Mapping Local History

Below is taken from the book's back cover. For information on how to order this book and others on local history, see below.

Background

Local History experts Donald Bayles and Paul Infranco have re-teamed to map out a special trip down the Memory Lanes of Middle Island, New York. Their 190 [age volume trace the history of this hamlet on eastern Long Island, from its early European settlers through the 21t century. It's a unique combination of maps, anecdotes, family genealogies, land ownership and historic photos, offering a "Then and Now" perspective for modern day readers. Ever wonder what happened to the big farm that used to be where the shopping center now stands? Was there really a time when there wasn't so much traffic- or even cars - on our main streets? Step inside and let Messrs. Bayles and Infranco take you for a stroll and show you what yesterday was like.

Donald Bayles

Donald Bayles: Born in 1923. He grew up in Middle Island and graduated from Port Jefferson High School. Don served in WWII and received the Silver Star for combat duties with the US Army in the Philippines. After the war he received a degree in engineering from NYU’s College of Engineering.

Donald married his Coram sweetheart, Virginia. They moved to Nashville where Don designed bridges for the Tennessee Valley Authority. The couple returned to LI in 1952 and built a home in Coram.

Donald is the author of the Civil War Letters of Albert and Edward Bayles, the story of his great uncles who served as Union soldiers and were killed in action together at the Battle of Cold Harbor. He also wrote books about his father, The Biography and Collected Writing of Thomas R. Bayles and his photographer uncle, Albert Bayles: A Lifetime in Middle Island. In this newest book, Donald’s talents are on full display in the many maps he created to illustrate the changes in land use an ownership in over two centuries of life in Middle Island  

Paul Infranco

Paul taught social studies at the Longwood Middle and Junior High Schools for more than 40 years and then served on the Board od Education for nearly a decade.

Named Educator of the Year in 2007, this master teacher instilled a love for local history in several generations of his students, as well as his colleagues and the surrounding community. Working with his students, Paul developed a website called Longwood Journey, a compilation of biographies, historical events, maps, sketched and photos recounting life within the 53-square mile Longwood Central School District and Colonial times to the present. He is the author of Early Settlers of Longwood and Their Participation in the American War for Independence, as well as Honor Roll biographical collections of Longwood residents who served in WWI, WWII, Korea and the Global War on Terror. In 2017, he co-authored The History of Camp Upton with Donald Bayles, whom he again partners with for this book about the lands, lanes and legacies of Middle Island.

 LOCAL HISTORY BOOKS for SALE!

Published by The Longwood Alliance and Longwood Society for Historical Preservation

These books make wonderful gifts  — for the Holidays, a Birthday, Retirement, or

Anniversary — perfect for the person who already has everything!

All proceeds used for our additional History & Veterans projects and publications

Make Checks payable to The Longwood Alliance and mail to PO Box 24, Middle Island, NY 11953

For additional information & to check stock, email Pinfranco@aol.com or Gailybaily@aol.com