The Web site WWW.ghosttowns.com lists Sharon Springs as one of ten ghost towns in New York State and while the village was nearing ghost status just a few years ago, its revitalization is striking. Part of the reason for Sharon Springs’ rebirth is the Sharon Historical Society and these two attractive books illustrate well not only Sharon’s history but also the artistic quality one can see emerging in a formerly depressed downtown.

A Touch of Nostalgia is a photo essay about the heyday of Sharon Springs, focusing on the hotels and springs. A suitable companion to Reflections on Sharon, it was published because, as the “Author’s Forward” (editors’ foreword?) says, “space and attention could not be given [in Reflections] to any particular locality or time frame.”

Reflections, a bicentennial project, is lavishly illustrated. Its focus is town of Sharon history in five chronological chapters. Nostalgia’s subject, the village of Sharon Springs historic district area, is divided into six subject chapters.

The pictures in both bring the heyday of Sharon and Sharon Springs to life. They evoke the elegance and grandeur the village once had.

The writing can be hard to follow in places, but that isn't what these books are about. Text is secondary to wonderful old photographs. A gate fold map inside the back cover of Nostalgia shows the location of buildings pictured in the book.

After pouring over the photos of the grand hotels and springs, one may want to delve more deeply into the area’s history. Both works list references in the back and Reflections includes complete lists of town supervisors and village mayors.