Before the Civil War, William Johnston served as president of Charlotte's first railroad, the Charlotte & SC Railroad. After the war, he rebuilt that line and extended it to Augusta, GA, creating the fastest route between New York and the deep South. He was instrumental in connecting Charlotte by rail early to two seaports, Charleston and Wilmington, allowing the small village to grow rapidly. After retiring from railroad management, he served four terms as a transformative Mayor of Charlotte, built the popular Buford Hotel for the region's rail and mill leaders, and co-organized the Commercial National Bank which, through mergers, evolved into today's Bank of America. Beyond these economic contributions, William Johnston successfully proposed an amendment to the North Carolina Constitution to broaden the state's religious tolerance, and also oversaw the creation of Charlotte's first grade school for African-American children. (Recipient of a 2020 Award of Excellence from the North Carolina Society of Historians)

Augusta and Summerville showcases rare nineteenth-century stereoviews and photographs from the extensive collection of Joseph M. Lee III and the Augusta Museum of History, spanning a 41-year period from 1859 to 1900. The engaging images within these pages were captured on film by some of Augusta's earliest photographers, including J.W. Perkins, John Usher Jr., J.A. Palmer, and H.C. Hall, among others. Most of the images have never been published and provide an unusually valuable source of information about Augusta and its environs. Known the world round for its pristine landscapes and "Garden City" charm, Augusta has always been a photographer's dream. Lush, verdant scenes recall a city yet unmarked by the scars of expansion, still enjoying the tranquility of life in the Old South. Views of early businesses and homes on Broad and Greene Streets, the flood of 1888, local monuments, historic churches and cemeteries, pioneering schools, the early cotton crop, and area waterways all contribute to this visual journey. The reader will delight in scenes of yesteryear, diving deep into the annals of one of Georgia's most beloved cities.