New Haven, as its name implies, has always strived to be a place of betterment for its citizens. Its Puritan founders wanted to make it a religious utopia. Its Colonial leaders transformed its shallow harbor into a shipping port and worked to bring Yale to town. Nineteenth-century entrepreneurs won industrial fame for the city with the manufacturing of arms, hardware, and carriages. By 1900, New Haven was home to thousands of new immigrants seeking a better life. It is no surprise, then, that as the century proceeded, local leaders tried to create a "model city." This time, however, the tools of progress were the bulldozer, the wrecking ball, and millions of dollars from the U.S. government. It was called urban redevelopment. In never-before-published photographs from the archives of the New Haven Colony Historical Society, New Haven: Reshaping the City, 1900-1980 portrays the twentieth-century changes that altered the face of a major Connecticut port. The book spotlights the bustling shops of downtown, the crowded flea markets on Oak Street, and the other neighborhoods that lost and gained most during this period of swift and remarkable change: State Street, Church and Chapel Streets, Wooster Square, Long Wharf, Dixwell and Newhallville, Fair Haven, the Hill, and Dwight Street, among others.

With more than 360 color photos and maps, this image-rich guide covers all 92 lighthouse locations in the New England states of Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. For tourists, historians, lighthouse enthusiasts, and other travelers, here are practical directions and historical tidbits not only on the lighthouses, but on the tours, attractions, and other sites of interest in the coastal communities these beacons have long protected. Enjoy boat cruises, organizations involved in local lighthouse preservation, and plenty of indoor and outdoor attractions and entertainment, including attractions off the beaten path like snack shacks or strange amusements.

A gem of American urban planning history that would become a benchmark in discussions about the shape of the new American city

Anyone who has lived near New Haven, Connecticut, in the past 40-plus years has surely heard of Toad’s Place. With a capacity of 750, Toad’s has served as the perfect spot for musicians who prefer smaller venues. U2 played one of their first US concerts there, on their Boy tour. In 1978, Bruce Springsteen was in New Haven and arrived at Toad’s unannounced, and got up and played. The surprises kept coming and the club was attracting big names, as well as up-and-comers. In 1989, the Rolling Stones played a surprise show on a Saturday night, giving 700 fans the night of their dreams. Nothing could have been better—the Rolling Stones in downtown New Haven was unimaginable! That is only a taste of the stories that are uncovered in this book. Randall Beach and Toad’s owner Brian Phelps recall the legendary shows and behind-the-scenes stories.