With Around Hallowell, author Bob Briggs has created a nostalgic look at his home from the Civil War era to the 1940s. Incorporated in 1771, Hallowell is one of Maine's oldest permanent settlements. Incredibly, the 1807 American Encyclopedia predicted that Hallowell would one day be one of the nation's largest cities. This book focuses on the city in its heyday of prosperity, culture, and education, and it gives the reader insight into the now-vanished industries of shipping, granite, lumber, and ice that comprised the stapple of Hallowell's financial prosperity. Over the years, urban renewal has claimed many of Water Street's most prominent landmarks. Manu of the 200 rare photographs included in this volume depict these historic buildings and street scenes as they once were. Covering the area along the Kennebec River between Farmingdal and Augusta, these images speak volumes about a time when life moved at a leisurely pace, enabling residents to take time out for cultural and spiritual refinement.