Stockton in Vintage Postcards

Rating:
Summary: Stockton in Vintage Postcards, by Alice Van Ommeren
Review: What a wonderful format for the history of a city! Unlike many histories of small cities, Stockton in Vintage Postcards presents a broad view of the life of the place, and all illustrated.

I have lived in Stockton, for thirteen years, and know it to be an economically poor city with an incredible wealth of cultural diversity and history. Reading this book reveals some of that wealth.

It's like looking through a family photo album. The postcards can be quirky, full of civic pride, sentimental or just really great slices of real American life.

There is so much good information here. As we redevelop, gentrify and suburbanize our cities, it's invaluable to have this perspective, these old buildings, neighborhoods and everyday scenes preserved in this accessible form. All I would ask is for is a second edition with even more - and in color.




Rating:
Summary: More than a "regular" coffee table book
Review: I'm biased - my office is in the book two times, so this book has extra meaning to me. Looking at it causes me to wonder what life was like in the early 1900's - I have found myself asking many more questions of older friends. And what great memories they have, and what great stories they have told....all because of this more than "regular" coffee table book. Even if you don't live in this area, I highly recommend this book, it's a wonderful "generation gap"!!!