Advertised in a 1909 sales brochure as "The Rising Suburb of the East;" Essex; Maryland; has seen its fate and fortune rise and fall and rise again. The town enjoyed its early reputation as a haven for city dwellers with picnic groves; hunting and fishing clubs; dance halls; and waterfront amusement parks. The boom continued with new jobs and prosperity until the 1950s; when a fire destroyed much of the towns main street. Economic decay set in as a result of the loss of industry and an influx of low-income housing. Several attempts at redevelopment and legislation failed; resulting in the residents distrust of government intervention. Finally a county-backed Renaissance project was established in 2002; bringing Essex a new epithet: "The Hidden Gem of Baltimore County."
#1566332 in eBooks 2004-09-29 2004-09-29File Name: B009A3O162
Review
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Synopsis by publisherBy Charles RosenbergJamaica Plain: Then Now is a fascinating photographic history of a Boston neighborhood once referred to as the "Eden of America." At one time a part of Roxbury and later West Roxbury. Jamaica Plain was annexed to the city of Boston in 1874. During the next five decades. the neighborhood expanded due to the railroad and streetcars and became known as one of the "streetcar suburbs." In this lavishly illustrated book. vintage images placed alongside contemporary photographs show well-known buildings and streetscapes as they once were and as they appear today. Included are Jamaica Pond. with its icehouses. and the area of Forest Hills. with the elevated line and streetcars. as well as schools. places of worship. and homes. Anthony M. Sammarco is a noted historian and author of more than forty books on the history of Boston and surrounding cities and towns. Sammarco teaches history at the Urban College of Boston.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Authors ReviewBy observerWhen I wrote this book on Jamaica Plain. MAI was amazed at the rich history of this neighborhood of Boston that was once a part of Roxbury and originally known as the Jamaica End of town. With the Arnold Arboretum. and the Bussey Institute. Jamaica Plain became part of the Emerald Necklace and retains a bucolic and suburban setting. Hopefully. a text history of Jamaica Plain will be written shortly to augment thisphotographic history.Email comments to me at asammarco@msn.comShare your photographs!2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Recommended picks for any solid collection on regional Massachusetts historyBy Midwest Book ReviewJamaica Plain covers a Boston neighborhood once known as the Eden of America. which was a part of Roxbury and West Roxbury before being annexed to Boston in 1874. It was one of the Boston neighborhoods which became known as a streetcar suburb: plenty of vintage photos show buildings and routes yesterday and today. contrasting old and new areas of Jamaica Plain. These are simply outstanding histories: recommended picks for any solid collection on regional Massachusetts history.
