Books – Recent Releases
(Page 1 of 2)
Many at Reduced Prices
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Fall Sale Hundreds of Arcadia Publishing Titles!
Sale!
All pre-2016 Arcadia titles in the listings below and on Page 2 are included in the above sale. Or you may email for a list.
1686. (DVD) The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Most Daring Sea Rescue. DVD. Run time 114 min. PG-13. Based on the extraordinary true story of the greatest smallboat rescue in Coast Guard history, THE FINEST HOURS is a tale of courage, loyalty and honor in the face of overwhelming odds. When a massive storm strikes off the coast of Cape Cod, it rips a T-2 oil tanker in half, trapping more than 30 sailors on its rapidly sinking stern. As BM1 Bernie Webber (Chris Pine) and his crew set out in the station 36-foot motor lifeboat to save them, Chief Engineer Ray Sybert (Casey Affleck) struggles to buy his men more time. Packed with heroic larger-than-life action and driven by the men’s faith in their mission, themselves and one another, THE FINEST HOURS is a triumph. The Finest Hours has incredible and astonishing true-to-life heroism and action-packed rescue scenes. This marvelous and terrifying yarn ( Los Angeles Times ) deserves a place as a classic of survival at sea ( The Boston Globe). In the days following the ordeal, twenty-one Coast Guardsmen involved in multiple rescue missions would be decorated. Movie is based upon the original 1985 account by Coxswain BM1 Bernard Webber. $29.95. (x)
- Scee, Trudy Irene.Pemaquid Point Lighthouse. History Press. 2020. Soft wraps. 158p. Illustrated with 144 photos and images. Pemaquid Point Lighthouse was first constructed in 1827 and still sends its beam out seventy-nine feet above sea level. Light keepers kept the lanterns burning from the 1820s through the 1930s, but they could not prevent every tragedy. Ships have crashed on the rocky shoals, taking sailors to their watery graves, while many others have been swept off the rocks by the powerful surf. Despite advances in technology and automation, the shore around the light remains a dangerous place. Author and historian Trudy Irene Scee uncovers the fascinating story of this iconic Maine lighthouse, its keepers and their families, from the construction of the first light through the present day. (M). $21.99. (x)
1978. Hartman, Capt. Jeffrey D. USCG (Retired). Icebreaking Alaska. Arcadia. 2014. 128p. Soft wraps. With over 200 vintage photographs. The Arctic is a place of great challenges and great rewards. A century ago, it was whale oil; today, it is motor oil. The increasing open water in the warmer months is attracting cruise ships to tour the Arctic. Significant offshore oil and natural gas deposits are of great interest to an oil-dependent economy. But the history of the Arctic is full of surprises for the unwary and the unprepared, despite native peoples having managed to live there for thousands of years. Oil spills or maritime emergencies can—and do—arise a long way off from assistance. Legendary Arctic storms are, if anything, becoming more intense and dangerous. All this is in an area inaccessible by roads or by sea except for icebreakers the majority of the year. It is of extreme interest to the US Coast Guard, charged with protecting seafarers, enforcing laws, and facilitating commerce. This compact volume features numerous early photographs, drawn from the author’s and other private collections, most never before published. Filled with early views. (M). $21.99.
1859. Ketenheim, Bob. Coast Guard Cutter Taney. Arcadia. 2018. 128p. Soft wraps. With over 200 vintage photographs. The Taney was one of seven Secretary-class cutters built for the US Coast Guard during the Great Depression. Commissioned in 1936, she served continuously for 50 years, including service in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The Taney was in Honolulu during the Japanese attack on December 7, 1941, and participated in the defense of Honolulu and Pearl Harbor. During World War II, she saw service in the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea, and the Pacific Ocean. The Taney spent several years on ocean weather station duty in both the Atlantic and the Pacific. Later, she patrolled the East Coast of the United States, performing drug interdiction duties. The Taney is the only surviving ship that was present during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. She was decommissioned in 1986 and has since been a museum ship in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, where she hosts an annual Pearl Harbor commemoration on December 7. This compact volume features numerous early photographs, drawn from the author’s and other private collections, most never before published. Filled with early views. (M). $21.99.
1855. D’Entremont, Jeremy. Wave-Swept Lighthouses of New England. Arcadia. 2018. 128p. Soft wraps. With over 200 vintage photographs. The lighthouse is a pervasive icon in our culture, often used to symbolize positive qualities like faith, guidance, strength, and steadfastness. No structures embody these qualities more than wave-swept lighthouses, which were built to withstand the most extreme forces of wind and ocean waves, often in isolated, rocky locations far offshore. In the United States, the earliest attempts to build wave-swept lighthouses in the 1830s led to several masterpieces of engineering, a few of which are in the New England region. This book primarily focuses on six such structures: Whaleback (Maine), Saddleback Ledge (Maine), Minot’s Ledge (Massachusetts), Halfway Rock (Maine), Graves Ledge (Massachusetts), and Ram Island Ledge (Maine). All of these wave-swept lighthouses stand in rugged testimony to the people who designed and built them, and they also serve to remind us of the struggles and sacrifices of the lighthouse keepers who “kept a good light” for so many years before automation. This compact volume features numerous early photographs dating from the 1880’s to the present, drawn from the author’s and other private collections, most never before published. Filled with early views. (M). $21.99.
1774. (reprint) U.S. Light-House Establishment. Specifications for a First-Order Light House (Brick Tower). October 1861. Wash GPO 1861 (2017 Ohio River Trading) . 11p. Soft wraps. Nicely done reprint. Nicely done reprint. Includes specifications and details of brick light tower. Without figures or plates. A good beginning reference. (M). $9.95.
1772. (reprint) U.S. Light-House Establishment. Specifications for a Double Dwelling for the Keepers of First Order Lights. Wash GPO 1862 (2017 Ohio River Trading) . 11p. Soft wraps. Nicely done reprint. Includes specifications and details of double dwelling. Without figures or plates. A good beginning reference. (M). $9.95.
1773. (reprint) U.S. Light-House Establishment. Specifications for A Light-Keeper’s Dwelling. (Frame) June 1877. Wash GPO 1877 (2017 Ohio River Trading) . 8p. Soft wraps. Nicely done reprint. Includes specifications and details of frame dwelling, by Peter C. Hains, Eng’r Sec. Without figures or plates. A good beginning reference. (M). $9.95.
1775. (reprint) U.S. Life-Saving Service. Instructions to Mariners in Case of Shipwreck With Information Concerning the Life-Saving Stations Upon the Coasts of the United States. Wash GPO 1881 (2017 Ohio River Trading) . 32p. Soft wraps. Nicely done reprint. Contains information and instructions for use by mariners so that proper co-ordination between life-savers and sailors in distress will be achieved. Includes information on the use of breeches buoy apparatus, signaling, rescue by surfboat, and much more. Also includes complete listing of all Life-Saving Districts and stations in the United States at that time. Includes some illustrations. A good beginning reference. (M). $9.95.
6275s. Ralph Shanks, Wick York, Lisa Woo Shanks, editor. THE U. S. LIFE-SAVING SERVICE – HEROES, RESCUES AND ARCHITECTURE OF THE EARLY COAST GUARD. 1996. Petaluma , CA. 262p. Winner of the first Foundation for Coast Guard History Award for Best Book on Coast Guard History, this long heralded work by Ralph Shanks and Wick York is once again available. Filling a longtime void in the chronicles of the Life-Saving Service, this book is the result of two decades of research by these highly respected maritime historians. In 272 large format pages, the authors present unforgettable stories of the surfmen and their unsurpassed bravery. Unique to this work is the authors coverage of the architecture of each of the stations across the country. Using over 400 rare photos from the Library of Congress and other historic sources, the authors provide a station by station look at the architectural features that make them such a unique and unforgettable piece of our history. Considered the best reference on the U.S. Life Saving Service on the market. (M). Lightly used softcover $34.95 while they last.
16122. Snowman, Sally R. and James G. Thompson. Boston Light. Arcadia. 2016. 128p. Hard cover. With over 200 vintage photographs. On September 14, 1716, Boston Light became the first lighthouse established in Colonial America. With many ships foundering in the treacherous waters of the Massachusetts harbor, there was a great need for navigational aid. At night and during storms, it was difficult to discern the entrance to the main shipping channel of Nantasket Roads, situated between the Brewster islands and the town of Hull. The ledges had become a graveyard for ships, resulting in great loss to human life and cargoa deterrent to European colonization efforts. Ship captains and merchants petitioned the colonial government for a lighthouse to be erected on Little Brewster Island as a way of safe passage to the inner harbor. Three hundred years later, Boston Light continues to serve its purpose. Today, the lighthouse is protected by an ever-present Coast Guard civilian keeper and a cadre of specially trained Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteer assistant keepers. Sally Snowman is the 70th Keeper of Boston Light. With her husband, Jay Thomson, they have done extensive historical research on this distinctive piece of Americana. Highly recommended for readers interested in history, New England, lighthouses, sea stories. This compact volume features numerous early photographs dating from the 1870’s to the present, drawn from the author’s and other private collections, most never before published, and traces the history of this light station through photos and text. Filled with early views. (M). $24.99. Our price $22.
1601. Dolin, Eric Jay. Brilliant Beacons – A History of the American Lighthouse. 2016. 448p. Stiff wraps. An extraordinary work of historical detection and originality, Brilliant Beacons vividly reframes America’s history through the development of its lighthouses. In a work rich in maritime lore and brimming with original historical detail, Eric Jay Dolin, the best-selling author of Leviathan, presents the most comprehensive history of American lighthouses ever written, telling the story of America through the prism of its beloved coastal sentinels. Set against the backdrop of an expanding nation, Brilliant Beacons traces the evolution of America’s lighthouse system, highlighting the political, military, and technological battles fought to illuminate the nation’s hardscrabble coastlines. In rollicking detail, Dolin treats readers to a memorable cast of characters including the penny-pinching Treasury official Stephen Pleasonton, who hamstrung the country’s efforts to adopt the revolutionary “Fresnel Lens,” and presents tales both humorous and harrowing of soldiers, saboteurs, ruthless egg collectors, and most importantly, the light-keepers themselves. Richly supplemented with over 100 photographs and illustrations throughout, Brilliant Beacons is the most original history of American lighthouses in many decades. 112 illustrations; 8 pages of color. (M). Published at $29.95.
15253. Towers, Guy. St. George Reef Lighthouse. Arcadia 2015. 128p. Soft wraps. With over 200 vintage photographs. Situated at the end of a reef six miles offshore of Crescent City, California, stands St. George Reef Lighthouse. Constructed after the wreck of the coastal steamer Brother Jonathan in 1865, the beacon warned mariners of the dreaded “Dragon Rocks” of St. George Reef for nearly a century. This book chronicles the loss of the Jonathan, decades of efforts to make the light a reality, the 10-year construction period, manning of the station by keepers of the US Lighthouse Service and Coast Guard, and the struggles and accomplishments of dedicated volunteers to restore what many lighthouse historians refer to as “America’s greatest lighthouse.” This compact volume features numerous early photographs dating from the 1870’s to the present, drawn from the author’s and other private collections, most never before published, and traces the history of this light station through photos and text. Filled with early views. (M). $21.99.
Available once again:
20209. Webber, Bernard C., CHATHAM “The Lifeboatmen”. Orleans , Mass. 1985. 1st. 128p. Illustrated with numerous photographs. Late in February 1952, a northeaster swept New England with bitter cold, snow and gale force winds. East of Chatham 70-knot winds and 60-foot seas battered merchant vessels as the tankers SS Fort Mercer and SS Pendleton met the full force of the storm. They both broke in two on the morning of February 19th with 84 half-frozen men marooned on the battered hulks. The story of how these men were rescued is retold even today. In the days following the ordeal, twenty-one Coast Guardsmen would be decorated. The men who ventured into 60-foot seas in the little 36-foot CG36500 motor lifeboat to rescue the tanker crews showed what heroism really is. How this all came about, and the story of life at Cape Cod small boat stations in the 1950’s, is a tale well worth reading and a tribute to Coast Guardsmen everywhere. Wonderful reading. (M). $44.95.
Special numbered edition with actual wood piece from MLB CG-36500. $59.95.
15208. Lawrence, Matthew, John Galluzzo and Deborah Marx. Shipwrecks of Stellwagen Bank: Disaster in New England’s National Marine Sanctuary. 2015. History Press. 144p. Soft wraps. Beneath the churning surface of Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary rest the bones of shipwrecks and sailors alike. Massachusetts’ ports connected its citizens to the world, and the number of merchant and fishing vessels grew alongside the nation’s development. Hundreds of ships sank on the trade routes and fishing grounds between Cape Cod and Cape Ann. Their stories are waiting to be uncovered—from the ill-fated steamship Portland to collided schooners Frank A. Palmer and Louise B. Crary and the burned dragger Joffre. Join historian John Galluzzo and maritime archaeologists Matthew Lawrence and Deborah Marx as they dive in to investigate the sunken vessels and captivating history of New England’s only national marine sanctuary. Illustrated with over 50 b/w photos. (M). $21.99. (x)
Longley, Jennifer. Hyannis And Hyannis Port
Lombardo, Daniel. Orleans
Schofield, Marilyn C and Roberta Cornish. Eastham
Vuilleumier, Marion R. Sandwich, Cape Cod’s Oldest Town
Cuttyhunk Historical Society. Cuttyhunk And The Elizabeth Islands
Brennan, Susan W and Diana Worthington. Truro
Edward O…. Barnstable Village, West Barnstable and Sandy Neck
Sicchio, Mary. The Forgotten Cape 1940-1960
Pizzolato, Susan and Lynda Ames Byrne. Wareham
Brewster Historical Society. Brewster
Claflin, James W. Lighthouses and Life Saving Along Cape Cod
14149. Smithweck, David. Mobile Point Lighthouse, Fort Morgan, Alabama. Mobile. 2014. 70p. Soft wraps. Mobile Point is located on the southeastern shore at the entrance into Mobile Bay from the Gulf of Mexico. The hazards created by constantly shifting shoals as the tide waters flow into the bay made aids to navigation a necessity for mariners. This is the story of one of those aids–The 1872 Mobile Point Lighthouse. Filled with information, profusely illustrated with photos, documents, plans and more. (M). $19.95. (x)
14178. Oleszewski, Wes. The Best of Wes Oleszewski – Favorite Great Lakes Shipwreck Stories. Avery. 2014. 202p. Soft wraps. The author has researched and written hundreds of Great Lakes Maritime stories over the years. He has personally chosen his “best” and is putting his favorites in the book True, factual stories of some of the most devastating Great Lakes shipwrecks ever documented. This book will take you through the 1800’s and the 1900’s, while in the shoes of the sailors, some lost, others forgotten, still others remembered as heroes. Huge waves, frigid weather and terrifying situations – relieve it all in this exciting book. A great read of classic Wes stories. (M). $16.95. (x)
14120. Dresser, Thomas, Herb Foster & Jay Schofield. Martha’s Vineyard in World War II. Charleston. 2014. 192p. Soft wraps. Illustrated with over 50 photos. The small, tight-knit island community of Martha’s Vineyard was irrevocably transformed by World War II. From rationing and blackouts to a military presence in Chilmark, the war was brought home to the residents of the island. In the air, pilots flew training missions from the Martha’s Vineyard Naval Auxiliary Air Facility. At sea, ferryboats served as hospital ships in the D-Day invasion, while enemy submarines lurked offshore. Mock invasions were undertaken by military forces from across Vineyard Sound, and remote sites were used for training missions and bombing practice. Residents participated in the war effort by buying war bonds, supporting USO activities and conducting air raid drills. Remnants and reminiscences of this illustrious past can still be found today. Join authors Thomas Dresser, Herb Foster and Jay Schofield as they revive the story of this resilient island during World War II. (M). $19.99. (x)
An Amazing Book:
13205. Levitt, Theresa. A Short Bright Flash – Augustin Fresnel and the Birth of the Modern Lighthouse. W.W. Norton. 2013. 288p. With 60 illustrations and 6 maps. Augustin Fresnel (1788–1827) shocked the scientific elite with his unique understanding of the physics of light. The lens he invented was a brilliant feat of engineering that made lighthouses blaze many times brighter, farther, and more efficiently. Battling the establishment, his own poor health, and the limited technology of the time, Fresnel was able to achieve his goal of illuminating the entire French coast. At first, the British sought to outdo the new Fresnel-equipped lighthouses as a matter of national pride. Americans, too, resisted abandoning their primitive lamps, but the superiority of the Fresnel lens could not be denied for long. Soon, from Dunkirk to Saigon, shores were brightened with it. The Fresnel legacy played an important role in geopolitical events, including the American Civil War. No sooner were Fresnel lenses finally installed along U.S. shores than they were drafted: the Union blockaded the Confederate coast; the Confederacy set about thwarting it by dismantling and hiding or destroying the powerful new lights. Levitt’s scientific and historical account, rich in anecdote and personality, brings to life the fascinating untold story of Augustin Fresnel and his powerful invention. Quality and contents make this an extraordinary read and a MUST for any lighthouse organization. (M). $25.95. (x)
13162. de Quesada, Alejandro. U.S. Coast Guard in World War II. 2010. Osprey. 64p. Soft wraps. Illustrated with period photos and artwork by Stephen Walsh. Noted military author Alex de Quesada reveals much of the history of the U.S. Coast Guard throughout World War II. In particular, he draws attention to the little-known story of how the U.S. Coast Guard operated a number of the landing craft throughout D-Day in 1944 as well as providing crucial anti-U-boat patrols throughout the war years. A number of Coast Guard servicemen were lost in these two campaigns, and their undeniable contribution to the war effort deserves greater recognition. The Coast Guard also provided aviators and gunners to the Merchant Marine and manned Port Security Services. These roles are all fully explained and illustrated with rare photographs and specially commissioned artwork. Chapters include: Introduction, Pre-war Coast Guard, The Coast Guard Auxiliary, The Coast Guard at War, Home Front, The Aleutian Campaign, The Battle of the Atlantic, North Africa and Italy, Normandy invasion, Pacific Theatre: From Pearl Harbor to the Philippines, Victory, Uniforms, Bibliography. Quite interesting. (M). $19.95. (x)
13177. de Quesada, Alejandro. The U.S. Home Front 1941-45. 2008. Osprey. 64p. Soft wraps. The outbreak of World War II in Europe in 1939 led to cautious attempts to raise volunteer organizations among American men and women, to back the armed forces in the event of the USA becoming directly involved in the conflict. The attack on Pearl Harbor caused a huge surge of patriotic response, and voluntary enlistment in a wide range of armed forces auxiliary and civilian support services swelled vastly. Looking firstly at the background and general character of wartime life in the United States, this book covers a number of these services, providing an interesting comparison with the conditions on the British Home Front and the experiences of other countries caught up in the war, examining organizations from the Red Cross to the Coast Guard and for the first time, containing full-color reconstructions of over a dozen uniformed services. Chapters include: Enemy And Homegrown Facism, Home Defense & Premilitary Training, Patriotic Service Organizations, Humanitarian Organizations, Maritime Services including Army Transport Service – Coast And Geodetic Survey – Merchant Marine – Us Coastguard Auxiliary,·Aeronautical Services including Air Transport Command – British Flying Training Schools – Civil Air Patrol – Relief Wings Inc – Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron – Women’s Airforce Service Pilots, The Workforce including Civilian Conservation Corps – “Rosie The Riveter”: Women Ordnance Workers – Women’s Land Army, Children At War, Select Bibliography, and more. Quite interesting. (M). $19.95.
1369. Kroll, C. Douglas. A Coast Guardsman’s History of the U.S. Coast Guard. Naval Institute Press. 2010. 209p. DJ. The author has melded story-telling and the evolution of the Coast Guard in a unique fashion. More a book about Coast Guard heritage than an academic history, this book focuses on a variety of relatively unknown Coast Guardsmen who personify the service’s core values. The author highlights contributions of a variety of individuals, from seamen to admirals on active duty, as well as Reserves, Auxiliary, and civilian members of Team Coast Guard. These heroes, representing a great diversity in age, sex, race, and ethnicity, set an example worthy of emulation and serve as role models for today s Coast Guard men and women. (M). $34.95.
Want the perfect book for your children at Christmas ?
Winner of the Time of Wonder Award 2012!
12419. Buzzeo, Toni. Lighthouse Christmas. Penguin. 2011. 32p. DJ. Beautifully illustrated. A lovely child’s tale about a family Christmas at this Maine offshore lighthouse – would Santa even know how to find them ? Frances is determined to make Christmas jolly for her younger brother, even if it means joining family on the mainland and leaving Papa behind on their isolated lighthouse island. After all, would Santa even know how to find them in this faraway spot? But when Christmas Eve is ushered in on a wild storm and Papa risks his life to rescue a drowning man, the children realize that the most important thing about the holiday is being together. As in all great Christmas stories, a happy ending is in store, and Santa finds them after all. Cozy and nostalgic, this story was inspired by the Flying Santa program, a New England tradition since 1929. It’s the perfect book for a family to read together in front of the fire on Christmas morning. There’s a charmingly nostalgic feel both to the story and to the illustrations, which convey a sense of time and place and are very appealing – a gentle but dramatic story of an earlier time, when just one care package could make a happy Christmas for an entire family. Reading this book with your young ones is sure to become a family tradition. (M). $16.99.
1276. Cheek, Richard (ed). From Guiding Lights to Beacons for Business: The Many Lives of Maine’s Lighthouses. Historic New England. 2012. 240p. Soft wraps. Published by Historic New England, this new book contains an amazing amount of material with a layout and design like no other book published about Maine’s Lighthouses. The influence of Maine’s lighthouses derives not just from the structures themselves but from the myriad forms of writing, representation, and reproduction that they have inspired. This book is the third volume in the visual history series that Historic New England is publishing, and contains ten detailed chapters by seven authors, with an introduction by Senator Snowe. With 240 pages and hundreds of color and b/w images, the book is loaded with amazing facts and wonderful visual imagery. Some chapters include: Throw Out the Life-Line, Shaping the Towers, All Alone and Ever Ready, Children Lighthouses and Lifeboats, and Saving the Sentinels. The perfect, entertaining, Maine lighthouse book and a must-have for anyone with an interest in lighthouses and how they have influenced society, advertising, and more over the last century. Shown above is an image from the book, Keepers Robert T. Sterling and Frank Hilt, keepers at Portland Head Light. This is a limited printing and is sure to sell out fast. (M). $34.95.
7415. Bunting, W. H. A DAY’S WORK: A SAMPLE OF HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS, 1860-1920. Part I. Gardiner , Maine . 1997. 384pp. With 225 b/w photographs. Any of you who have seen and enjoyed Mr. Bunting’s previous work Portrait of a Port: Boston 1852-1914, will surely enjoy this companion piece. Once again the author puts together a collection of astonishing historic photographs accompanied by narrative captions. Here the author leads the eye with extraordinary skill as we view coastwise cargo schooners, traveling from island to island by scow, a lumber batteaux shooting rapids, granite-cutting operations, long teams of oxen hauling a building through Waldoboro, a mowing gang, train wrecks, lumber camps, and much more. A grand collection for lovers of Maine , the coast, New England or just an earlier time. (M) Available in Paperback for $35 Reduced to $22. or Hardcover $55 Reduced to $33.
7415. Bunting, W. H. A DAY’S WORK: A SAMPLE OF HISTORIC PHOTOGRAPHS, 1860-1920. Part I. Gardiner , Maine . 1997. 384pp. With 225 b/w photographs. Any of you who have seen and enjoyed Mr. Bunting’s previous work Portrait of a Port: Boston 1852-1914, will surely enjoy this companion piece. Once again the author puts together a collection of astonishing historic photographs accompanied by narrative captions. Here the author leads the eye with extraordinary skill as we view coastwise cargo schooners, traveling from island to island by scow, a lumber batteaux shooting rapids, granite-cutting operations, long teams of oxen hauling a building through Waldoboro, a mowing gang, train wrecks, lumber camps, and much more. A grand collection for lovers of Maine , the coast, New England or just an earlier time. (M) Available in Paperback for $35 Reduced to $22. or Hardcover $55 Reduced to $33.
11431. Whalen, Richard F., Everyday Life in Truro – From the Indians to the Victorians. Charleston. 2008. 120p. Soft wraps. Everyday Life in Truro describes the idyllic days of the Pamet Indians and the storm-lashed hardships of Truro’s first families as they worked to carve an enduring settlement amid the sandy soil and dangerous fishing grounds of Cape Cod. Have you ever wondered how life on the Outer Cape used to be, before traffic and summer visitors? In Everyday Life in Truro, longtime Truro resident Richard Whalen, author of the companion volume Truro: The Story of a Cape Cod Town, illuminates Truro’s past, describing in fascinating detail the everyday triumphs and tragedies of pre-World War II life on remote and windswept Truro. (M). $16.99.
8248. Claflin, James W., LIGHTHOUSES AND LIFESAVING ALONG THE MASSACHUSETTS COAST. 1998. 228p. 200 vintage photographs. Published as part of the Images of America series by Arcadia Publishing. This is the first volume in a series of photographic histories of lighthouses and lifesaving along the coasts of the United States. Arcadia is a well known publisher of local and regional histories, including the popular Images of America series. This compact volume features over 200 early photographs dating from the 1870’s through the 1940’s, drawn from my and other private collections, most never before published and traces the history of these services through photos and text. (M) $21.99.
Also available from the same author:
LIGHTHOUSES AND LIFESAVING ALONG THE MAINE & NEW HAMPSHIRE COAST
LIGHTHOUSES AND LIFESAVING ALONG THE CONNECTICUT & RHODE ISLAND COAST
23439. Lane. Anthony. GUIDING LIGHTS – The Design & Development of the British Lightvessel from 1732. Charleston . 2001. 208 p. Over 200 photographs and illustrations. Soft wraps. Anthony Lane has researched the history of light vessels over a period of many years. Now he has drawn his research into a book that covers the period from 1732 until the present day. These light vessels have protected ships from the sandbanks and treacherous waters surrounding the British Isles throughout war and peace. Until 1986, they were manned by a very special breed of men who lived in arduous conditions to keep the light shining whatever the weather thrown at them. The book is full of drama and technical detail and is a must for any maritime enthusiast. The first lightship in the world was placed at the Nore Sands, at the entrance to the Thames Estuary on the east coast of England , in 1732. About seven years later a lightship was placed at the entrance to the Liffey: it remained on station until around 1782 when the Poolbeg Lighthouse was established. These, and other early lightships were operated by private entrepreneurs as commercial enterprises. The earliest lightships were converted mercantile ships, with lanterns hung from yards. But from the turn of the nineteenth century purpose-built lightships were designed. Through the nineteenth century the number of lightship stations increased. At the beginning of the twentieth century Irish Lights had twelve lightship stations, and three or maybe four spare vessels, but Trinity House had around 65 stations. Dr Lane describes in great detail the construction and arrangement of a typical nineteenth century Trinity House lightship, including the general arrangements, machinery space, crew accommodation, stores, deck machinery, and mooring systems. The first Trinity House all-steel lightship was No 81, completed in 1926. The design of steel lightships varied through the ensuing years. Dr Lane gives a detailed description of a typical steel lightship and also documents changes in the design as they developed over the years.
10470. (DVD) The Keepers of Cana Island Light & Keepers of the Door. 2006. (two documentaries in one) In the Keepers of Cana Island Light, actor Stephen King plays the part of Keeper Clifford Sanderson, who was Assistant Keeper at Cana Island From 1884-1892, and keeper from 1924-1933. Join him as he begins the story in 1867 when plans for the lighthouse were first discussed, and follow the lives and work of each of the eight keepers at Cana Island over the years. Keepers of the Door documents the many lighthouses of Door County, Wisconsin, and the many keepers who dutifully kept the lights burning. Beginning in 1836 at Pottowatomie Lighthouse on Rock Island and looks at twelve light stations, with interviews of relatives of the keepers, looks inside the light towers and homes, and more. (M). $29.95. Our price $28.45.
10453a. Schoenewolff, Thomas. Lightships of the United States of America, Volume I – Northeast. RoseDog Books. 2010. Soft wraps. 368p. $61.
10453b. Schoenewolff, Thomas. Lightships of the United States of America, Volume II – Southeast. RoseDog Books. 2010. Soft wraps. 146p. $28.
10453c. Schoenewolff, Thomas. Lightships of the United States of America, Volume III – Gulf, Western, Great Lakes. RoseDog Books. 2010. Soft wraps. 188p. $38.
10115. Benchley, Rob and Robert D. Felch. Keeping the Light – The Epic Move and Preservation of Nantucket’s Sankaty Head Lighthouse. 2009. Sconset Trust. 144p. DJ. A lighthouse has stood on Sankaty Head near the village of Siasconset since 1850, the third such aid built on the island. However, in recent years coastal erosion had brought the surf perilously close to the lighthouse, threatening to topple it into the sea with a future gale. Fortunately the ’Sconset Trust took on the project to oversee the light’s restoration and to raise funds to move the light tower safely away from the eroding cliffs. This epic historic preservation project was successful due to a tremendous island-wide outpouring of support. The new ’Sconset Trust book, Keeping the Light, documenting this historic move, has just been released. Lavishly illustrated with hundreds of photographs, the book chronicles the formation of a plan, the move and the tower’s restoration, once again the famous “Blazing Star”. Beautifully done, this will make a superb addition to anyone’s collection. (M). $98.
6697. Thompson, Frederic L., THE LIGHTSHIPS OF CAPE COD. 1996. 2nd printing. 112 pp. Soft wraps. Signed by the author. Illustrated with over 93 beautifully detailed photographs. Much sought after, this scarce volume chronicles the history of the lightships in this vital area. Wonderfully detailed b/w photographs enhance the author’s vivid description of the history and life aboard these vessels. One of the only volumes ever written exclusively on this subject, this fine work will make a fine addition to any library (M). $14.95. (Wholesale discounts available)
29313. Ryder, Richard G. Seashore Sentinel: The Old Harbor Lifesaving Station on Cape Cod. West Barnstable. 2009. 120p. Soft wraps. This latest account of the history and life at Cape Cod’s Old Harbor Life-Saving Station updates his older work – OLD HARBOR STATION CAPE COD – now long out of print but still in demand. This extremely worthwhile account of the life-savers at the Old Harbor Life Saving Station in Chatham , Mass., is a one of a kind, chronicling not only much of the wrecks and work of the life savers, but particularly looking at the equipment issued to such a station at the time and the lives of the men living and working there. Includes many photographs, wreck accounts, life at the station, moving the station and much more. A most interesting chronicle. (M). $12.95.
1007. Maginley, Charles D. and Bernard Collin. The Ships of Canada’s Marine Services. Vanwell. 2001. 288p. DJ. With one of the longest coastlines in the world and a significant inland waterway, Canada possesses an unparalleled civilian fleet providing essential marine services. This detailed work presents an illustrated record of the historical and hard-working ships that have shaped their history and maritime heritage, current to the year 2001. The ships included belong to the Canadian Coast Guard and its predecessors, to the Customs Preventive Service, patrol vessels of the RCMP, and the civilian-crewed vessels of the Canadian Naval Auxiliary Service. These ships include hydrographic survey vessels, icebreakers, fisheries patrol boats, search and rescue craft both station-based and offshore, lighthouse supply vessels and buoy tenders, lightships, tugs, and northern exploration ships. Included are work histories, specifications and photographs (some quite rare) or paintings of each ship are given. Many ships are illustrated in rare old photographs digitally enhanced for clarity, in sketches and paintings by talented marine artists, and in a stunning 24-page colour section within the book. Ship histories have been compiled from many sources, both published and obscure, to provide as complete a record as possible. (M). $59.95.
29324. Weymouth, Kent. Lighthouses of the Golden State – California’s Shining Beacons. Sacramento. 2008. 200p. Soft wraps. With a population of about 200 people Yerba Buena was a sleepy little town in 1846. The following year, Yerba Buena would become San Francisco. With the discovery of gold at Sutter’s mill by James Marshall in 1848, a rush to California began that would swell the population of San Francisco to more than 36 thousand by 1850. Risking their lives for the promise of fortune, men traveled from all over the world to this new prosperous land, at a time when the coast of California and the waters surrounding it were unexplored, dangerous and unprotected. Magnificent structures would rise in the decades to follow, built by brave and adventurous souls. At these isolated outposts, hearty individuals were stationed as light-keepers to protect the ships bringing commerce, supplies and the peoples that would build the west. Step back in time to an era of adventure, hardship, loneliness and isolation, when lighthouses rose on the shores of the Golden State. Exhaustively researched and thus thoroughly informative, Lighthouses of the Golden State offers up a truly complete and detailed history of the construction, purpose, and current condition of the towering structures. Weymouth covers the individual history of dozens of lighthouses, and extensively specifies the reason that each particular lighthouse was built, what the operating procedures for each were, and general points of information and interest about them. Well illustrated. (M). $19.95.
29201. Butler, Karen. Nantucket Lights: An Illustrated History of the Island’s Legendary Beacons. Nantucket. 1996. (151 pp. / 148 illus.) DJ. Lavishly illustrated, Nantucket Lights tells the story of the island’s lighthouses and lightships and the men and women who faithfully kept them. This is one of the most comprehensive and attractive books ever done on the lighthouses of Nantucket. Dazzling images including fascinating historic illustrations as well as recent photographs and paintings, and a carefully researched text illuminate an important aspect of Nantucket’s maritime past. Nantucket’s three lighthouses all have fascinating history — little Brant Point Light, which has been rebuilt more than any other American lighthouse; remote Great Point Light, completely destroyed in a storm in 1984 but rebuilt only two years later; and Sankaty Head Light, the famous “Blazing Star.” There’s also an excellent chapter on the Nantucket Lightship. Even if you’ve never been to the “Far Away Island,” this book is a must. (M). $24.95.
4571. Shomette, Donald G., SHIPWRECKS ON THE CHESAPEAKE – Maritime Disasters on Chesapeake Bay and its Tributaries 1608-1978. Tidewater. 1982. 324pp. 7th printing. 2007. 324 p. DJ. Fascinating, detailed accounts of the wrecks and rescues of the area, full of information and stories that will fascinate any reader interested in the Chesapeake and her ships as well as maritime history in general. Covers the 370 year period from the 1600’s to date. Illustrated. With large chronological index of vessels lost in the area. (M) $19.95.
2907. Barnette, Michael. Florida’s Shipwrecks. Arcadia. 2008. 128p. Soft wraps. 200 vintage photographs. The Sunshine State has a rich maritime history spanning more than five centuries. Tragically, part of that history includes thousands of ships that have met their fates in Florida waters. Potentially more than 5,000 shipwrecks reside off Florida’s 1,200 miles of coastline, with hundreds more lost in the state’s interior rivers. In and of itself, the Florida Keys archipelago, consisting of approximately 1,700 islands stretching 200 miles, is littered with the remains of close to 1,000 shipwrecks. In fact, many features of the Florida Keys were named after various shipwreck events, such as Fowey Rocks, which earned its name after the 1748 wrecking of the British warship HMS Fowey, and Alligator Reef, where the schooner USS Alligator met her demise in 1822. Florida’s Shipwrecks utilizes captivating images to illustrate dramatic stories of danger and peril at sea, introducing readers to a fascinating cross-section of Florida’s shipwreck history. This interesting volume draws from public and private collections, most never before published. Superb photographs of the station, keepers, equipment and more, well worth it. (M). $19.99.
28319. Peterson, Harold L., THE AMERICAN SWORD 1775 – 1945 – A survey of the Swords Worn by the Uniformed Forces of the United States from the Revolution to the close of World War II. Dover. 2003. Soft wraps. A complete classification and description of all the major types of swords worn by the armed forces of the United States , the Revenue Cutter Service the Public Health Service, cadets, diplomat. Includes a directory of 400 American sword makers, the evolution of scabbards, sword nomenclature, silver hilted and presentation swords, and a complete classification and description of all of the major types of swords worn by the services, dealers and inspectors. Enhanced with more than 400 illustrations of swords from rare documents, plus much more. Includes 186 halftones of swords, b/w plates and drawings. Original blue cloth with silver stamping and vignette on front cover. An excellent reference. (M). Please inquire for pricing.
28375. Hodgkins, John. A Soldier’s Son: An American Boyhood during World War II. Down East Books. 2006. 325p. Soft wraps. John Hodgkins was eight years old when his father was drafted into the army and left for Europe to fight in World War II. After his return, John’s father never spoke much about the war, but John knew he’d kept a diary. After his father’s death, John opened his diary and two boxes of memorabilia. What began as John’s attempt to tell his father’s story became the story of his own life. This memoir recounts what life was like on the home front of Temple, Maine, during the war — as well as what life was like on the front lines, thanks to what John learned from his father’s letters home and his war diary. It also provides a firsthand look at the hardscrabble lives of rural Mainers and a way of living that is now mostly gone. (M). $16.95.
8298. Bachelder, Peter Dow and Mason Philip Smith. FOUR SHORT BLASTS – The Gale of 1898 and the Loss of the Steamer Portland . 1998. 138p. Soft wraps. Cleanly written, this interesting account details the mysterious disappearance of the state of the art steamer, S.S. Portland, in November of 1898. Since there were no survivors, sources are newspaper articles of the day and interviews with survivors of the gale in other craft. The authors provide details of the storm itself, the tragic foundering of the Portland , the storm’s effect ashore, the official investigation of the sinking and ongoing legends which exist to this day. Illustrations and photographs are plentiful and poignant. In addition to a helpful index and bibliography, the authors have provided appendices—lists of victims as well as vessels lost or damaged in the gale, an amazing 3000 or more schooners, yachts, steamers and barges between New Jersey and Nova Scotia. Although the loss of the steamer and 140 passengers and crew is the primary subject, Four Short Blasts contains fascinating tangential stories, about the U. S. Life-Saving Service (long defunct) which at the time of the storm had 13 stations along the shore of Cape Cod . $17.95.
28240. Buker, Commander George E., THE METAL LIFE CAR- The Inventor, the Impostor, and the Business of Lifesaving. University of Alabama Press. 2008. DJ. 224p, 17 illustrations. This title presents the fascinating story of American ingenuity and its struggle against bureaucracy and chicanery. For centuries sailing vessels crept along the coastline, ready to flee ashore in case of danger or trouble; this worked well until weather or poor sailing drove these ships against an unforgiving coast. Joseph Francis, born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1801, was an inventor who also had the ability to organize a business to produce his inventions and the salesmanship to sell his products. His metal lifeboats, first used in survey expeditions in Asia Minor and Central America, came into demand among the world’s merchant marine, the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Revenue Service. His corrugated “life car” would become an important tool of the U.S. Life-Saving Service. The metal boats also played an important role in the Third Seminole War in Florida. Francis’ metal pontoon army wagons served in the trans-Mississippi campaigns against the Indians. In Europe, he was acclaimed as a genius and sold patent rights to shipyards in Liverpool and the Woolwich Arsenal in England, Le Havre seaport in France, in the free city of Hamburg, and in the Russian Empire. But while Francis was busy in Europe, Captain Douglass Ottinger, U.S. Revenue Marine Service, claimed to be the inventor of Francis’ life car and obtained support in the U.S. Congress and the Patent Office for his claim. Francis had to battle for decades to prove his rights, and Americans remained generally unfamiliar with his devices, thereby condemning Civil War armies to inferior copies while Europe was using, and acclaiming, his inventions. Long awaited account of the work of this important life-saving equipment inventor. (M). $29.95.
Nominated for the 2008 Foundation for Coast Guard History book award:
27268. Claflin, James W. HISTORIC NANTUCKET: SURFSIDE LIFE-SAVING STATION – A History of Nantucket’s Life-Saving Stations. Volume I. Worcester. 2007. 79 p. Soft wraps. Special edition, signed and numbered of 500, includes pasted in wood chip from Surfside Life-Saving Station. Historic Nantucket: Surfside Life-Saving Station is one of a continuing series of booklets that tell the story of historic lighthouses, lightships and life-saving stations along the New England Coast . The Nantucket coastline has long been one of the most dangerous areas along the New England coast. Over the years four life-saving stations and eight Massachusetts Humane Society stations stood guard over the island’s shores, standing ready to combat the seas in an effort to rescue shipwrecked mariners in their time of need. With thousands of vessels plying the dangerous waters, the chance of a shipping disaster was always great. Hundreds of shipwrecks did indeed occur off the coast with startling losses. Using descriptive text and a variety of vintage images from private as well as museum collections, we get a rare glimpse into the history of the area and the lives of these dedicated government men and women. Author James Claflin combines an extensively researched text with his exquisite collection of vintage photographs, many previously unpublished, to tell the story of this important piece of history. (M). $8.95.
28210. Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum. Grand Traverse Lighthouse. Arcadia Publishing. 2008. 128 p. Soft wraps. 200 vintage photographs. The Grand Traverse Lighthouse sits majestically at the entrance of Grand Traverse Bay , guiding vessels between Chicago and the Straits of Mackinac. For over 150 years, it has been an important beacon for all who have plied the waters of Lake Michigan . The original 1852 lighthouse was used for six years before being torn down. In 1858, a larger lighthouse with an attached nine-sided tower was erected on a site farther west. Over the course of its history, 66 lighthouse keepers, assistant keepers, and U.S. Coast Guard personnel have maintained the light. Today visitors tour the restored lighthouse, which is now a living museum filled with displays and exhibits depicting a simpler way of life. Another in the series from Arcadia , this volume draws from public and private collections, most never before published. Superb photographs, well worth it. (M). $19.99.
28212. Fahlen, Kim and Karen Scanlon. Lighthouses of San Diego. Arcadia Publishing. 2008. 15 p. Soft wraps. San Diego ’s first lighthouse on top of Point Loma was replaced by 1891 with two others, at the base of the cliff and on Ballast Point, where their beams were less affected by fog and low clouds. In this collection of vintage-photograph postcards, the authors explore these historic beacons’ pasts. Another in the series from Arcadia , this volume draws from public and private collections, most never before published. Superb views, well worth it. (M). $7.99.
28213. Veronico, Betty S. Lighthouses of the Bay Area. Arcadia Publishing. 2008. 128 p. Soft wraps. 200 vintage photographs. The 1848 discovery of gold in the hills of California brought prospectors and adventurers west; many came across the country on the treacherous western trails, while others came by sea. The rugged coast of California and the dangers of the San Francisco Bay waters claimed many ships and their passengers. The loss of these ships and the ever-increasing number of vessels converging in the San Francisco Bay made it evident that navigational aids were desperately needed. To enhance maritime safety in the region, the San Francisco Bay ’s first light, located on Alcatraz Island , began construction in 1852. Light stations soon followed at Fort Point, Point Bonita, and the Farallon Islands . An additional 15 lights later served the bay, and two lightships were stationed outside the Golden Gate . Another in the series from Arcadia , this volume draws from public and private collections, most never before published. Superb photographs, well worth it. (M). $21.99.
28216. Clary, Margie Willis and Kim McDermott. South Carolina Lighthouses. Arcadia Publishing. 2008. 128 p. Soft wraps. 200 vintage photographs. Boasting one of the oldest lighthouses in North America and the most working lighthouses today, South Carolina has a long seafaring history. In 1767, the Morris Island Lighthouse was built at the entrance to Charleston Harbor , and before 1860, there were lighthouses in Georgetown , Cape Romain , Bull’s Bay, and Hunting Island . During the Civil War, all lighthouses on the eastern coast were darkened. Many were destroyed. After the war, towers that had been damaged were repaired, and additional lights were erected on Daufuskie and Hilton Head Islands . In 1962, the new Charleston Light on Sullivan’s Island replaced the Morris Island Lighthouse, which was suffering from erosion by the ever-encroaching sea. The new light contained an elevator and two rotating beacons capable of producing 28 million candlepower, a light that can be seen 26 miles out to sea. At that time, it was considered one of the most powerful lights in the Western Hemisphere . Another in the series from Arcadia , this volume draws from public and private collections, most never before published. Superb photographs, well worth it. (M). $19.99.
28217. Clary, Margie Willis and Kim McDermott. South Carolina Lighthouses. Arcadia Publishing. 2008. 15 p. Soft wraps. With one of the oldest lighthouses in the country and the most working lighthouses today, South Carolina boasts a rich lighthouse history. In this collection of vintage-photograph postcards, the authors explore these historic beacons’ pasts. Another in the series from Arcadia , this volume draws from public and private collections, most never before published. Superb views, well worth it. (M). $7.99.
28218. Author(s): The Air Station Elizabeth City Wardroom. Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City. Arcadia Publishing. 2008. 128 p. Soft wraps. 200 vintage photographs. Situated on the northern end of North Carolina ’s Outer Banks, Elizabeth City has a strong aviation tradition. The Wright brothers used the “ Harbor of Hospitality ” as a final way station before traveling on to Kitty Hawk . This coastal town has been the center of United States Coast Guard Aviation since the establishment of the only Coast Guard–owned airport in 1939. Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City began as an installation of six seaplanes operating off of the Pasquotank River . During World War II, the population ballooned to 8,000 assigned personnel. Post-war USCG Aviation expansion saw the addition of many maintenance functions that led to the creation of the Aviation Repair and Supply Base, the center of USCG Aviation maintenance. The base was expanded with a separate air station, the Aviation Technical Training Center , CG Aviation’s schoolhouse, Support Center Elizabeth City , and Small Boat Station Elizabeth City . The mission of providing the finest aviation maintenance to Coast Guard Aviation and the highest level of service to mariners of the Virginia Capes and Outer Banks remains an integral part of the installation. Another in the series from Arcadia , this volume draws from public and private collections, most never before published. Superb photographs, well worth it. (M). $19.99. Due out in September.
28216. Clary, Margie Willis and Kim McDermott. South Carolina Lighthouses. Arcadia Publishing. 2008. 128 p. Soft wraps. 200 vintage photographs. Boasting one of the oldest lighthouses in North America and the most working lighthouses today, South Carolina has a long seafaring history. In 1767, the Morris Island Lighthouse was built at the entrance to Charleston Harbor , and before 1860, there were lighthouses in Georgetown , Cape Romain , Bull’s Bay, and Hunting Island . During the Civil War, all lighthouses on the eastern coast were darkened. Many were destroyed. After the war, towers that had been damaged were repaired, and additional lights were erected on Daufuskie and Hilton Head Islands . In 1962, the new Charleston Light on Sullivan’s Island replaced the Morris Island Lighthouse, which was suffering from erosion by the ever-encroaching sea. The new light contained an elevator and two rotating beacons capable of producing 28 million candlepower, a light that can be seen 26 miles out to sea. At that time, it was considered one of the most powerful lights in the Western Hemisphere . Another in the series from Arcadia , this volume draws from public and private collections, most never before published. Superb photographs, well worth it. (M). $19.99.
28217. Clary, Margie Willis and Kim McDermott. South Carolina Lighthouses. Arcadia Publishing. 2008. 15 p. Soft wraps. With one of the oldest lighthouses in the country and the most working lighthouses today, South Carolina boasts a rich lighthouse history. In this collection of vintage-photograph postcards, the authors explore these historic beacons’ pasts. Another in the series from Arcadia , this volume draws from public and private collections, most never before published. Superb views, well worth it. (M). $7.99.
28218. Author(s): The Air Station Elizabeth City Wardroom. Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City. Arcadia Publishing. 2008. 128 p. Soft wraps. 200 vintage photographs. Situated on the northern end of North Carolina ’s Outer Banks, Elizabeth City has a strong aviation tradition. The Wright brothers used the “ Harbor of Hospitality ” as a final way station before traveling on to Kitty Hawk . This coastal town has been the center of United States Coast Guard Aviation since the establishment of the only Coast Guard–owned airport in 1939. Coast Guard Base Elizabeth City began as an installation of six seaplanes operating off of the Pasquotank River . During World War II, the population ballooned to 8,000 assigned personnel. Post-war USCG Aviation expansion saw the addition of many maintenance functions that led to the creation of the Aviation Repair and Supply Base, the center of USCG Aviation maintenance. The base was expanded with a separate air station, the Aviation Technical Training Center , CG Aviation’s schoolhouse, Support Center Elizabeth City , and Small Boat Station Elizabeth City . The mission of providing the finest aviation maintenance to Coast Guard Aviation and the highest level of service to mariners of the Virginia Capes and Outer Banks remains an integral part of the installation. Another in the series from Arcadia , this volume draws from public and private collections, most never before published. Superb photographs, well worth it. (M). $19.99. Due out in September.