Delaware from Railways to Freeways - Book Review

Delaware from Railways to Freeways

Author: Dave Tabler
Genre: Non Fiction - Historical/Cultural
Publisher: David Tabler
Date Published: November 1, 2023
ISBN-10: N/A
ISBN-13: 9798987000656


Book Review of :  Delaware from Railways to Freeways



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Delaware from Railroads to Freeways by Dave Tabler is a visually stunning book that takes readers on a captivating journey through Delaware's 19th-century history. With engaging narrative and stunning graphics that seem to leap off the page, this book provides an immersive and enthralling reading experience as Tabler chronicles the rich history of Delaware. This is his second installment of a three-part series on the history of Delaware – the First State. 

Tabler provides a  fascinating history of 19th-century Delaware. It is a lively, readable portrayal of the state's history, not a dry recital of dates and facts. Step back in time with Tabler as he covers the events that changed and enriched 19th-century Delaware. Like the powerful impact of the railroads, as they birthed thriving towns and sparked a wave of new industry. He talks about the turbulent dynamics of the Civil War. A time when Delawareans grappled with their divided loyalties and sent their sons off to battle - some for the Union, others for the Confederates. The author, Dave Tabler, is an excellent researcher, storyteller, and historian.  He writes of historical gems and rarely known knowledge about Delaware's rich past. His work delves deep into the state's history and offers fantastic tales of the past.

 Organized chronologically, the stories are short (usually no more than a page or two) fact-filled but not bogged down in boring facts (Tabler's a lively writer), and often, surprising -- even to those of you who think you know quite a bit about the great state of Delaware – he delivers a tale you have never heard of before. 

He tells the story behind the stories, including how different events are interlinked.  Tabler chronicles the history with vibrant illustrations, photos, and informative captions, which readers can explore further through extended accounts in the "Notes on Photographs" section. His Sidebars add a touch of local flavor, highlighting unique 19th-century Delaware traditions like covered bridges, sleighs, etc.

Tabler is not only a historian and author but also a professional photographer. His exquisite photos genuinely make this book one-of-a-kind. They are of such high quality, that for me they almost appear in 3D. I was super impressed by the high quality of the photographs he included in the book.

The names and accomplishments of famous Delawareans are sprinkled throughout the book. You will read exciting vignettes like the last pistol dual in Delaware between Gordon Bennett and Frederick May. And why did Delaware get to be known as the "Peach State?" Who is John A. Jones and what did he invent? 

For Delaware natives and enthusiasts, this is probably one of the best-illustrated background books of Delaware's 19th-century history as you can find about the First State. It is truly a captivating book.


Reviewed by: James B

About Dave Tabler


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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.





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