The Wildwoods: 19201970 follows a path of progress and preservation in a beach community situated along the Atlantic Ocean in historic Cape May County. Starting out in the 1920s, vintage postcards illustrate this shore town's transformation from a sleepy seaside resort into a summer vacation hot spot. Look through a window into the past and see Zaberer's Restaurant in North Wildwood, the Starlight Ballroom on the boardwalk, and the Wingate Motel in the center of Wildwood.

The small town of Phoenixville has a multifaceted industrious past that developed around the Phoenix Iron Company, the silk mill, and the Byrne Knitting Mill. It grew steadily through an influx of European immigrants drawn to the area by the promise of work. This growth resulted in Phoenixvilleas many cultural institutions, such as the Knights of Columbus, the St. Anna Italian Club, and the Holy Trinity Church. The vintage postcards in Around Phoenixville depict the people, places, and events that have shaped the communityas rich history and heritage, with images of such landmarks as the Phoenix Hotel, the West End Fire Company, and the construction of the Gay Street Bridge.

The Wildwoods are four boroughs on a South Jersey barrier island first settled in the late 1800s. Once known as Five Mile Beach, the wind-whipped forest and beaches transformed from fishing town to summer resort. Developers divided the ground into lots, hired architects to draw houses, and construction companies to build them. This all happened during an architectural transition period at the turn of the century, resulting in a diverse range of styles, from Victorian to Craftsman and Gothic to Colonial, many of which were as grand as those in Cape May. Although Wildwood's Victorian architecture was called noteworthy by architects, many homes were not appreciated or protected. Instead of being restored or renovated, they became run-down and were knocked down. But luckily, not all was lost. There are homeowners and developers who see potential in the Wildwoods' history and character. They accept the challenges of preservation, knowing the benefits it brings the community. These people are saving what makes the Wildwoods worth living in.

This is the story of the sun, sand, surf & the Wildwoods of the South Jersey Shore that is one of the most popular resort areas in America. Stretching along the barrier islands north of Cape May is the Wildwood Boardwalk, a boulevard of fun. With careful research, well-chosen words, & generous illustrations, WILDWOOD BY THE SEA takes the reader back to the resort's 19th century beginnings, its flourishing in the teens, through its struggles with Prohibition & the Great Depression to the effects of the war years, the fabulous fifties & turbulent 60s, & its renaissance of the 80s & 90s. The Wildwoods story is of amusement piers, restaurants, hotels, motels, entertainment, & one of the most beautiful beaches anywhere. Come, stroll the Boardwalk & the legacy of WILDWOOD BY THE SEA. 257 pgs., 450 illus. (32 full color), & index. Order from Amusement Park Books, 20925 Mastick Rd., Fairview Park, OH 44126. Free catalogue upon request.

With a rich history of great beaches, a two-mile-long boardwalk, and thrilling amusement piers, Wildwood, New Jersey, has been a popular summer seashore resort for vacationers for nearly a century. Fun Pier was created in 1957 by Joe Barnes on the former site of Wildwood's original Convention Hall. Barnes transformed the pier, once dominated by kiddie rides, by building custom rides that were unique to the Wildwood boardwalk, such as the Sky Tower, the Monorail, and the Ski Ride. Fun Pier became famous for its unconventional, carnival-like atmosphere. After two fires sealed the pier's fate, it was acquired by the Morey organization, which transformed it into Wild Wheels and ultimately Adventure Pier.

This 3-vol. work constitutes a vastly enlarged and expanded new edition of the Index to American Photographic Collections, 3rd enlarged edition, differing from the previous editions in two important respects. First is the inclusion of holdings from outside the United States, a natural evolution in our shrinking world. The second is the inclusion of exhibition histories, cross-referenced by photographer and sponsoring institution, providing a useful new context for evaluating less well-known photographers.