Lake Geneva was originally called Kishwauketoe by the Oneota tribe, a name meaning clear or sparkling water. Carved out by a glacier, this same crystal water has attracted residents and tourists for centuries, and continues to be a retreat for many in every season. Through a collection of vivid vintage postcards, authors Carolyn Hope Smeltzer and Martha Kiefer Cucco provide an overview of Lake Geneva's rich history, rendered in views of mansions, cottages, and camps, and in images of recreation, the surrounding towns, and, of course, Lake Geneva itself.

Geneva was an ideal location for settlement, with rich farming soil, a river to power the mills, and a plentiful supply of trees for lumber; it didn't take long to attract and support a thriving community. Incorporated in 1858, Geneva remains an idyllic village, home to fine architecture from the mid- to late-19th century, scenic parks along the banks of the Fox River, and a sense of community spirit and pride. Geneva in Vintage Postcards opens a window into the past, allowing us to experience what this community most wanted to present to others and what visitors most wanted to share with their families and friends. From scenes of the historic business district to the banks of Island Park, the vintage postcards of Geneva reveal a community rich in history and charm.

An overview of Lake Geneva's rich history. Lake Geneva was originally called Kishwauketoe by the Oneota tribe, a name meaning clear or sparkling water. Carved out by a glacier, this same crystal water has attracted residents and tourists for centuries, and continues to be a retreat for many in every season. Through a collection of vivid vintage postcards, authors Carolyn Hope Smeltzer and Martha Kiefer Cucco provide an inside look of Lake Geneva's past, rendered in views of mansions, cottages, and camps, and in images of recreation, the surrounding towns, and, of course, Lake Geneva itself.

The postcard has always been a popular form of communication, but as we look back, it also serves as a valuable historical document. The views of our past offer us a unique insight into the people and places that came before us. Main Street, North Dakota offers us an intriguing look at that uniquely American street, where business was transacted, goods purchased, and information and stories shared. Some of the towns collected here have disappeared off the map, but the majority have survived and continue to grow and prosper.

Rich land at the edge of a great prairie with the wonderful Fox River flowing through it, providing a source of power-this is what the settlers of Kane County found when they arrived. Early pioneers came from the eastern United States in the 1830s, and later migrated from Europe. Kane County in Vintage Postcards tells the story of the beginning of Kane County through its first 100 years, 1838 through 1938, featuring images of that period. This new history of Kane County includes an essay on the importance of postcards as historical data, a general history of the county, and a section-by-section look at 27 cities and villages. More than 200 pictures and colorful narratives tell of the accomplishments by those first few generations who lived and died in the county.

Geneva Lake was formed by a glacier tens of thousands of years ago. The Oneota left historic footprints with a cultural gift in the form of the shore path. The path is accessible for all to walk just as the natives did many centuries earlier. Images of America: Geneva Lake illustrates the early history of the communities surrounding the lake--Lake Geneva, Linn, Fontana, and Williams Bay--through scrapbooks, vintage photographs, and storytelling. The chapters in this book cover the history of people, places, pioneers, physical chores, and play at Geneva Lake. Families who have spent time at the lake for generations share enchanting memories, and those new to it can experience lake living years ago.

Rich land at the edge of a great prairie with the wonderful Fox River flowing through it, providing a source of power-this is what the settlers of Kane County found when they arrived. Early pioneers came from the eastern United States in the 1830s, and later migrated from Europe. Kane County in Vintage Postcards tells the story of the beginning of Kane County through its first 100 years, 1838 through 1938, featuring images of that period. This new history of Kane County includes an essay on the importance of postcards as historical data, a general history of the county, and a section-by-section look at 27 cities and villages. More than 200 pictures and colorful narratives tell of the accomplishments by those first few generations who lived and died in the county.