Binghamton, once known as Chenango Point, has since been affectionately called by several names: the Parlor City, one of the Square Deal Towns, Bingo-all appellations for a jewel of the southern tier of New York State. It is a city that grew at the juncture of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers, a land of sweeping hillsides embracing a valley containing a rich mosaic of cultures. As the seat of Broome County, the city has been the center of economic and cultural development, fulfilling a destiny dreamed of by early settlers.
This is the story of Binghamton, presented as a symphony of memories preserved in images captured by hundreds of unknown photographers. Binghamton uncovers the roots of a distinctive community, one that may be unfamiliar to many. It showcases photographs and stories from everyday life in other eras. At the heart of this volume are the faces of early residents, rare views of small enterprises, and vintage scenes of familiar landmarks. The accompanying text is often expressed in words from the past gleaned from letters, diaries, and newspapers-stories of real people from the beginning days of Binghamton through the 1950s.
[Synopsis from barnesandnoble.com]
This wonderful stroll through Binghamton’s rich history was written by lifelong residents Ed Aswad and Suzanne M. Meredith. Published by Arcadia Publishing, it is part of our Local History Collection. Read more about Images of America: Binghamton at Arcadia’s website.
Or visit Special Collections, located on the second floor of the Glenn G. Bartle Library [off of the North Reading Room] and ask for Special Collections Local History — F129.B4 A89 2001.
Come! Explore Binghamton’s history!
Images of America: Binghamton is featured book for April 2009!
