Vintage Images Highlight the History of Nassau

MT. PLEASANT, S.C. - July 17, 2013 - PRLog -- The newest addition to Arcadia Publishing’s popular Images of America series is Nassau from local author Kurt Vincent. The book boasts more than 200 vintage images and memories of days gone by.

Located in southern Rensselaer County, Nassau has witnessed great change since its incorporation in 1819. Nassau chronicles how the town transformed itself from an area tied to agriculture and industry to a bedroom community for larger population centers in the Capital Region.

In the late 1940s and early 1950s, housing developments were built to accommodate the growing neighborhoods. With those changes came increased traffic, need for larger schools and business expansion. America’s longest highway, Historic Route 20, was carved out of Nassau’s historic paths and primitive turnpike. It created more streamlined transportation routes across the entire state.

Images of America: Nassau serves as a visual repository of community values and history to illustrate everyday life and the people that lived it.

Highlights of Nassau include:
•   Highlights the surprising number of historic structures that remain in Nassau, after almost 275 years of European development. Nassau Village alone has almost 70 structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
•   Showcases the establishment and importance of transportation routes to the development of the community. US Route 20’s formation is essential to the region as the original Lebanon Turnpike over the Berkshires was in the 1820s.
•   Discusses Nassau’s Jewish history, starting when the agriculture industry was in transition Jewish philanthropic groups purchased farms and settled immigrants there. Three synagogues, a kosher butcher and many small businesses followed.

Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at (888)-313-2665 or online.  

Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States.  Our mission is to make history accessible and meaningful through the publication of books on the heritage of America’s people and places.  Have we done a book on your town?  Visit www.arcadiapublishing.com.