The book showcases over 475 vibrant artworks designed to promote flower and vegetable seeds, enticing novice gardeners with the promise of cultivating stunning plants. These illustrations not only capture the imagination but also highlight a long-standing tradition in gardening marketing, blending art with the allure of gardening success. Each piece serves as a testament to the creativity and optimism that surrounds the gardening experience.
Explore the history of accommodations in the Catskills, a renowned resort area, as tourists once sought refuge during their visits. This journey highlights the unique lodgings that catered to travelers, showcasing the evolution of hospitality and the cultural significance of the region. Discover the stories behind these establishments and their role in shaping the Catskills' identity as a popular destination.
The Hudson River, often likened to the Rhine, is a unique tidal river known for its dual flow. This characteristic creates a dynamic ecosystem and influences the surrounding landscape and communities. The book explores the river's significance, its historical context, and the interplay between nature and human activity along its banks, offering insights into its cultural and environmental importance.
Featuring over 320 stunning photos, this book showcases the Landis Valley region of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, highlighting its rich Pennsylvania German farming heritage. Readers can explore historic farmsteads, barns, and colorful gardens while learning about the families who have contributed to these farms over four centuries. The text also offers valuable insights on cultivating heirloom seeds and maintaining traditional gardens, making it an essential resource for gardening enthusiasts and history lovers alike.
Focusing on the Landis family's duality as both typical Pennsylvania Germans and cultural pioneers, this book chronicles their life in Lancaster County from the 18th century. Henry Harrison and Emma Caroline Landis raised their children in a cross-cultural setting, fostering an appreciation for Mennonite and Reformed traditions. Through historic photographs, many previously unpublished, the narrative showcases their contributions to American culture and documents their family life, customs, and agricultural practices, enriching the understanding of Pennsylvania German heritage.
From Sarajevo in 1914 to Baghdad in 1990 renowned foreign correspondent Michael Emery charts the difficulties facing his American colleagues covering overseas events. He tells the 'stories behind the stories' and the pressures faced by American reporters like Marguerite Higgins and Peter Arnett. Emery demonstrates the effects of censorship, propaganda, and 'disinformation' and argues for an independent and well-trained foreign press corps.
Exploring the rich cultural tapestry of the Pennsylvania Germans, the book highlights their unique blend of traditional and contemporary arts. It showcases a diverse array of artifacts, from folk art and quilts to the works of renowned painters like Charles Demuth and Franz Kline. With over 350 color photographs, it presents a vivid historical narrative that captures the essence of both conservative and assimilated communities. This engaging text celebrates the beauty and significance of these artistic expressions, making it both informative and enjoyable for readers.
Taking the name Pennsylvania Dutch from a corruption of their own word for themselves, "Deutsch," the first German settlers arrived in Pennsylvania in 1683. By the time of the American Revolution, their influence was such that Benjamin Franklin, among others, worried that German would become the commonwealth's official language. The continuing influence of the Church peoples-the Amish and Mennonites and others who constitute the still-vibrant Dutch culture-can be seen today in icons of Americana from apple pie to log cabins.
Every year between 1920 and 1970, almost one million of New York City's Jewish population summered in the Catskills. Hundreds of thousands still do. While much has been written about grand hotels like Grossinger's and the Concord, little has appeared about the more modest bungalow colonies and kuchaleins ("cook for yourself" places) where more than 80 percent of Catskill visitors stayed.These were not glamorous places, and middle-class Jews today remember the colonies with either aversion or fondness. Irwin Richman's narrative, anecdotes, and photos recapture everything from the traffic jams leaving the city to the strategies for sneaking into the casinos of the big hotels. He brings to life the attitudes of the renters and the owners, the differences between the social activities and swimming pools advertised and what people actually received. He reminisces about the changing fashion of the guests and owners—everything that made summers memorable.The author remembers his boyhood: what it was like to spend summers outside the city, swimming in the Neversink, "noodling around," and helping with the bungalow operation, while Grandpa charged the tenants and acted as president of Congregation B'nai.
Exploring the vibrant history of New York City's Jewish population, this book delves into the Catskills' summer culture from 1920 to 1970. It highlights the contrasting experiences of renters and owners, revealing the discrepancies between advertised amenities and the realities faced by vacationers. Through engaging anecdotes, it captures the essence of social activities and the enduring appeal of this iconic retreat, painting a vivid picture of a unique community and its traditions.
