Grafton, Berlin, and Petersburgh captures a vivid picture of a long lost way of life in upstate New York. Filled with unforgettable photographs by James E. West, the book artistically portrays the proud people, quiet streets, and breathtaking panoramas of eastern Rensselaer County from

1880 to 1915. For the first time, these historical photographs

from the West collection are presented in a single volume. A

native of Grafton, James Emmett West set up a photographic business in 1878, began working in earnest in the Grafton-Berlin-Petersburgh region, and traveled in his

horse-drawn wagon, f ully equipped with a studio and darkroom.