Winthrop (Images of America)

It has been referred to as the "Little Republic" and the "Jewel of the North Shore," but to local residents both current and past, the small peninsular town of Winthrop will always be home. Winthrop's insularity and geographic position as a natural barrier between Boston and the Atlantic has created a unique place to live-and the best kept secret around-a place to enjoy the spectacle of the sea, the folksiness of a small town and, with its proximity to Boston, a pinch of urban sensibility. Winthrop explores the fascinating and diverse history of the town, first as an early Native American habitat and then as the site of Colonial agrarians, wealthy landowners, and a copper works. It takes you to the waterfront, which became a magnet for tourists; the yacht clubs and hotels that opened; and the beach activities that became a passion for sweltering city dwellers. Winthrop shows how, from the American Revolution through the Cold War, the town played host to the military, having forts, cannons, radar, and tunnels, and how the town nearly had the distinction of having the world's first electric transit system, a monorail, which met a mysterious demise days before the start of construction.