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
Formats Available for Review: print (softback) (USA), ebook (EPUB, PDF, NETGALLEY download)
Tour dates: Jan 8 to Jan 26, 2024
Content Rating: G. Suitable for all audiences.
Content Rating: G. Suitable for all audiences.
"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
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.
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
Q: What would you say is the most common misconception people have about Delaware? What aspects of life, culture, business, or events in Delaware tend to get overlooked or oversimplified?
One common misconception is that Delaware is merely a corporate tax haven with little else to offer. While it's true that Delaware's favorable tax laws and business-friendly court system have made it a popular choice for incorporating businesses, this view overlooks the state's rich cultural and historical significance.
Delaware, the first state to ratify the United States Constitution, boasts a deep historical heritage extending long before its corporate laws. Its small size belies a rich tapestry of early American history, from Swedish, Dutch and English colonial settlements in the 1600s to its crucial role enabling Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad in the 1800s.
Fort Christina marks the location of the first permanent Swedish settlement in the New World, established in 1638. And over in New Castle, that town’s courthouse played a central role in “Separation Day” — Delaware's formal detachment from both Pennsylvania and the British Crown. This action took place on June 15, 1776, 19 days before the famous July 4, 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence. Delaware is truly the First State in more ways than one. Too often, these captivating glimpses into colonial and early American history get eclipsed by Delaware’s modern corporate image.
Culturally, Delaware offers a diverse and lively arts, food, and entertainment scene that defies expectations. The popular seaside resort towns of Rehoboth and Bethany offer upscale fine seafood dining, bustling boardwalks, beautiful beaches, and lively LGBTQ nightlife.
Wilmington's Brandywine Valley charms visitors with world-class art museums, elegant scenic gardens, historical DuPont family estates, and charming Main Street cafés. Between the coastal resorts and Wilmington's culture, the state contains a variety of amenities to tempt tourists.
The annual Dover Days Festival offers a spirited celebration centered on ‘The Green’ peopled with colonial reenactors and children dancing around maypoles.
The Firefly Music Festival, one of the East Coast's largest music events, typically attracts over 100,000 attendees annually. Phish will appear in 2024, with more to come. Both Dover Days and Firefly exemplify Delaware's dynamic, diverse cultural offerings that often go undetected outside the state.
In terms of business and commerce, while non-Delawareans may associate the state foremost with its robust incorporation industry, we also play a substantial nationwide role in agriculture and farming, specifically broiler chicken production. In 2022, Delaware produced approximately 222.4 million chickens, ranking 13th in the U.S, yet this claim to fame frequently gets overshadowed amid the focus on Delaware’s prominence in corporate finance. The state also has a lively craft beer industry, with over 25 breweries now operating, leveraging Delaware’s historical ties to brewing as the birthplace of iconic Dogfish Head Craft Brewery.
Delaware's natural beauty provides a final dimension that often escapes wider notice. The state's ample parks, wildlife refuges and scenic highways offer outdoor enthusiasts an array of activities from hiking and camping to birdwatching and kayaking. Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge provides critical nesting habitat for over 10,000 migrating snow geese and osprey among other species, while also offering nature lovers premier wildlife observation opportunities. Trap Pond State Park encompasses the northernmost stand of bald cypress trees in America and offers visitors a chance to glide through these ancient wetlands by kayak. These represent but a sample of Delaware’s ecological wonderlands that go undetected by many out-of-staters.
Those who buy into the notion that Delaware is no more than a corporate refuge are missing out on discovering its distinctive personality and riches. Peel back the layers of misconception, and Delaware reveals a depth of character and a distinct culture. For such a small wonder, Delaware offers no shortage of enthralling surprises.
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