EDITOR'S MESSAGE, 2022

I am delighted that Paul van Wie is now the Associate Editor of this Journal. He has served since 2017 as Assistant Editor. Dr. Van Wie chaired Social Studies at the Wheatley School for many years and is now a professor at Molloy University. He is also a founder and was for many years president of the Franklin Square Historical Society, which in 2022 officially opened its museum. Professor van Wie is a life-long resident of Nassau County and also Chair of the Town of Hempstead’s Landmark Commission. He is the author of “Architectural Heritage and Landmark Preservation in the Town of Hempstead” in this Journal 72 (2017): 1-9 and spoke at our September 2022 meeting on “The Natural and Human History of the Hempstead Plains.

This issue provides articles on a number of diverse topics. It includes what are probably our first articles by a folklorist and an archaeologist dealing with local history. 

“George L. Hubbell: Garden City’s ‘First Citizen’” by Constantine Theodosiou, focuses on the man who guided Garden City’s development from 1897 into the1930s and beyond. He oversaw its affairs, initially as manager of the Garden City Company and then as an elected official in Village government. Although previously little remembered in the twenty-first century, his life of service to Garden City had enabled the village develop into one of Nassau County's foremost suburban communities.   

Maritime activities continue to be important to Long Island. A glimpse into the island’s boat builders and boat yards is in the excerpts from Nancy Solomon’s 2021 book, Boat Building and Boat Yards of Long Island: A Tribute to Tradition. This relatively recent history is presented by a folklorist committed to documenting and preserving traditional crafts.

Donna Kianka’s "Personal Archaeology: Finding Where Your Grandparents Lived” is an interesting and instructional “how to” guide for researching property and the man-made environment of the cultural landscape. Her article will enable you to learn more about your grandparents and other ancestors.

Several years ago, we reprinted excerpts from the 1940 Works Progress Administration (WPA) Writers’ Guide tours of Nassau County. In this issue are the tours of Long Island’s East End to Montauk and Orient Point. Readers will recognize familiar locations. 

“The Last Word” includes historical news and notes on recent books dealing with Long Island history. After attending the Olmsted Conference at Planting Fields, I thought our readers would be interested in reading about the legacy of Frederick Law Olmsted and other Olmsted landscape architects on Long Island. “Olmsted Landscapes on Long Island” is included in this issue’s “Last Word.” 

—Natalie A. Naylor