanish as suburban sprawl stretches into the far reaches of the Bluegrass. Join author Ronnie Dreistadt as he tracks the history of the Bluegrass, what's been lost and the ongoing efforts to save what remains.
#25
Lost Airports of Chicago
2013
To book a ride on the "World's Shortest Airline" or learn aerial stunts from the redheaded widow of Lawrence Avenue, you've got to go through the airports buried beneath the housing developments and shopping malls of Chicagoland. Many of these airports sprang up after World War I, when training killed more pilots than combat, and the aviation pioneers who developed Chicago's flying fields played a critical role in getting the nation ready to dare the skies in World War II. Author Nick Selig has rolled wheels on his fair share of Chicago's landing strips but faces an entirely new challenge in touching down in places being swallowed by a city and forgotten by history.
#27
Reclaiming Jacksonville
: Stories Behind the River City's Historic Landmarks
2012
Jacksonville has hundreds of buildings that have withstood the test of time. Enhanced with stunning color photography, Reclaiming Jacksonville is a must-have for every resident.
Jacksonville's lasting landmarks tell only a portion of its history. Dozens of other buildings have been abandoned and left to wither, turning into shadows of their former grandeur. Each place has a rich and storied history that belies modern appearances, like the Annie Lytle Elementary School, now known as the most haunted landmark in the city, and the Jacksonville Brewing Company, which had to come up with a creative way to stay afloat (think ice cream) when Prohibition hit. Join local writers Ennis Davis and Robert Mann as they go behind the scenes of fourteen crumbling but ethereally beautiful structures to reveal their true pasts.
#28
Lost Miami Beach
2014
""America's Playground"" has seen many changes over the years. From architectural to botanical, Lost Miami Beach covers these changes and the development of the current preservation strategy. Miami Beach has been ""America's Playground"" for a century. Still one of the world's most popular resorts, its 1930s Art Deco architecture placed this picturesque city on the National Register of Historic Places. Yet a whole generation of earlier buildings was erased from the landscape and mostly the house of refuge for shipwrecked sailors, the oceanfront mansions of Millionaires' Row, entrepreneur Carl Fisher's five grand hotels, the Community Theatre, the Miami Beach Garden and more. Join historian Carolyn Klepser as she rediscovers through words and pictures the lost treasures of Miami Beach and recounts the changes that sparked a renowned preservation movement.
#29
Lost Miami
: Stories and Secrets Behind Magic City Ruins
2015
Miami's architecture is world renowned, but many historic treasures have been forgotten to time.
A Cold War missile base lies covered in graffiti. The Richmond Naval Air a former blimp base, destroyed by hurricane in 1945. Homestead's old Aerojet originally used in the testing and construction of experimental rockets, slowly demolished as part of a project to revitalize the Everglades. The Miami Marine declared unsafe after Hurricane Andrew in 1992 and stands abandoned today. Author David Bulit, creator of the blog "Abandoned Florida," revives the history and secrets of the Magic City's vanishing gems.
#30
Lost Washington, D.C.
2011
John DeFerrari investigates the bygone institutions of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries with an engaging collection of new vignettes and reader favorites from his blog "The Streets of Washington."
Washington seems the eternal and unchanging Federal City with its grand avenues and stately monuments. Yet the city that locals once knew - lavish window displays at Woodies, supper at the grand Raleigh Hotel and a Friday night game at Griffith Stadium - is gone. From the raucous age of burlesque at the Gayety Theater and the once bustling Center Market to the mystery of Suter's Tavern and the disappearance of the Key mansion in Georgetown, DeFerrari recalls the lost Washington, D.C., of yesteryear.
#31
Vanished Downtown Hartford
2013
Early nineteenth-century illustrations of Hartford, Connecticut, show church steeples towering over the Victorian homes and brownstone facades of businesses around them. The modern skyline of the town has lost many of these elegant steeples and their quaint and smaller neighbors. Banks have yielded to newer banks, and organizations like the YMCA are now parking lots. In the 1960s, Constitution Plaza replaced an entire neighborhood on Hartford's east side. The city has evolved in the name of progress, allowing treasured buildings to pass into history. Those buildings that survive have been repurposed—the Old State House, built in 1796, is one of the oldest and has found new life as a museum. Yet the memory of these bygone landmarks and scenes has not been lost. Historian Daniel Sterner recalls the lost face of downtown and preserves the historic landmarks that still remain with this nostalgic exploration of Hartford's structural evolution.
#35
Where Cleveland Played
Sports Shrines from League Park to the Coliseum
2010
Cleveland shrines, now gone save for League Park's crumbling remnants, hosted American sports heroes and icons, rock legends and hockey stars.
Babe Ruth launched his 500th home run at League Park, where Indians great Bob Feller, all cleft chin and leg kick, debuted. A young and seemingly weightless Michael Jordan sunk the Cavs and Craig Ehlo at Richfield. Jim Brown broke the will of opponents at Municipal, where both Larry Doby—the first black American Leaguer—and Frank Robinson—baseball's first black manager—shattered color barriers. Morris Eckhouse and Greg Crouse delve into the city's lost sports sanctuaries, where Clevelanders rejoiced and wept, experiencing moments of jubilation and ineffable sadness that remain glowing and raw.
#36
Lost Towns of the Hudson Valley
2009
Did you know a town can vanish? Discover the curious history of five towns nearly lost to history... This is the story of five towns located in New York's Hudson River Valley that met their demise as quickly as they were established. From the icehouses of Rockland Lake to the Ashokan Reservoir towns to the brick quarries of Roseton, only traces of these once vibrant settlements can now be found. Camp Shanks, one of World War II's most significant military compounds, was erected in 1942 but was quickly abandoned at the war's end. ""Last Stop USA,"" as it was known, played host to over one million soldiers and welcomed patriotic visitors like Frank Sinatra and Shirley Temple. In this collection of images, local authors Wesley and Barbara Gottlock revive the spirits of these bygone communities and celebrate a lost way of life.
#38
Lost Ski Areas of the Northern Adirondacks
2014
Some of the northern Adirondacks' most beloved ski areas have sadly not survived the test of time despite the pristine powder found from the High Peaks to the St. Lawrence. Even after hosting the Winter Olympics twice, Lake Placid hides fourteen abandoned ski areas. In the Whiteface area, the once-prosperous resort Paleface, or Bassett Mountain, succumbed after a series of bad winters. Juniper Hills was the biggest little hill in the North Country" and welcomed families in the Northern Tier for more than fifteen years. Big Tupper in Tupper Lake and Otis Mountain in Elizabethtown defied the odds and were lovingly restored in recent years. Jeremy Davis of the New England/Northeast Lost Ski Areas Project rediscovers these lost trails and shares beloved memories of the people who skied on them."
#39
Remembering South Cape May
The Jersey Shore Town that Vanished into the Sea
2010
Few would imagine that the land currently occupied by the Nature Conservancy's Cape May Migratory Bird Refuge, or "the Meadows," was once the picturesque Jersey Shore town of South Cape May.
By the early twentieth century, a striking hotel and homes designed by renowned Victorian-era architects dotted the landscape. Residents and visitors alike spotted rumrunners racing across the beachfront during Prohibition and endured World War II with German submarines lurking just offshore. But by 1954, barely a trace of the town remained except for about twenty of the original houses, which were moved a mile away. Join one of the town's last residents, Joseph Burcher, as he chronicles life in South Cape May before the angry Atlantic swallowed this serene town.
#40
Lost Ski Areas of the White Mountains
2008
Discover the ghosts of former ski areas that made the White Mountains the destination it is today.
The White Mountains of New Hampshire are world-renowned for the array of skiing opportunities offered to every skier, from beginner to gold-medal Olympian. Today over a dozen resorts entice tourists and locals each year with their well-manicured trails, high-speed lifts and slope-side lodging. But scattered throughout this region are long-forgotten ski areas that can still be found. In the White Mountains alone, 60 ski areas have closed since the 1930s. Author Jeremy Davis has compiled rare photographs, maps and personal memories to ensure these beloved ski outposts that have been cherished by generations of skiers are given recognition for transforming the White Mountains into a premier ski destination.
#41
Lost Butte, Montana
2012
From the stately Queen Anne mansions of the West Side to the hastily constructed shanties of Cabbage Patch, Lost Butte, Montana traces the city's history through its architectural heritage. This book includes such highlights as the Grand Opera House, once graced by entertainers and cultural icons like Charlie Chaplin, Sarah Bernhardt and Mark Twain; the infamous brothels protested by reformer Carrie Nation, wielding her hatchet and sharp tongue; and the Columbia Gardens, built by copper king William Clark as a respite from the smoke and toil of the mines and later destroyed by fire. Through the stories of these structures, lost to the march of time and urban renewal, historian Richard Gibson recalls the boom and bust of Butte, once a mining metropolis and now part of the largest National Historic Landmark District.
#45
Lost Toledo
2015
Look back at some of the beloved places and landmarks in Toledo's past, from stores and stadiums to neighborhoods and nightclubs. Recall the birth of the Jeep, as well as unique shopping experiences at Tiedtke's, Lasalle's, Lamson's and Portside Festival Marketplace. Catch the action of a Toledo Mud Hens game at bygone ballpark Swayne Field. Watch the glittering marquees light up the downtown skyline once again with the names of performers ranging from Count Basie and Elvis Presley to B.B. King and KISS. Author David Yonke jogs fond memories in this nostalgic stroll through Toledo's heritage.
#46
Lost Mohawk Valley
2015
Life in the Mohawk Valley today is vastly different from generations ago. Long gone are the factory whistles calling workers to their shifts in old mill towns. Fort Plain still benefits from little-known inventor William Yerdon, and Utica baseball player George Burns was so skilled that fans called left field "Burnsville." Few realize that a local artist shared a special bond with John Philip Sousa, one of the nation's greatest musicians. The Tamarack Playhouse was once the venue of spectacular theatricals, and as time goes on, there are fewer alumni to remember Amsterdam's Bishop Scully High School. Local author Bob Cudmore shows that while lost, these and other compelling stories no longer need be forgotten.
Authors
Alan Naldrett
Author · 6 books
Alan Naldrett was an insurance agent for many years and soon had a wall full of sales awards and plaques. But as soon as his main topic of conversation was actuarial tables and all his friends had more than adequate insurance coverage and were all avoiding him he decided it was time for a change. Using his bachelor’s degree from Michigan State, after he turned fifty he acquired a couple of Master’s Degrees in Library and Information Science and Archival Science. He took a few anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and other relevant courses and became a medical librarian. He then spent many years as an academic librarian chastising college students about their literary choices and inadequate APA styling. Along the way he rediscovered an interest in writing and history which interestingly enough led to writing about history. He attempted to justify this as a member and sometime Vice-Chairman (even though he claims to know nothing about vice) of the local county historical commission and also the local library board. After writing five books and many historical writings in newspapers, magazines and newsletters, he still spends an inordinate amount of time playing with the F Street Blues, a blues band that plays a lot of rock songs.
Richard I. Gibson
Author · 1 books
Richard I. Gibson is a consulting geologist and historian. After four years analyzing the mineralogy of kidney stones, he entered the oil exploration business as a geophysicist, a professional career that spans more than 35 years. As a geological educator, he has informed audiences ranging from elementary school children to State Geologists of the United States. He’s been a geological Study Leader on Smithsonian Journeys and the Education Director at the World Museum of Mining. Gibson taught college field geology for 14 summers, and explains history, geology, and current events on tours in and around his home town, Butte, Montana.
John DeFerrari
Author · 3 books
John DeFerrari was born and raised in Washington, D.C., and has a passion for local history. Trained as a writer, he has a Master's Degree in English Literature from Harvard University. In 2009, DeFerrari began writing about Washington's rich history in his blog, Streets of Washington . His first book, Lost Washington, D.C., was published in 2011 and his latest, Sixteenth Street NW: Washington, DC's Avenue of Ambitions, co-authored with Douglas Peter Sefton, recounts often overlooked stories about the diverse buildings and residents of one of the city's most important arteries.
Amy Waters Yarsinske
Author · 3 books
A nationally known, award-winning author of 56 books of narrative nonfiction, including the widely read, award-winning No One Left Behind: The Lt. Comdr. Michael Scott Speicher Story for Dutton/NAL, Amy Waters Yarsinske received her master of planning degree from the University of Virginia School of Architecture and her bachelors of arts degrees in English and economics from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College. She is a former president of the Norfolk Historical Society, cofounder of the Norfolk Historical Foundation and a 1998 graduate of CIVIC Leadership Institute. Yarsinske has over two decades of experience in the publishing industry as an author and editor and has made repeated appearances as a guest and commentator for major media, including American and foreign networks and international, national and regional radio markets. She is a member of Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE), Authors Guild, American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA), and WriterHouse.
