Although Native Americans have lived along the banks of the Occoquan for thousands of years; John Smith was the first European to visit the area; arriving at the river�s mouth in 1608. Here he encountered the Dogue Indians; from whose language the river and town take their names. With the coming of settlers; Occoquan�s location at the meeting of the Tidewater and Piedmont made it ideal for water-related industry and commerce. By the end of the 18th century; it boasted one of the first automated gristmills in the nation. During the Civil War; Occoquan housed both Union and Confederate troops and was the sight of several small engagements. In 1972; the river; which had provided so many commercial and recreational benefits; revealed a more dangerous side as flooding from Hurricane Agnes caused severe damage. The people of Occoquan rebuilt; and the town evolved into the wonderful mixture of old and new that gives it the unique character seen today.
#1474777 in eBooks 2010-09-20 2010-09-20File Name: B0099VYW9Q
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Donald W. MooreGreat book and great service!!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Barn FreshPretty interesting with plenty of pictures.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Interurban history brought to lifeBy Roger C. ParkerKenneth G. Johnsens Yakima Valley Transportation Company. the latest in Arcadia Publishings Images of Rail series. does what Arcadia Publishing does best: keeping the stories and photographs of regional railroading alive for future generations at a fair price for future generations.This is an exceptionally valuable addition to anyone interested in reading about. or modeling. the electric interurban railroads that transformed America in the early days of the Twentieth Century. then went into a slow decline as better roads and automobiles became available.The Yakima Valley Transportation Company was an exceptionally long-lived line. thanks to its later ownership by the Union Pacific. and also thanks to its sizable freight traffic--primarily. apples.Like others in the Images of Rail series. the Yakima Valleys is told in hundreds of sharp black and white photographs taken over a period of 90 years. The result is a portrait of a small city and its rail-based connection to the rest of the country. There are enough photographs of construction details. street scenes. and rolling stock to keep an interurban modeler busy for years.There are even photographs of steam engines at work building the line in the 1910s!Best of all. the Yakima Valley continues to live. thanks to the authors volunteering to keep trolleys alive and on the streets of Yakima during the 70s and 80s. and the activities of a local group to re-establish trolley service to the Yakima Convention Center.Kenneth G. Johnsens book reminds us that transit history wasnt convinced to the large urban centers traditionally covered in the railroad press; smaller cities. too. had colorful interurban lines that. often. survived well past their peak.The Yakima Valley Transportation Company represents an excellent value interested in reading about. or modeling. interurban railroads serving smaller cities and agricultural areas during periods of growth. expansion. decline. and rebirth. Note: although I received an early review copy. this is a book Id re-buy for myself or a friend.
