In early twentieth-century America; affluent city-dwellers made a habit of venturing out of doors and vacationing in resorts and national parks. Yet the rich and the privileged were not the only ones who sought respite in nature. In this pathbreaking book; historian Colin Fisher demonstrates that working-class white immigrants and African Americans in rapidly industrializing Chicago also fled the urban environment during their scarce leisure time. If they had the means; they traveled to wilderness parks just past the city limits as well as to rural resorts in Wisconsin and Michigan. But lacking time and money; they most often sought out nature within the city itself--at urban parks and commercial groves; along the Lake Michigan shore; even in vacant lots. Chicagoans enjoyed a variety of outdoor recreational activities in these green spaces; and they used them to forge ethnic and working-class community. While narrating a crucial era in the history of Chicago's urban development; Fisher makes important interventions in debates about working-class leisure; the history of urban parks; environmental justice; the African American experience; immigration history; and the cultural history of nature.
#2700884 in Books Ingramcontent 2017-02-13 2017-02-13Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x .31 x 6.50l; #File Name: 146712445196 pagesAround Binghamton Images of Modern America
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. does a fine job of providing a brief history of the areaBy booksbaseballIn this latest Arcadia book about Binghamton; Arcadia Publishing focuses on the modern-day Greater Binghamton Area. The book’s three chapters respectively focus on the area being a Sports Mecca; the area’s host of entertainment venues; and the area’s recent rebirth as a college town. The book’s focus is on Binghamton since 1950.The book’s author; Jim Maggiore; does a fine job of providing a brief history of the area; while focusing on its comeback efforts. Binghamton served as the founding city for the likes of IBM; Endicott-Johnson; and Link Aviation; which today would be similar to having Google; Microsoft; and in the same town. Maggiore also provides the reader with images related to notable celebrities who have called Binghamton home; from Rod Serling to Stephanie Courtney (“Flo†in the insurance commercials); while also providing rosters for the city’s Walk of Fame; Baseball Shrine; Hockey Hall of Fame; and Sports Hall of Fame. (The area has a strong tradition of recognizing those who have contributed to its legacy.)The area’s rich sports history is captured in pictures ranging from Babe Ruth and Max Schmeling to Billie Jean King; Lee Trevino; Ken Schrader; Andy Murray; Kei Nishikori; and Steven Matz; all of whom competed in the city at one time or another. The book also provides a team picture of the 2016 Maine-Endwell Little League team; which captured the LL World Series title.Early photographs of Binghamton University give the reader an appreciation of how much the area’s recent resurgence can be traced to the growth of its primary post-secondary establishment.I think this book will please sports fans as well as those interested in how faded manufacturing towns can reinvent themselves. While serving as an “Ode to Binghamton;†it makes area denizens wistful for the past and eager for the future.
