First settled in the late 1600s and incorporated in 1770, the small seacoast town of Cohasset became an important center for fishing and shipbuilding during the great age of sail. As the maritime era declined in the late 19th century, wealthy Bostonians found Cohasset's cool ocean breezes, the natural beauty of its rockbound shoreline, and its protected coves and harbor ideal for summer recreation. Amateur and professional theater groups flourished in this summer colony. Through vintage photographs, Cohasset covers all this and more-seaside hotels and summer "cottages," village life and old-time merchants, patriarchs and politicians. Personalities abound, such as Philander Bates, a shoemaker who held almost every elected and appointed town office, and financier Clarence W. Barron, who entertained Calvin Coolidge at his Oaks Farm in 1925.

This comprehensive survey of urban growth in America has become a standard work in the field. From the early colonial period to the First World War, John Reps explores to what extent city planning has been rooted in the nation's tradition, showing the extent of European influence on early communities. Illustrated by over three hundred reproductions of maps, plans, and panoramic views, this book presents hundreds of American cities and the unique factors affecting their development.