Local authors tell the story of the Long Island hamlets using vintage images
(Long Island, NY) The newest addition to Arcadia Publishing’s popular Images of America series is Mattituck and Laurel from local authors Norman Wamback, Jeffrey M. Walden and Gerard M. Matovcik. The book boasts more than 200 vintage images of these beautiful hamlets on Long Island.
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The small rural villages of Mattituck and Laurel remained relatively unchanged for more than 100 years until the railroad arrived in 1844. The Long Island Rail Road launched Mattituck-Laurel into a modern era of material progress, where business flourished and the area became a desirable location for summer visitors from New York City.
The railroad station stood at the center of commerce and industry. Immigrants arrived and embarked upon new enterprises alongside the already thriving small shops and businesses. During the second half of the 19th century, Mattituck was home to a pickling factory, canning factory, large-scale creamery and successful fertilizer business.
Mattituck and Laurel presents a fascinating glimpse into the historic people and businesses that shaped these two iconic hamlets on the North Fork of Long Island.
Highlights of Mattituck and Laurel include:
- Rarely seen photographs, many of which have been donated from the private collections of local residents.
- The story of how the Long Island Railroad initiated the Golden Age of Mattituck.
- A look into two Catholic camps, Camp Molloy and Cam Immaculata, which served the region for close to 50 years.
Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at (888)-313-2665 or online.
Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States. Our mission is to make history accessible and meaningful through the publication of books on the heritage of America’s people and places. Have we done a book on your town? Visit http://www.arcadiapublishing.com.
About the Authors of Mattituck and Laurel
 Norman Wamback |
Norman Wamback is the curator and historian of the Mattituck-Laurel Historical Society and Museums. He spent his summers as a boy in Mattituck in Camp Mineola on Great Peconic Bay. He has a deep affection for the hamlets of Mattituck and Laurel and has devoted his life to preserving their diverse historical heritage. Wamback frequently contributes articles on local history to The Suffolk Times and The Peconic Bay Shopper.
 Jeffrey M. Walden |
Jeffrey M. Walden, the Assistant Director of Mattituck-Laurel Library, has a keen interest in preserving local history, an interest that was sparked several years ago by his discovery of the Gildersleeve family scrapbooks hidden in the library archives. Walden continues to chronicle the history of the community by interviewing its senior members, collecting historical photographs and ephemera, and overseeing the digital preservation of historical documents and information.
 Gerard M. Matovcik |
Gerard M. Matovcik is a reference librarian at Mattituck-Laurel Library who enjoys researching and writing about local history. His love for the area began when he traveled from Brooklyn to Mattituck as a teenager to work as a summer counselor at Camp Molloy on Laurel Lake. He presently resides in Laurel and teaches writing at Suffolk County Community College.
The authors have collaborated on several presentations of local history for the historical society and the library. They were delighted by the opportunity to compile and edit this photographic history of Mattituck and Laurel. They were thrilled by the response of community members who shared their photographs and stories about the families who helped to build our community. They hope that this work will bring back fond memories and inspire the telling of more stories from Mattituck and Laurel’s illustrious past.
