Thursday, January 11, 2024

Nonfiction Book Review: Delaware from Railways to Freeways: First State, Second Phase by Dave Tabler

This morning, I have a nonfiction book to share in our book review spotlight! Check out Delaware from Railways to Freeways: First State, Second Phase, learn about author Dave Tabler and read my thoughts on the book! Be sure to enter for a chance to win a prize in the book tour giveaway at the end of this post.


 
 
Book Title:  Delaware from Railways to Freeways / First State, Second Phase by Dave Tabler
Category: Adult Non-Fiction, 110 pages
Genre: American History, Colonial
Publisher: Dave Tabler
Publication Date: Nov 1, 2023
Content Rating: G. Suitable for all audiences.


"Delaware from Railroads to Freeways by Dave Tabler is a visually stunning book that takes readers on a captivating journey through Delaware's 19th-century history. With engaging narrative and stunning graphics that seem to leap off the page, this book provides an immersive and enthralling reading experience as Tabler chronicles the rich history of Delaware. This is his second installment of a three-part series on the history of Delaware – the First State.... For Delaware natives and enthusiasts, this is probably one of the best-illustrated background books of Delaware's 19th-century history as you can find about the First State. It is truly a captivating book." -- AuthorsReading

"Dave Tabler’s Delaware from Railways to Freeways is a fascinating history text covering important sites and artifacts from the first state. The book includes a wealth of historical and social insights into the production techniques and ultimate significance behind the early Delaware artifacts and events it covers. It makes note of the geographical importance of certain buildings and landscapes as well. Detailed images appear on each page of the book alongside brief, evocative descriptions of their meaning and significance. The result is an involving pictorial history of the evolution of Delaware, complemented by distinguishing coverage of the development of the state’s transportation infrastructure." -- Foreword Reviews

"Tabler’s second entry in a trilogy covering the history of Delaware rides the rails into the First State’s storied past, covering the tumultuous yet prosperous 19th century and the dawn of the 20th, that era of iron, steam, Civil War, suffragettes, technical marvels, and surprises both fun—like the history of scrapple, or the suspender-and-pants rig known as a “breeches buoy” used to rescue mariners—to the morbid, like public whipping posts or the jolting tale of a child’s corpse being sent through the mail. The stories of trends, people, and material goods that Tabler highlights, in short and inviting bursts of text, are interesting and well buttressed by the copious illustrations." -- Booklife

"The contents are entertaining and varied, offering glimpses of little-known aspects of American history, from Colonial-era enmity between Whigs and Tories to inventions such as the Manby mortar, a cannon-like device used in rescuing people from sinking ships, to a bartending goose.-- Kirkus Reviews
 
"
Delaware from Railways to Freeways is the second book in a series that began with Delaware Before the Railroads and whose planned conclusion is Delaware from Freeways to e-Ways. In his preface, author Dave Tabler touts the advent of the railroad, saying that it “ushered in a prosperous era for the First State” due to Delaware’s “strategic location” on the Delaware Bay. The book is mostly photographs, all of which are vibrant and compelling and include objects that would not be present in most histories of the state, such as John Jones’s adjustable peach sorter: an 1874 invention that revolutionized peach sorting. Or the crawlspace in the home of Quaker couple Daniel and Mary Corbit, in which they hid a fugitive slave in 1845. Tabler’s captions are bite-sized yet satisfying, offering readers a plethora of history without making them feel overworked. ...More a coffee-table book than a proper history, Dave Tabler’s Delaware from Railways to Freeways is a worthy read for any devotee of Delaware’s past." -- Indie Reader
 
"
Delaware from Railways to Freeways offers readers a captivating journey through Delaware’s lesser-known history. It is an excellent choice for those who relish reading about unusual facts and harbor a passion for history, even if it occasionally leans toward trivia. This book provides a valuable contribution to understanding Delaware’s rich heritage." -- Literary Titan

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About the Book


Our tiny state continues to make an oversized impact on today’s America. Explore the mind-blowing facts that give Delaware a unique place in history.

Want to know more about the historical depth of the Diamond State? Curious to learn the surprising background behind cypress shingles, Conestoga wagons, and Patty Cannon? Wondering about the origins of George Washington’s famous cherry tree story? Popular blogger and long-time Delawarean Dave Tabler relishes sharing his love of the past with hundreds of thousands of online readers. And now he’s here to celebrate the many fascinating details that make this small first state a real powerhouse.

Delaware from Railways to Freeways covers eye-opening information about the region and its residents from 1800 to 1907. Laying out a captivating journey through pictures and offering up little-known anecdotes, entertainingly educational stories, and a comprehensive deep dive, Tabler gives insightful commentary on inventions, contributors to society, and transformative technology. History lovers of all ages will immensely enjoy this trove of 19th-century lore.

In Delaware from Railways to Freeways, you’ll discover:
  • The illustrator responsible for the modern-day version of Robin Hood
  • Which innovative minds were behind Christmas Seals, RCA Victrola, and other cool contraptions
  • How roads were built, the iron industry rose up, and breakwaters and ferries expanded
  • Fun facts about the state fair, the founding of the A.M.E. Church, and a flying machine
  • The Civil War & Reconstruction era, The Gilded Age & Beyond, and much, much more!

Delaware from Railways to Freeways is the perfect combination of coffee table book and reference resource and is the second volume in the Delaware History Overview series. If you like photography from the past, engrossing regional tales, and adaptive teaching tools, then you’ll adore Dave Tabler’s fresh retrospective.
 
My Review
 
Delaware from Railways to Freeways takes readers on a journey through Delaware's history. The author does a fantastic job featuring an educational history of the state of Delaware through entertaining stories and interesting photographs and images.  From historical tidbits that you may have learned in history classes to more obscure Delaware-related places and faces, the author fills the pages with information to entertain and enlighten readers. 
Readers will enjoy seeing history come to life on the book's pages.  Photographs with short captions make up most of the book--with additional text for many photos continued in the back of the book in order of appearance.  There is something wonderful about "seeing" the information referenced throughout the book. Locals may find familiar sights, while readers who may never venture into the state have a unique opportunity to view the interesting pieces of Delaware's history.
Would I recommend Delaware from Railways to Freeways: First State, Second Phase?  While I have never visited Delaware or experienced much of the state's history, I loved reading this book.  The pages are like strolling through a museum filled with artifacts!  If you enjoy history and photographs or images of historical places and faces. This is an enjoyable book. The book's arrangement allows you to enjoy many pictures and quick anecdotes on the pages--and then offers more information on many of the images in a back section of the book. Delaware from Railways to Freeways: First State, Second Phase is a great book for history lovers!
 
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Meet the Author

Ten year old Dave Tabler decided he was going to read the ‘R’ volume from the family’s World Book Encyclopedia set over summer vacation. He never made it from beginning to end. He did, however, become interested in Norman Rockwell, rare-earth elements, and Run for the Roses.

Tabler’s father encouraged him to try his hand at taking pictures with the family camera. With visions of Rockwell dancing in his head, Tabler press-ganged his younger brother into wearing a straw hat and sitting next to a stream barefoot with a homemade fishing pole in his hand. The resulting image was terrible.

Dave Tabler went on to earn degrees in art history and photojournalism despite being told he needed a ‘Plan B.'

Fresh out of college, Tabler contributed the photography for The Illustrated History of American Civil War Relics, which taught him how to work with museum curators, collectors, and white cotton gloves. He met a man in the Shenandoah Valley who played the musical saw, a Knoxville fellow who specialized in collecting barbed wire, and Tom Dickey, brother of the man who wrote ‘Deliverance.’

In 2006 Tabler circled back to these earlier encounters with Appalachian culture as an idea for a blog. AppalachianHistory.net today reaches 375,000 readers a year.

Dave Tabler moved to Delaware in 2010 and became smitten with its rich past. He no longer copies Norman Rockwell, but his experience working with curators and collectors came in handy when he got the urge to photograph a love letter to Delaware’s early heritage. This may be the start of something.


connect with the author: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ pinterest ~ instagram ~ goodreads
 

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