The antebellum era and the close of the 19th century frame a period of great agricultural expansion. During this time; farmhouse plans designed by rural men and women regularly appeared in the flourishing Northern farm journals. This book analyzes these vital indicators of the work patterns; social interactions; and cultural values of the farm families of the time. Examining several hundred owner-designed plans; McMurry shows the ingenious ways in which "progressive" rural Americans designed farmhouses in keeping with their visions of a dynamic; reformed rural culture. From designs for efficient work spaces to a concern for self-contained rooms for adolescent children; this fascinating story of the evolution of progressive farmers homes sheds new light on rural Americas efforts to adapt to major changes brought by industrialization; urbanization; the consolidation of capitalist agriculture; and the rise of the consumer society.
#3962993 in eBooks 1988-06-16 1988-06-16File Name: B000WNH9VS
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. ... years and I read it for many years (I like learning about the history of Toronto)By Teena in TorontoMike Filey had a column in the Toronto Sun for about 30 years and I read it for many years (I like learning about the history of Toronto). Ive read all his books where he compiles some of his columns. In this book; Filey includes over 100 photographs with a description of what the picture is and what was going on at the time.He starts by showing Torontos skyline in 1925; 1932; 1970 and 2002. Wow! What a change! The book also includes pictures and descriptions of:* Torontos ladies* The Toronto Transportation Commission* Hurricane Hazel* The Notorious Boyd Gang* The CNE* Torontos sports facilities* Torontos contribution to the war effort* Torontos motion picture theatres* Buildings that have been demolished* Royal visits to Toronto* Toronto Island* Torontos rail lines in days of old* Traffic problemsFiley mentioned the Avon Theatre. When I moved to my hood in 2001; there was a rent-to-own store with a marquee above the doorway on the NW corner of Dovercourt/Queen Street W. A few years later; Starbucks took it over.The building was constructed in 1887. The ground floor contained a fruit market; with apartments above it. It remained a retail outlet until 1915; when Childrsquo;s Theatre opened on the premises. This theatre lasted only a year and then it became Kingrsquo;s Hall and Kingrsquo;s Playhouse Theatre; operated by Mr. King Hyman. In 1950; it became the Avon Theatre; a 325 motion picture theatre.Even though it was published in 2002; it was an interesting book because the pictures of older Toronto were great. If you live in Toronto or are from Toronto; you should check it out.Blog review post: [...]0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Toronto seems to be more of a city with a Past --but what happened?By Jerry GuildMike Filey is well known for his weekly newspaper columns and many books about Torontos past.It is obvious that he has access to archives that give him an inexhaustable source of photographs from the citys past.While photography became an invention of the 1860s ;dont expect to find anything in this book dating back before the 1940s;except for a couple of photos.The history of Toronto;if one were to look at it from this book;seems to be of little more than street cars;the building of the subway; a couple of disasters such Hurricane Hazel;Construction of highways and shopping malls;a couple of landmarks such as Maple Leaf Gardens;the Exhibition;the CN Tower;a bit about the city during WWII; few old gas stations;etc. Filey can hardly be faulted for not including more exciting;imaginative;or even interesting photographs;for the simple reason that Toronto has never been;nor is even today; a city that conjours up much in the way of a city with a spirit;filled with interesting events;excitement; or much of anything else that gives a city character;spirit;culture;or the things that make a city distinctive;such as one thinks of when imagining cities like St.Louis;San Francisco;New Orleans;Washington;Chicago;Montreal;Vancouver;Quebec;Calgary;New York;etc. There have been a couple of times when it appeared that the city might come out of its doldrums;such as when Ontario Place;and the CN Tower were built;but Toronto remains a city that cant even decide what to do with a natural asset like Thoroto Islands;or even its location on Lake Ontario.Actually;there was more imaginative uses of these assets a half centry ago ;but the planning and use of these resources has gone backward ;rather than forward. The reason for this has to be that the politicians;planners and developers have simply lacked the imagination and more than that;the ability;and maybe even the collective will;needed to develop a vibrant ;exciting;world class city. At the present time;Toronto is continuing to stagnate.The city is shabby;the traffic is in Gridlock;Mass transit is in a mess;nothing of any consequence has been developed;except condos and highrises;and the things that were built decades ago have fallen into disarray;such as the Ex and Ontario Place.While all this goes on;the city has been unable to attract any world class events;and the elected politicians are even overchallenged occupying themselves with bicycle racks and lanes;plastic bags;ridiculous solutions to Hot Dog vendor carts;graffiti by-laws;and on and on. And would you believe it;the city are now congratulating themselves with an inspired solution to the lack of public toilets---portable paid toilets.This is even more inspired than what they came up with to celebrate the citys Bicentinnial --A big birthday cake with candels; placed on top of the washroom structure in front of City Hall.The Mayor must have been proud to sit in his office and enjoy the view;of wathcing the tourists and people admiring that piece of work!! Hey Mike;why not put that photograph on the cover of your next book? It is not my intent to fault Filey for his attempt to give us an interesting look at Torontos past.He ddoes the best with what he has had to work with;too bad the present and future doesnt look much better.